Ontario mom’s ‘medical gaslighting’ experience all too common, UWindsor study finds

Monica Bull says nurses dismissed her pleas for help with severe pain after she gave birth in 2020. That dismissal of care is a phenomenon described by a University of Windsor study as "medical gaslighting." (Source: Monica Bull)

When Monica Bull gave birth to a baby girl, she immediately sensed something was wrong.

“I couldn’t even hold my daughter because I was in so much pain,” said Bull.

But instead of receiving treatment for her postpartum pain, Bull said she experienced medical gaslighting — when health-care professionals dismiss or downplay patients' health concerns.

This phenomenon is at the centre of a University of Windsor study, titled “Women’s Experiences with Medical Gaslighting in the Canadian Healthcare Context.”

Since data collection began in November 2023, the study has garnered more than 1,000 responses.

Bull’s ordeal began after an emergency C-section in 2020, when she started experiencing extreme pain.

“I told her that I was in a lot of pain, and I couldn’t move,” said Bull.

“But my nurse kept acting like I was being overdramatic, telling me I had to get up and go home because I had a baby to take care of.”

Despite her repeated pleas for help, Bull said she was discharged from the hospital just two days after her C-section.

Bull recalled sitting in a wheelchair and immediately feeling a “pop” in her abdomen.

“The drive home took about an hour, and I was crying the whole way. Any little movement caused intense pain,” she said.

The next morning, unable to sleep due to the pain, she went to the emergency room.

“It turned out I was hemorrhaging internally in my uterus after the C-section. There was a massive blood clot, about seven inches long and two inches thick, pressing on my nerves,” Bull said.

“On top of that, fluid was building up in my lungs and heart, making it hard to breathe.”

According to Marissa Rakus, co-ordinator of the University of Windsor study, experiences like Bull’s are alarmingly common.

“Almost any woman you talk to has had some sort of experience like this, whether it’s major or minor,” said Rakus.

“There’s a bias toward seeing women as dramatic, overly emotional, or seeking attention, which leads to their concerns not being taken seriously.”

The study has revealed recurring patterns of dismissal that often delay diagnoses and treatment.

“We’ve heard stories of women presenting with severe pain and being told it’s just normal period pain or having their physical conditions attributed to mental health issues,” said Rakus.

“Sometimes it takes women years — upwards of 18 years — to get an answer, and in some cases, they still don’t have one.”

Rakus explained that the issue is deeply rooted in the history of health care.

“The medical system was built by men, for men. Most of what we know is based on male anatomy and clinical trials on men’s bodies,” she said.

“Diseases that are more common for women, like fibromyalgia, endometriosis, PCOS, and chronic fatigue syndrome, are more contested because there’s a lack of funding and education on these illnesses.”

Bull’s harrowing experience five years ago permanently altered how she approaches health care.

“It has definitely made me hesitant to go to the hospital,” she said.

“Now, when I go to the emergency room or any medical appointment, if I feel like a nurse is dismissing me, I advocate for myself more. I’ve learned more medical terms so I can explain what’s going on with me clearly, so they don’t think I’m faking my illness or what I’m feeling.”

The University of Windsor study is being conducted through the HEAL Lab, led by Dr. Kendall Soucie, which focuses on women’s health research.

“We think it’s really important for women to be a part of their care. It should be a collaborative process. That’s one of the biggest things we want to promote,” said Rakus.

“I think if we can do one thing with this study, it’s make women feel like they’re not alone in what they’re going through.”