Why Women Are Particularly Vulnerable to Medical Trauma

Medical trauma can impact anyone — it doesn’t discriminate. However, women are often more vulnerable for a variety of reasons. To understand why, we first need to understand what medical trauma looks like.

Medical trauma refers to any type of medical event that causes extreme psychological or physiological stress. Some examples include a new medical diagnosis, extreme pain caused by a procedure, or poor treatment by a medical professional.

Some of the symptoms of medical trauma include lasting pain, anxiety or depression, dissociation, and even flashbacks to the event.

Understanding why women are particularly vulnerable to medical trauma can help to empower you, whether you’ve already gone through a traumatic experience or you want to advocate for yourself in the future.

Interpersonal Trauma Exposure

Women are often more likely to seek medical attention after a traumatic physical event. That might include things like sexual assault or domestic violence. Even if medical professionals handle those cases with care, it’s not uncommon for women to develop PTSD from the necessary procedures required to treat them.

This kind of interpersonal trauma becomes linked. Something like a sexual assault exam or even treating wounds from violence can become a traumatic experience as the woman re-lives what happened to them. It can create fear and uncertainty when it comes to future procedures.

A Lack of Support

It’s not uncommon for women to want to “tend and befriend” when they’re dealing with stress. They might look to a primary care physician or even a doctor they’ve never met before to support them.

If they don’t receive the kind of support they’re looking for, no matter the reason, it can cause them to feel more vulnerable. That’s especially true if they’ve shared a problem (either physical or emotional) and don’t get the supportive and caring response they crave.

There’s also an ongoing problem with healthcare bias. Yes, even in the 21st century, we’re still facing far too many dismissals of pains and concerns women have. If a doctor is dismissive or doesn’t take a female patient’s concerns seriously, it can not only make them more vulnerable to medical trauma, but it could have a horrible negative impact on that patient’s health.

Symptom Manifestation

Some symptoms of certain conditions are more gendered than others. Women might experience them differently than men, or they might not manifest themselves as clearly.

As a result, women are often more misdiagnosed than men. That can lead to delayed or incorrect treatment, which can not only be dangerous for a woman’s health but can create a traumatic overall experience. People come to medical professionals expecting to receive the right diagnosis and care. When that doesn’t happen, fear and stress tend to take over.

What Can You Do?

If you’re a woman, whether you’ve experienced medical trauma or not, it’s important to recognize that as of today, your gender makes you more vulnerable to that kind of trauma.

So, what can you do about it?

Start by finding a medical professional you trust. You have every right to “shop around” for primary care physicians until you find someone you’re comfortable with and who provides the support you need. When you have a trusted PCP, they can recommend different specialists to you based on your medical condition.

Next, be an advocate. Know your rights as a patient, set healthy boundaries with your doctors, and don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself when you don’t feel you’re getting the care you deserve. If you are uncomfortable opening up about those things, bring someone with you who can speak up on your behalf.

Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional if you’ve experienced medical trauma. Trauma counseling can help you better understand the source of the trauma while providing effective strategies for symptom relief. As a woman vulnerable to medical trauma, it’s essential to know you’re not alone. Reach out for a consultation today.