I am a woman who has PCOS. PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and is often characterised by irregular menstrual cycles, prolonged bleeding and fatigue.
Although PCOS generally has no cure, with proper lifestyle management a woman can live with it and have a normal life.
In my case, I got my diagnosis of PCOS when I was in the university and my experience with it showed me the importance of having women doctors. Not just women doctors but women doctors who are also feminist minded.
When I was experiencing prolonged bleeding in 2020, I remembered how a feminist doctor called Dr. Dami had said that her messages were open for women who had health concerns.
It took me messaging her and her patiently reviewing my medications in order for me to see a change in my menstrual cycle and the eventual stop of the bleeding. She was patient, attentive and answered my questions calmly.
Often, I think of that incident when I see women share their stories of assault, medical negligence and lack of proper care from male doctors. I think of that incident when I see people shame women’s bodies or biological functions.
I think of that incident when discussions about reproductive rights, sexual health and related matters come up online amongst feminist women.
Generally, I think of it when I need a reminder that for women and our bodies, the fight for freedom is far from over.
The necessity of women doctors and feminist health researchers cannot be underestimated. There are some women who feel more comfortable when it is a woman taking care of them if they have conditions like vaginismus, bacterial vaginosis and even mental health conditions like bipolar disorder.
Far more than the above, women doctors are important because they help draw light on women’s issues that are very often misunderstood or shrouded in misinformation.
For example, there is a doctor I love on Youtube called Dr. Simi Adedeji. Although I already knew about yeast infections, I will always admire how she broke down the topic of yeast infections and the ways to treat them. She has also spoken about things like managing menstrual pain and other aspects of women’s bodies.
Another doctor I admire on Instagram is Dr. Ruth Olumba, a Nigerian-American doctor and surgeon. From her videos and posts, I have become more knowledgeable about women’s bodies and even more empathetic to fellow women.
For some women, having a feminist minded woman doctor can be the thin line between life and death. It can be what determines if they go to unsafe places for an abortion or if they know they can get the procedure done in a non-judgemental environment.
To better understand this topic, I asked a few women to share their thoughts.
For Eniola, a virtual assistant and editor, she believes that it also goes to include not only women doctors but women in the healthcare system generally.
In her words: “The experience I have is not with a doctor but a nurse.
I’ve always had breast lump but never had it checked out till early last year. The entire process of her feeling around my breast is not one I’ll ever be comfortable with if it was a man.
There’s just this safety that comes with it being a woman in certain cases.”
Speaking with Omolola, a feminist, she narrated how her health was even more endangered by a sexist doctor.
To quote her: “In the University, I used to experience serious abdominal pain, but because I thought I had ulcer, I regarded it as one of the symptoms.
Whenever I went to the University Health Centre, there’s this male doctor who’d always shout at me that I’m acting as if I don’t fuck, that I don’t complain of pain when I fuck. He’ll only give me paracetamol and flagyl.
One day, it became too critical and I was rushed to the health centre by a lecturer. The same doctor was on duty and was very nonchalant and watched me in pain until I passed out.
He decided to begin to treat me when my late ex boyfriend came to para for him. I was sha revived and a female doctor came to take over.
She was the one who took care of me and referred me to a private hospital to take comprehensive tests. That was when I knew I had hernia all along, and not ulcer.
She even came to check on me post surgery.”
When asked to share her thoughts, Chi, a writer, shared how she experienced judging from a male gynaecologist.
In her words: “Honestlyyy.
I have experienced a male gynecologist and a female gynecologist and I would recommend having a female gynecologist/doctor. I don’t want to say much but very few men understand women’s bodies. What most of them know is what they read in books.
When I had a chemical pregnancy last year and did countless scans and tests, the male gynecologist was so inconsiderate and the male doctors didn’t even help matters. They even gave me wrong diagnosis and told me to go and marry fast and start having kids early because I had a little fibroid. Started making stupid slick comments “Don’t you enjoy it with condom abi he doesn’t like condom? If you aren’t married, why can’t you abstain or do family planning?”.
Omo. I saw shege last year. Thank God for my life. Really, Thank God.
Woo, the story is long but the experience I got from a female doctor and gynecologist was way different.”
Women who show up for women are needed in all facets of society. However, women who are empathetic towards women are especially needed in the healthcare system.
It is therefore important that efforts are made to honor the women doctors who are showing up for women’s issues despite hostility.
Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a writer, journalist and editor. She moonlights occasionally as a podcaster on As Angel Was Sayin’. Catch her on all socials @asangelwassayin.