Doctors speak up about taboos surrounding women's health

Generation Next Fertility hosted a free online webinar, East Meets West, on Wednesday, March 11.

The event focused on education about womens reproductive health and on redefining taboo subjects surrounding it in Asian cultures.

Speakers included practicing OB-GYNs, mental health specialists and dietitians.

Janelle Luk, a doctor, founding partner and medical director of Generation Next Fertility, shared her vision for womens health care.

I want to be a voice for women, Luk said. I want to double down on empowerment and education.

In the panel titled Asian Womens Taboos Breaking Down Stigmas, panelists discussed how rarely womens health, especially in Asian cultures, is addressed.

Some of these topics, I dont even remember talking to my parents about, Luk said.

Other female doctors shared painful memories that resulted from the lack of honest conversations.

Winnie Chan, a certified acupuncturist with her own practice, said she suffered from endometriosis.

I was suffering in silence for years, Chan said. Because I was told that that is what it means to be a woman.

Chan said there is a need to reframe attitudes toward womens health from silence and stigmas to curiosity and education.

Panelists also discussed how the silence and secrecy surrounding womens health can have broader implications.

Luk said that although boys and girls begin with similar levels of self-confidence, self-confidence does change right after puberty.

Panelists explained that this drop in self-confidence may result from the stigma surrounding womens health and menstruation as something shameful or unclean.

Jess Gagui, a doctor and occupational therapist, said she often works with patients who apologize for feeling unwell because of menstruation complications.

We dont have to apologize for this very natural thing that happens to us, Gagui said.

Luk also shared her own experience from her childhood. She recalled that when she purchased feminine hygiene products with her father, the cash register wrapped the feminine hygiene products in newspapers.

You dont need to say anything, Luk said. Its implied when you try to wrap and hide these things that its dirty.

Panelists also said these taboos leave many women hesitant to visit womens health clinics.

Jennifer Butt, a practicing OB-GYN, emphasized the importance of normalizing visits to womens health providers.

Its really just a delay to care, Butt said. Women should visit their OB-GYNs just as you visit other health professionals for a check-up.

Luk and Butt said many women visit womens health clinics only when facing external pressures, such as trying to become pregnant, rather than for preventive checkups.

All the panelists said they are united in their mission to advocate for women.