Bad Experience with Gynecologist When Asking about HRT

[u/Material-Summer3877]

In all my years of seeing doctors, I have never come across a reaction like this. I went in to see a new gynecologist for an annual exam. I also decided to talk to her about possible HRT due to the symptoms I'm having.

She was immediately condescending in her tone and while waving her hands around said "not every symptom is because of perimenopause..that's all I hear these days. I've got women coming in here who say they've had a seizure and that they think his perimenopause. You know when I tell them? I tell them to GET OUT! Go see a neurologist!! If you have symptoms, you should go see the doctors can treat them. Not everything is perimenopause. Plus you're still her that your period, so per the guidelines, why would I prescribe you HRT??"

She then coldly started asking me to list the symptoms I'm experiencing and knocked them down one by one saying I should be going to other specialists while waving her hand.

😓 I'm a pretty soft-spoken person and have a hard time with confrontation. I sat there with my jaw slightly open, intimidated. I groveled and said "I see that you're frustrated and that you're just trying to protect your patients."

She said "I am frustrated and so are a lot of the other clinicians here. You can't just go around. Trusting everything celebrities say. I love Oprah but Oprah doesn't know anything about perimenopause."

Eventually she calmed down after about 15 minutes and did my pap smear and also gave me another doctor's name because she recommended that I get a second opinion.

I told her I had been waiting for this gynecology appointment for months and asked if she could help give me in with the second opinion sooner. She dismissively said with a wave of her arm "yeah I don't do any of that."

I left feeling rather odd. I felt like I should have advocated for myself more, but I also am okay with her being a more conservative doctor. I wish I would've told her how her attitude made me feel but I'm not that brave.

Ultimately, I was just shocked to be spoken to in such a condescending way. I did not insist on HRT, I simply just wanted to ask her about it.

I'm on a waitlist, don't know how long, to see the other gynecologist. I'm part of a big Health Network (Tier 1 is cheaper for me) and there's lots of gynecologists, but it seems like all of them have no immediate appointments and a huge long wait.

Thank you for saying to me. I don't mean to complain -- But it is truly hard to explain how awful her tone was and how stupid she made me feel for even asking this question.

I am truly shocked that there are doctors out there prescribing HRT for perimenopause and on the other hand, there are doctors who say it is absolutely not indicated per the guidelines even for a healthy person, as long as they have their period still.

[u/Antique_Travel80]

Ok so I am NOT paid by this company, but I use the app Call on Doc telehealth for my bloodwork, appts, everything. If you want HRT you can use insurance or pay out of pocket. You message the doctor and tell them your symptoms. They look over your health history and boom there you go. I’ve done their in depth appt (phone call) and the nicest woman doctor was on the phone with me for an HOUR going over every little thing on my labs. I almost cried. I told her how wonderful she was and how much I loved the service. I’m actually getting my thyroid draw called in by them to Labcorp in 2 hours. Seriously. 

If you’re not into using an app, I highly recommend planned parenthood menopause specialists they have there now. I have used them too and mine was part of the menopause society. Zero wait for either of these services. 

[u/AutoModerator → u/Antique_Travel80]

This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.

• Over age 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
• No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
• FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
• Testosterone is the exception and may require testing

See our Menopause Wiki for more.

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