Warning: the following may get too personal and/or too serious for some of you. Proceed at your own risk.
Because I'm in law school full time, I have law school health insurance, and let's just say it's not great. I have to pay for everything up front and then I'm reimbursed for a portion of the costs. It's obviously better than not having insurance, but it's not fabulous either.
Anyway, because the insurance isn't great, I try to cut health care costs when I can. A perfect example is the choice I made to have my annual physical at a clinic run by nurse practitioners rather than doctors. A nurse practitioner at the Minute Clinic (another example of my cost savings choices) recommended the clinic. She told me that the clinic was affordable and serves mainly women and children, so it sounded good. Until yesterday anyway, while I was actually having the physical. That's when reality set in. I will spare you most of the details, but there are some things that really bothered me and still bother me today.
Things actually started off well. Upon arrival, I completed the new patient forms that clinics always require. The forms asked questions about who I partnered with, whether I was gay, etc. I felt they were all around inclusive forms. Thus, everything seemed good at that point.
However, when the nurse came into the exam room and introduced herself, everything started going down hill. She seemed quite uncomfortable, and her bedside manner was just awkward. In our initial conversation, I mentioned that I was a lesbian and how I know that sometimes changes gynecological concerns. She then became a bit flustered and admitted she didn't know the guidelines for how I should be treated (what to test for, how often, etc.). She did say she felt embarrassed, and while I was annoyed, I also thought, "well, this isn't THAT unusual, so I guess it will be fine."
The exam then proceeded (still awkwardly I might add). At one point, she had to step outside so I could change, and I heard her talking to her colleagues about me. I heard, "she's a lesbian" muffle muffle muffle. I felt like an alien! Almost like she had to call in a special unit or something. Like Men in Black. We have an unusual lifeform here, gotta call in the experts. It didn't feel good, but I can honestly understand why she might have needed to confer with her colleagues. She just should have handled it better: maybe discuss the protocol later or at least be quiet about it. I don't know; it just didn't feel great.
Anyway, after she finished her consult, she came back and continued, at one point asking me if I had any other health concerns. I mentioned that I have irregular periods from time to time and I asked if that meant I would have trouble getting pregnant in the future. She proceeded to say, "yes it could, but does that matter?" WHAT? Why wouldn't my being infertile matter? Because I'm gay? Because I'm 31? Because I'm single? What? Feeling somewhat stunned, I said, yes, of course it matters! She seemed surprised and then sort of fumbled through a response, at one point suggesting that I should start trying to get pregnant now or soon. I had no idea what to say at that point, so I mumbled something about needing to finish law school first (she knew I was a law student). She then proceeded to tell me about increased infertility after the age of 35, of which I'm well aware, and finally I was saved by a need to go to the lab for blood work.
So, I think you get the idea about this visit. I'm leaving out many details, but overall, the visit sucked. It wouldn't have been so bad if she simply didn't know how to treat lesbians specifically. I understand that there hasn't been a lot of medical research on lesbian health care, and I know that many doctors aren't up on the latest information. I can also understand why she might have needed to consult with her colleagues, even if she mangled the process. What I cannot understand however, and what also makes me sad and angry, is her overall ignorance...women don't care about their fertility because they are gay?!? WTF! For the first time in a long time, I was reminded that I am a minority and that most people don't care or think about the GLBT community and its needs. I felt very "other" if that makes sense. She didn't know about lesbian health because she never had to think about it. Sad.
Needless to say, I need to find a new clinic. In reality though, I will probably confront the same ignorance in other clinics as well. That makes me angry and sad and also reminds me of how much equality/equity work remains to be done, in health care AND other areas. Sad sad sad. We need more gay doctors, just like we need more gay everything...perhaps it's time to recruit. I could always use another toaster oven! PS: To those of you who don't know, I want to have kids, and I think I would make a fabulous mom. Whoa, a lesbian who wants kids. Call the CIA.
Posts
