“it Was Never Really A Conversation”: The Rhetoric Of Birth Control As Treatment For Uterine Bleeding Conditions

Through a mixed-methods, social-media-driven study, this research explores the conversations that participants had with their healthcare providers when seeking treatment for AFAB-specific bleeding conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. 34 individuals completed a 22-question survey containing multiple-choice and open-ended questions and 8 individuals participated in remote one-on-one interviews. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were any points of miscommunication that could bring to light new methods for improving doctor/patient communication regarding these conditions, which could improve both patient experience and patient outcomes. Findings suggested three areas of opportunity during doctor-patient communication about UBCs: 1) during the initial visit when a patient begins menstruating when patients are unaware that there is a cause for concern as they have no prior experience with menstruation; 2) when patients explain their concerns and symptoms, participants felt that assumptions were being made without their healthcare provider actively listening to them; 3) and when medical professionals make recommendations for treatment and diagnostics, where participants stated feeling that their healthcare providers acted unilaterally, without including the participant in the process or providing adequate information.