Latinas On Twitter Are Dragging The Machismo That Has Been Plaguing Our UTIs And Things Just Got Real
Women’s healthcare is a raging dumpster fire and if you’ve ever fallen victim to a UTI you know this burning truth well. The’re no doubting the fact that the centuries-long absence and exclusion of women in STEM fields have caused concern for women’s health to fall pretty low on the totem pole of medical research and treatment. In the U.S. over 100 million Americans report living with chronic pain. Most of these sufferers are women. Still, studies reveal that when it comes to women, doctors are more likey to discount women and their pain, chalking their complaints up to psychological pangs that they have to just learn to live with.
A recent thread on Twitter is highlighting this fact and Latinas, who are one of the groups most at risk when it comes to health because of systematic oppression, are especially riled.
A woman has Twitter feeling SEEN as hell after joking about the frustrations of having a UTI.
We need a disney princess with chronic UTIs who goes to the doctor and the doctor tells her to always pee after sex and the princess says she’s already doing that and the doctor says well that’s all the advice I have
— hell woods (@floozyesq) March 28, 2018
It’s not uncommon for women to walk out of an OBGYN appointment feeling as if they’ve done something wrong. Particularly when it comes to the day we catch a UTI because “maybe,” the doctor says, we forgot to “pee after sex, or stop having sex, or have poor hygiene, OR forgot to consume every last bottle of Ocean Spray at the grocery store.”
And for the most part, Latina Twitter is here for the drag.
Goldenglobes.com / Giphy.comBecause as women of color we are well aware of the fact that we make up are one of the highest groups in the country whose pains are dismissed by doctors.
And also because we’re all too familiar with the impact machismo has had on our healthcare.
Lol seriously, if UTIs were as common in men science would have had the miracle cure figured out 30 years ago
— Laurie (@LaurieDelBae) March 29, 2018
The country has a massive disparity in health when it comes to Latinas. Not only do we have to deal with the stigma incorrectly associated with our vaginas and lack of “purity,” but we also have to deal with being completely underserved in the healthcare fields.
Because how often are we told to pee after sex and use cranberry juice like Drano to relieve our pain?
"Have you tried drinking cranberry juice?" pic.twitter.com/Z3vVwNLm2t
— ? (@heartsleeve) March 28, 2018
Honestly, how male entitlement hasn’t already motivated male cranberry farmers of the world to push out ads for OBGYNs starring themselves is beyond me.
Or, shamed into believing our UTIs are our fault.
My disinterested male doctor told me that (I was a virgin at the time) and to also "wipe front to back." pic.twitter.com/zZxU2CLXNx
— Julie (@Buellie1208) March 28, 2018
Because even though UTIs are an extremely common occurance in women, and experienced by men, the infection also come with a stigma. Consider how many times someone has made you feel embarrassed about having a UTI by suggesting you “wipe properly,” “shower,” or “clean after sex.”
Or, EVEN BETTER, have a male doctor mansplain the basics of our vaginal situation.
Omg. This. ?. Had a dr tell me that I wasn’t peeing blood it was period blood. I had to tell him 3 x I wasn’t on my period. “This is my 100000000 UTI” – okay, pee after sex, wash yourself before sex, have your partner wash himself before sex. Fml
— Amanda (@rockyama) March 29, 2018
Seriously, we have to deal with mansplainers at work and we still have to deal with it in our yearly vaginal exams too?
This Latina’s tweet perfectly sums up how machismo culture hijacks our vaginal health.
My doctor gave me the same advice before I had even ever seen a penis
— Chelsea Rodriguez (@chelsrodrigo) March 29, 2018
Of course, men get UTIs too. Pero, how are you going to make my VAGINA about your penis in this moment?
But things didn’t get really real until women began to point out how the male-dominated field of STEM affects them in more painful and personal ways.
I hope everything turns out okay! ?? about 4yrs ago I was getting UTI’s all the damn time,& the doctors were confused.. finally when I was recommended to a urologist he informed me that I had a cyst in my bladder. It was extremely painful but once it was removed I felt relieved
— lopez? (@luckytlo213) March 29, 2018
Some women on the thread admitted to having chronic UTI’s that ultimely drove them to leave their jobs. They’ve also highlighted how this gap can have life-threatening costs while also permeating aspects of our vaginal health that stem from mental cramps, PCOS, and pregnancy.
So, here’s to the Latina sitting with her feet in stirrups today prepping herself for her doctor’s week long prescription of cranberry juice with no alcohol.
@am85 / Giphy.comIt’s a long and burning road ahead, but maybe next week they’ll finally give you that antibiotic you asked for.
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