We won’t sugarcoat it—pelvic pain is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. And the journey to a diagnosis and effective treatment can feel like an uphill battle.
Why? Because too often, women’s pain is dismissed. Getting answers can feel like running headfirst into a wall of disbelief—from the healthcare professionals who are meant to help you.
At The Wellness Boutique, we hear it way more often than we should:
- “They told me everything looked normal.”
- “I felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously.”
- “They said it was just stress.”
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. What you may have experienced is something called medical gaslighting—and it’s far more common than you might think.
So, what is medical gaslighting?
Medical gaslighting happens when a healthcare provider minimises, dismisses, or ignores your symptoms—often chalking them up to anxiety, stress, or overreaction. Instead of investigating the root cause, you’re met with a shrug, a sigh, or the suggestion to just “relax,” leaving you feeling powerless in your health journey.
It’s a pattern that’s especially common in women’s health, and even more so when it comes to complex or poorly understood conditions like pelvic pain.
A study presented at the ISSWSH 2024 Annual Meeting found that, on average, patients experiencing vulvovaginal pain had seen 5.7 different providers before receiving a diagnosis. And only 42% of those patients felt supported by their healthcare providers.
And here’s a stat that stopped us in our tracks…
55% of patients said they’d considered giving up on seeking care entirely due to repeated dismissals and lack of validation.
That’s not okay.
The emotional toll is real
When your pain is dismissed, it doesn’t just delay your treatment, it prolongs your suffering and can chip away at your emotional wellbeing.
Here are some of the most distressing findings from the same study:
- 45% of patients were told they “just needed to relax”
- 39% were made to feel “crazy”
- 31% were told their pain was just anxiety
- 27% felt belittled by a healthcare provider
- 22% were referred to psychiatry instead of receiving proper medical treatment
- 21% reported that doctors did not believe their symptoms
- 19% felt unsafe during a medical encounter
- 18% were even advised to drink alcohol to “fix” their pain (!)
It’s no wonder so many people with pelvic pain lose faith in the medical system. When your symptoms are consistently downplayed or misattributed, it becomes harder and harder to advocate for yourself.
No one should be made to feel small, dismissed, or unsure of their own experience.
You deserve to be taken seriously
At The Wellness Boutique, we believe your pain is real. We always take the time to listen to your story. We don’t brush things off. And we certainly don’t rush you (which, let’s be honest, is another huge problem with the mainstream medical system).
Our team of women’s health physiotherapists specialises in treating pelvic pain with evidence-based, respectful care. Whether it’s endometriosis, vaginismus, or pain with no clear label (yet), we’re here to support you and help you find relief.
What you can do if you suspect you’ve been medically gaslit
- Back yourself. Your pain is valid, even if someone else didn’t see it.
- Trust your instincts. You know your body better than anyone else.
- Find a supportive healthcare specialist. Look for someone who specialises in pelvic health and respects you..
- Keep searching. Seek a second (or third) opinion until you find someone who listens.
- Track symptoms. A journal can help you identify patterns and advocate for yourself.
- Find your people. Support groups (online or in-person) can offer encouragement and connection.
- Set boundaries. If a provider makes you feel unheard or unsafe, it’s okay to walk away.
Medical gaslighting is real, and it’s harmful. But you should never feel like your pain doesn’t matter or that you have to give up on finding relief.
If you’ve been dismissed and don’t know where to turn, we’re here for you. There are providers who specialise in women’s health and take your pain seriously—like us. At The Wellness Boutique, we’re committed to helping you find the answers you deserve.
Call us for a chat on 0434 499 478.
Book your Women’s Health Assessment today.
Appointments are claimable on private health.
Credit: “Medical gaslighting and vulvovaginal pain disorders”, The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
