Relationships
Building a sense of trust and connection with primary health care providers made a significant difference to the way AUB was managed, and women’s experiences with seeking treatment. For example, feeling comfortable to explain all symptoms, feeling listened too, and discussing a treatment plan together had a positive impact on participants.
“being able to have that rapport with the doctor does make a difference and then they can talk to you and explain stuff rather than just feeling unsure that you were checked out properly” Participant 14.
Most women commented on the gender of their GP, and those who did not explicitly state that they would have preferred to see a female GP, when women talked of negative experience they mentioned that the GP was male. Many women disclosed that they needed to see a female doctor as they felt more comfortable and listened to.
“I trust her she can do the gynae in the office, so she’s done all my cervical smears and other tasks-Yeah, she knows my history, my squeamishness.” Participant 4.
Some felt that they would have received a better explanation if the GP was a woman, or a more experienced GP. A number of women described seeking care from multiple doctors, in a helpless attempt to resolve their chronic and debilitating condition (Table 2, quote 6). In some cases, women would see the next available GP, which added an element of chance to whether women would could choose a female GP. It was therefore only by chance that women felt comfortable enough to share their experiences of AUB:
So I call the doctor, lucky that’s the female doctor so I can ((open up)) to talk and then to examine me”. Participant 2.
Low expectations
Women experienced low expectations on two levels, one of the care that they were going receive and of themselves.