After Getting an IUD, I’m Convinced No One Cares About Women’s Health

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's experience with getting a copper IUD (intrauterine device) as a form of long-term birth control, and the broader issues surrounding women's healthcare and medical research. It highlights the lack of pain management and informed consent around IUD insertion, the gender bias in medical research, and the safety concerns around common women's health products like tampons.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The author's experience with getting a copper IUD

1. What were the author's initial thoughts and feelings about getting a copper IUD? The author felt hope, relief, and empowerment when first learning about the copper IUD as a long-term birth control option that didn't involve hormones and was over 99% effective.

2. What challenges did the author face during the IUD insertion process? The author had difficulty finding a female gynecologist available for the procedure, and ended up seeing a male doctor. The insertion process was extremely painful, with the doctor having to dilate the author's cervix twice. The author experienced severe discomfort and pain, similar to what women feel during childbirth.

3. How did the author's research after the procedure change their perspective? After the painful experience, the author did further research and found that nearly 60% of people who haven't given birth experience moderate to severe discomfort during IUD insertion, and up to 17% feel extreme pain. The author felt that the lack of pain management for this procedure was "archaic".

[02] Gender bias in medical research and women's healthcare

1. What are some examples of gender bias in medical research and healthcare highlighted in the article?

• The article mentions that the male birth control shot was discontinued after one man experienced depression as a side effect, while women are often told to "give their hormones longer to balance out" when experiencing side effects from birth control pills.
• It notes that 75% of diseases affecting women lack funding, while diseases affecting men are overfunded, such as 6 times more funding for erectile dysfunction research compared to endometriosis.
• The article also discusses the recent finding of lead and arsenic in tampons, and how women's concerns about the safety of these products have historically been dismissed.

2. How does the article characterize the overall state of women's healthcare and medical research? The article portrays women's healthcare and medical research as overlooked, underprioritized, and dismissive of women's experiences and concerns. It suggests a systemic gender bias where women's pain and health issues are often minimized or attributed to psychological factors rather than taken seriously.