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Okay, quick heads up. We’re about to dive into a bunch of moments when doctors totally missed the mark - big time. Some stories are wild, some are cringe-worthy, but all are real. Let’s get right to the juicy details!
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First endometrial biopsy ever. The old dude doctor lost it when I screamed in pain (because, well, it hurt like heck). He gave me the stink eye and said if I couldn’t control myself, I could leave. So I shook like a leaf, gritted my teeth, and endured. Nurse came in and gave me a hug afterward. Bonus: he got fired soon after. Karma!
Got pregnant at 16 (yeah, a kid!). They used a speculum to check if my water broke. I was crying from discomfort, and this creep said, "You weren’t crying when he shoved it in, were ya?" referring to how I got pregnant. Yeah, that guy was summoned nowhere near the new maternity hospital. Bye, Felicia!
After 8 months of being told my pain was nothing, I brought my husband along to a doc visit (mostly because I could barely drive). The doc hit me with, "Oh, you must be serious if you brought your husband." Turns out I had a baseball-sized tumor messing with my kidney. Oops.
Turns out, doctors sometimes treat women like their pain is just a drama act. According to Dr. Samantha Meints, women often get tagged as "hysterical," which explains why their pain complaints sometimes get labeled as mental health stuff instead of actual problems. Social norms don’t help either: while men are expected to tough it out silently, women chatting about pain gets misread.
A psychiatrist thought my band tee was demonic and blamed it for my anxiety. His prescription? Convert to *his* religion. When I gave him my uni email, he said, "I thought only smart people went there." Man, quit the rude act.
After multiple miscarriages, a specialist told me the current pregnancy was probably doomed and started planning the next one while I was still processing the loss. I was speechless and never went back. Now, I’m in medical and always give folks space to feel. It’s not rocket science, folks.
Doctor said my lower belly pain was "probably just ovulation". Spoiler alert: it was appendicitis on the verge of bursting. Moral of the story: listen to the woman who knows her body best.
Women’s pain thresholds are different too! Dr. Robert Jamison says women seem to have higher pain tolerance, so doctors might think "Eh, she’s fine," even when they’re not. Apparently, if you survived childbirth, you can survive *anything.* No pressure, ladies.
After four hours of pushing, doctor said my baby wasn’t coming out because I had an epidural. Turns out he was stuck 'cause of a knotted cord cutting oxygen. Lucky next doc pulled him out in one go. Also, the epidural was a lifesaver for the emergency cut I needed.
Doctor told my immigrant mom I was pregnant at 13, right in front of her, without any tests. Turns out it was blood in my bladder from an infection. Talk about a wild guess!
Doctor scraped my uterus for a biopsy with zero pain meds. I was gagging and nauseous from the pain and she just told me to 'take deep breaths.' When done, she said, "Wow, that was hell for you!" Uh, no kidding.
There’s a pretty ugly thing called "medical gaslighting" where women’s pain is brushed off or blamed on stress. A 2024 study even found that 45% of women with genital pain were told to "just relax," and 39% were told they’re "crazy." Yup, seriously messed up.
An anesthesiologist said this to me as I was prepped for a D&C after a miscarriage. Spoiler: I most definitely did *not* want this. Rude and uncalled for.
For my terrible cramps and mood problems around periods, doctors said, "It might get better if you have kids." Like kids are a magical fix for pain. Thanks, but no thanks.
I told a new doctor I need ADHD meds and she asked, "How does your husband deal with you?" Like, seriously? Why ask that?!
Chronic pain gets extra complicated. Dr. Louise Sharpe says patients want to be believed, but docs get confused when treatments don’t work right away. It’s kinda like a pain puzzle that no one knows how to solve quickly.
Went to labor and delivery for decreased fetal movement. An intern said I probably needed meds for anxiety. Two weeks later, baby was born healthy. I had that doctor booted from my team.
My first visit to a general doc, age 14, for a checkup, and he griped I hadn’t shaved my legs. Rude much?
8 weeks pregnant, having nonstop anxiety attacks. ER doc asked if pregnancy was planned. When I said no, he sighed and told me not to get pregnant. An hour later I miscarried. Real helpful, doc.
Doctors don’t have all the answers, but one thing’s easy: don’t be a jerk. Getting medical help is scary enough without being treated like a pain-in-the-neck (pun intended). Ladies, ever had a doc say something so jaw-dropping you had to share? Spill in the comments!
Two docs blamed my weight gain on depression, not meds. Then they gave my cat an appetite stimulant (same med!). Huh?
My wife was vomiting in pain and the doc handed her a book on 'Mind over matter.' A week later she had emergency gallbladder surgery. Oops.
One female doc refused hormone therapy for my menopause symptoms, telling me to "power through." Then a male specialist ignored my nerve pain questions to gossip about his Hot Wheels. Sigh.
"Why bother with a PCOS diagnosis? No treatment and you’re not trying for kids." Spoiler alert: there *is* treatment, and it matters.
Back in the 90s, my mom was tired, gaining weight, and told she was just lazy. Years later, new doc found she had hypothyroidism. Whoops.
Doc said I’m too young for a hysterectomy and might want more kids. I have four kids and four grandkids. Eye roll.
Diagnosed with cervical cancer, told to “suck it up” during a painful speculum exam. Yeah, cancer doesn’t come with a pause button.
Told my pancreas pain was just a stomach ache by a doctor who called me “dollface.” Yep, had a pancreatitis flare-up. Charming.
At 41, psych doc told me I just needed a man to take care of me. Newsflash: I’ve been independent for 10 years. Not happening.
At 22, while getting a catheter, ER nurse told me I didn’t know pain unless I’d had a kid. Rude and scary for a young adult. I had ovarian cyst surgery later.
