“I was called back for my exam. This started out as a pretty typical interaction with the nurse… until it wasn’t. She took my vitals, had me pee in a cup and began asking me about my medical history. All good. Then she asked about any symptoms or problems I may be having or have had recently. We proceeded accordingly until I mentioned a minor breast issue and that I still make milk even after having weaned four years ago.
This set off alarm bells for her. After an additional series of questions, she tells me that today’s appointment will be a breast exam and that my annual gyne and IUD removal will be pushed to a later date.
I inquired as to why both couldn’t be done today since I was there anyway and a manual palpitation of my breasts takes all of two to three minutes to complete, if that. She explained that it was about time and prioritization. Since cancer is a *bad* thing, they needed to do the breast exam today and would need to push the IUD removal till a later appointment. (Note: there is no mammography on site, that is to be scheduled for a later date as well.)
I asked again as to why both couldn’t be done since I had an appointment for the IUD removal. The receptionist had mentioned that there was no appointment immediately after me, so any extra time shouldn’t have been an issue.
I explained that since my intention was to get pregnant at 41, that I need to start trying with the next ovulation cycle. Hence, my need to get the IUD out today rather than later.
She insisted that due to time constraints, they couldn’t do both on the same day. I find this to be illogical and not in line with what I know of breast exams and how long they take. Eventually, I relented and grudgingly set a future appointment.
I put my boots on the ground during March for Women’s Lives in DC in April 2003
She then asked if I was using condoms in addition to my IUD. I said “no” and reminded her that I intended to get pregnant and she launched into a “condoms prevent STD’s” speech. This is yet another example of a lack of active listening skills. It felt like she was going through a rote script, rather than hearing what I was saying. It’s awfully tough to get pregnant if you are using condoms.
The physician then comes into the room. She and the nurse discuss my situation. I reiterate to the doctor my need to have the IUD removed and my relative lack of concern over still making breastmilk and the atypical breast swelling before my menstrual cycle. She repeats what the nurse said about time constraints and insists that I schedule a future appointment.
I’m then taken to another room where I’m given a paper half – gown for the breast exam. It is, as I suspected, a manual breast exam taking all of 2-3 minutes. She asked me to express breastmilk, which I did. We talked for a brief moment. I asked, yet again, about my IUD, explaining the inconvenience of having to return a second time and the timeline with regards to ovulation. I expressed my disappointment and my dissatisfaction. I was again told “no”.
We discussed the interaction during the scheduling of the appointment and the doctor apologized for the non-mission statement based conversation which had taken place.
I then was moved on to a blood draw for STD testing for which I had given consent. All told, this took 90 minutes, including multiple wait times and room transfers.
I am left feeling unheard and ignored.
My autonomy was not respected in these interactions with the nurse and the doctor.
Regardless of what issue may or may not be going on with my breast, I was there for a valid purpose – IUD removal, which they did not do.
The delay costs me additional time and money and possibly means that I miss my next ovulation cycle to boot. At 41, I can’t afford to miss a cycle to try to conceive.”