Women have shared their delight over a small act of kindness and consideration displayed at a gynaecologist’s office – as many call for the idea to become standard at all medical centres
Nobody enjoys attending doctors appointments – but they’re necessary as your overall health should always be a priority. For women, visiting an obstetrician-gynaecologist, otherwise known as a OB-GYN, can be a daunting prospect as they focus on the health of the female reproductive system.
This includes everything from diagnosis, treatment, preventive care and screening, as well as pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As pregnancy is a delicate topic in many women’s lives, one gynaecologist has created a simple solution to ease patients’ anxiety when walking through their doors. Sharing their solution on Reddit, one woman said: “My OB-GYN has a great tool to help ease difficult situations.”
Alongside this, she shared a photo of an A5 piece of paper that asks patients to fill in their triggers, experiences, and known health-related issues, as well as a box to shared what they’d like to discuss in their appointment.
It reads: “I appreciate your sensitivity during my appointment today. I have experienced loss and would appreciate if you could read the information on the back of this card so I don’t have to speak it aloud. Thank you.”
The sheet then allows women to share their personal situation with pregnancy – such as whether they’re currently expecting, trying to conceive, having fertility issues, or preventing pregnancy.
In the experiences section, it asks them whether they’ve suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, ectopic, D&E or D&C, C-section, vaginal birth, or sexual abuse or assault.
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If they note it down on their sheet, the doctor will aim to avoid speaking about pregnant people, babies, ultrasounds, pelvic exams, or any other topics they find triggering.
Commenting on this idea, one user said: “I work in a GYN office and would be ecstatic if we had these.”
Another user added: “This would be so helpful to so many women.”
A third user said: “I’m glad they’re sensitive to how traumatic actual birth can be. It’s not talked about enough.”
One more user said: “This is very nice. It’s great that they have a space for ‘other’, but I’m surprised they don’t have anything for breast cancer survivors who have had double mastectomies.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told I’m ‘late for my mammogram (or even worse, my ‘mamo’)’.
“I receive reminders in texts and emails and when I check in for appointments from all sorts of health care places, even after asking them to make a note in my chart.”
A final user added: “I had to have a medically necessary late term abortion (after multiple miscarriages) and it was very traumatic.
“I talk about it fine now, but early on I would have really benefited from this! Especially since we move a lot so new doctors are very much a thing for me.”
If you need support and would like to speak to someone about fertility issues, loss, or anything related, contact Sands on 0808 164 3332 or email them via [email protected].