Started therapy for severe anxiety at 12, therapist told me I needed to watch what I ate ‘because you’re getting fat.’ My mom was furious. Never went back.
I have crossed eyes, and doctor told me I’d scare off boys looking like that. Thanks for the encouragement…
Asked my female gynecologist about birth control to manage bipolar and period pain. She said, “What would your husband think? Don’t you want a baby?” My body isn’t his property, lady.
During my first birth with no pain meds, doc told me to stop whining. She stitched me up with no numbing and gave me a painful 'husband stitch.' Catholic hospital vibes.
Doc said my foot hurt because of bad shoes. A year later, surgery fixed a crooked bone from an old break. Maybe try an x-ray next time?
Doc told me to have two babies (not one!) to fix anxiety and depression. Turns out I just needed vitamins B12 and D. Guess who figured that out herself?
Doc told me to walk 10k steps daily for weight loss. I showed her my tracker: 13k steps five days a week. She asked if it was my husband’s tracker. Yes, ma’am, it’s mine.
I told the doc I get headaches and work on a computer. His brilliant advice? “Stop staring at the screen!” Like how else am I supposed to work? Also, diagnosed with PCOS at 125 lbs, and told to eat like a rabbit. Come again?
Doc said my symptoms were all in my head. Nope, turned out to be MS. Got an apology, but still…
Doc said my pain wasn’t worth checking out while I cried. Later diagnosed with endometriosis. Pro tip: believe your pain.
Went for an STI test before a new relationship. Doc sighed and said, “I guess this is just what ‘modern women’ do.” Well, yeah?
Doc was inside me giving weight loss advice right after IUD insertion, despite my eating disorder recovery. Never going back, wrote some spicy reviews.
Asked about birth control and doc said he doesn’t believe in it and I should track temperature instead. Sure, doc, thanks for the medical advice.
Had an abortion at 16; doc told me I had low-positive hep C, later found out he infected other patients. Yikes.
Endoscopy came back fine, and doc said my pain must be emotional because I take antidepressants. Cool, thanks for the diagnosis.
Random dentist held up a mirror and lectured me on how much better I’d look with lip fillers. Uh, no thanks.
Doc said foot pain was just pregnancy-related. Turns out, it was stage 3 melanoma diagnosed 7 months pregnant. Big miss.
Asked female doc if I could get an IUD. She asked if I’d asked my husband first. Nope, this is my body.
Kept fainting, doc dismissed it as 'the faints.' Nearly ended up in hospital later. Thanks for nothing.
Had IUD removal in 'geriatric' years but doc told me ideal age for kids is 16. Yeah, from a female doc too. Thanks, I hate it.
Had cyclical vomiting syndrome, was 94 lbs and barely able to lift my arm. New GP said, “So many women want to be skinny like you.” Nope, just sick as heck.
Decade of docs saying my insanely itchy legs were psychosomatic. Finally, a doctor said, “Oh, that could be a symptom of your intestinal issues.” Guess someone finally bought it!
Went to doc for eating disorder. He said, "You’re fine, we thought you’d be skin and bones." Took me five more years to get help.
Had an early miscarriage. OB said it wasn’t a big deal because most women wouldn’t even know they were pregnant yet. Jerk alert.
Bleeding heavily and went to ER alone. Doc said at my age, I should know what a heavy period is and sent me home. Second ER found out I was miscarrying. Oops again.
Asked about cervical cancer possibly returning, doctor laughed in my face. Had to find new care to confirm it was back.
Updated visit note said I cried hysterically because of my weight; not how I remember it. Thanks for the drama, doc.
Doc asked for weight for medicine dosage, then said, “Are you sure? You look like a bigger girl.” Rude and unprofessional.
Doc said my postpartum back pain was me being sad about my weight. Turns out I had two exploded discs. Diagnosis, please?
Female gyno got mad at me for nearly vomiting and fainting after IUD insertion. She acted like I was just a problem to move elsewhere. No thanks.
Morbidly obese since age 3, hit goal weight at 28, and still doctors tell me to lose more. Even when my record says I’m at clinical goal. Side eye.
Wife’s neck injury causing bad headaches, doc told her flat out he wouldn’t treat her unless she lost 40% body weight. We got a second opinion - thankfully.
At 20, after a miscarriage, doc said, “You’d be pretty if you lost weight.” Thanks for that.
Told doc about throbbing groin pain triggered by foods. Doc said, "Stop eating those foods." No further help. Still hurts today.
Told my swelling and breathing trouble was just weight gain. Turns out I had congestive heart failure and almost died. Seriously, doc, Google helps.
On meds for acne and told that once I was pretty, my controlling boyfriend would have more to be jealous about. Therapists, sometimes…
At 24, dealing with anxiety and eating disorder, doc gave me his brother’s number instead of help. Also said I looked fantastic. Thanks?
Asked doc about symptoms of a disorder I thought I had. He laughed, ignored me, gave me school and screen-time advice, then sent me away. Years later, diagnosed with it. Honorable mention to a female OBGYN who said my non-period cramps were just IBS.
During pregnancy, doc said my weight gain wasn’t all baby. Had a 12 lb 9 oz baby and lost 33 lbs in the hospital. Told him the truth later. Take that!
Doctor told me I came in for bronchitis, not pimples, but offered a skin-clearing antibiotic after. Whatever that means.
First gyn visit at 16, doc put salad tongs inside me, left them open, left the room. I screamed for half an hour, then she clamped them shut and left, no apology. Ouch. #HateDoctors
Older male gynecologist joked I should start having babies because his wife was spending too much on his credit cards. Ew.
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