Lou Portero

Urban Health Today

A study has quantified what many women have long experienced but struggled to prove: systematic dismissal and gaslighting in vulvovaginal healthcare. Published in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833711">JAMA Network Open</a>, the research reveals that 52.8% of patients considered stopping care because their concerns were not addressed, highlighting a critical crisis in women&rsquo;s reproductive health.Medical gaslighting occurs when healthcare providers dismiss patient concerns without proper evaluation, often causing women to question their own perceptions of symptoms. This represents a form of epistemic injustice particularly problematic in healthcare relationships characterized by power imbalances between providers and patients.Researchers from the Centers for Vulvovaginal Disorders surveyed 447 patients with an average age of 41.7 years, creating the first patient-centered instrument to measure these harmful experiences. The team collaborated with advocacy organizations, including the National Vulvodynia Association, to ensure the survey reflected genuine patient concerns.The results were alarming: patients reported that only 43.5% of past clinicians were supportive, while 26.6% were belittling and 20.5% did not believe the patient. Perhaps most concerning, 39.4% of patients said they were made to feel crazy, which was rated as the most distressing behavior on a scale of 1 to 10.The study revealed troubling patterns of inappropriate care. Many patients were told they just needed to relax more (41.6%) or were recommended to drink alcohol (20.6%). Additionally, 16.8% felt unsafe during medical encounters, and 20.6% were referred to psychiatry without receiving medical treatment.Through analysis of over 1,000 patient quotations, researchers identified key themes including clinician knowledge gaps and dismissive behaviors. Patients had seen an average of 5.50 past clinicians, suggesting a pattern of inadequate care that forces women to seek multiple opinions, often encountering repeated dismissive experiences.The emotional toll was substantial, with patients describing general distress and feelings of futility. Younger women appeared particularly vulnerable, as the study found negative associations between age and reports of dismissive treatment.This research provides crucial evidence for addressing systemic problems in vulvovaginal care. The findings suggest urgent needs for improved medical education in sexual medicine, better communication training for providers, and development of trauma-informed care approaches.The study&rsquo;s development of quantitative measures for medical gaslighting represents a significant step toward accountability. As researchers noted, behavior during appointments is the element of care most under clinician control, suggesting that meaningful improvements are achievable through targeted interventions.For women experiencing dismissive care, this research validates their experiences and underscores the importance of seeking providers specifically trained in vulvovaginal disorders and sexual medicine.
<div class="post-references"><h3>References</h3>Reference: Moss CF, Chinna-Meyyappan D, Skovronsky G, et al. Experiences of Care and Gaslighting in Patients With Vulvovaginal Disorders. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(5):e259486. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9486
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The research reveals that 52.8% of patients considered stopping care because their concerns were not addressed.