Reply to two discussion posts. No minimum word count.
Post 1:
Many patients may find it difficult to discuss reproductive health for many reasons. Sexual and reproductive health issues are often stigmatized because of societal expectations that people should not discuss them. A patient may also feel uncomfortable discussing their disease with a healthcare professional for to personal reasons, such as a lack of knowledge about the ailment, problems with body image, or traumatic experiences in the past. As an example, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) impacts several parts of a person’s health, such as their menstrual cycle, their weight, and the amount of hair they develop. A person’s sense of self-worth and general health may be profoundly affected by these symptoms, making it an especially delicate subject to approach (Hassan & Farag, 2019).
I might tackle this with compassion by saying:
“In the first place, Coming up with a topic to talk about PCOS might be intimidating, I get it. Feeling conflicted about discussing physical problems like menstrual irregularities or changes in your body is normal. These are serious problems, and you should know that you are not alone. Today, we are at a safe place with our discussion. I am here to listen and provide guidance as you handle this situation. Together, we can explore your options for PCOS management and choose on the one that works best for you. Please don’t hesitate to communicate with me about anything, no matter how little, related to your well-being and comfort”.
We can assist patients feel more comfortable talking about their reproductive health issues by making the space welcoming and safe for them to do so.
Reference
Hassan, H., & Farag, D. (2019). The impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on women’s quality of life: Nursing guidelines for its management. Clinical Nursing Studies, 7(3), 42-57.
Post 2:
Hello Class,
The reproductive system is the biological system made up of all the anatomical organs involved in sexual reproduction. There is major taboo surrounding the topic of S.E.X.! In my opinion, patients might struggle to talk about their reproductive system with medical providers because of the complexity of the issues that can occur with it, fear of judgement, embarrassment because of their lack of knowledge they know about it, societal roadblocks, religious or cultural beliefs. Also discussing the reproductive system could be triggering for several reasons such as sexual abuse or fertility issues.
Under the Aging And The Female Reproductive System in our textbook, uterine fibroids are briefly discussed. Uterine fibroids are referred to as a “harmless condition”, which are benign masses of cells.
If I had a patient that complained about painful menstrual cycles and excessive bleeding throughout the month. I would prepare for a conversation by understanding their previous medical history by asking questions. I would reassure them that these are standard questions and maybe some specific ones in hopes of determining the issue. I would explain everything to them. I would not assume that they know anything, unless they tell me they are familiar with something and that I do not need to go into detail about. I would share the next steps, like preparing them in what to expect when they get a biopsy and vaginal ultrasound done. I would also inform them of the expected timeframe in which I’d have the results. Depending on the results I will inform them of all the possible options and side effects of each. I would make sure that they are involved in the decision-making process as much of possible.
Something related, but a little off topic…I took my daughter to a gynecologist. I was very impressed. The doctor pulled out a big hand-held mirror for my daughter to hold. The doctor then proceeded to point out all of her lady parts, provided the medical names and shared their functions. I think if that type of care and attention to detail was provided to all we would be more informed and more inclined to tell your physician what’s going on and ask those awkward questions. As a woman I have had my fair share of both great and bad experiences. I believe that similar to our primary care physician when it comes to selecting a OBGYN you have to find the best match for yourself, don’t settle for the one’s accepting new patients – do your research. It will make a world of difference and will also be the determining factor of if you can be transparent and open with your doctor vs. scared to ask questions and then to only rely on Dr. Google because you didn’t feel comfortable having the conversation.
Betts, J. G. (2017). Anatomy and Physiology (p. 1308). OpenStax. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/9781947172043/epub/OEBPS/chapter27.html#page
