Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Summary

When debating the topic of sexism in medical practices and the diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian syndrome it is imperative to get the viewpoint of multiple sides. Richard Levinson’s Sexism in medicine (1976) explores a wide variety of example of the ingrained sexism in medical practices throughout history. From psychiatry to physical medication, Sexism in medicine (Levinson, 1976) investigates some of the most common practices in medicine and explains how these are rooted in sexist history. In comparison, Des Spence’s From the front line: bad medicine: polycystic ovarian syndrome (2010) reviews the idea that doctors are using reproductive disorder diagnoses, in particular polycystic ovarian syndrome, to further oppress women today in the medical

A large topic in D. Spence’s (2010) review is that women are being over-diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome as a method of further oppressing women in the medical field. That is to say, D. Spence (2010) views the over-diagnosis “has made women anxious, paranoid, and unhappy and has undermined their sexuality” (p. 341). Women who have been diagnosed with Polycystic ovarian syndrome often feel like it is used as an excuse to ignore other problems further down the line. Hormone imbalances, weight problems, and depression are often all blamed on Polycystic ovarian syndrome once a woman has been diagnosed, regardless of whether it is the cause or not. It is in this way that the sexist medical practices perceived in modern practices oppress women, demeaning them and making their problems seem lesser than they are.

Comparatively, R. Levinson’s Sexism in medicine (1976) discusses the major implications that sexism within medical practices can have. One large example of this can be found in the practice of victim blaming. Most notable examples of this fall under the blaming of rape victims for the crime committed but can also be found, in less obvious terms, for any woman. Women seeking help in the medical field often feel ignored or ridiculed for seeking help, feeling as if they are

When discussing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, victim blaming can often be seen in women being told that all of their problems are caused by their weight. Women with Polycystic Ovarian syndrome often suffer from excess weight, particularly in their midsection, and are commonly told that their pain, hormone problems, and irregular menstrual cycles/problems conceiving are due to this. When I was diagnosed at 13 I distinctly remember my doctor telling me that unless I lose weight I will never have kids of my own and I have continuously been told that ever year since then. The act of putting the blame solely on the shoulders of the victim, especially a young girl who has barely begun puberty, is a clear way in which the medical field oppresses women throughout their entire