Seven ways to advocate for your health

You’ve probably seen hundreds of wellness articles telling you what to eat and what not to eat, how much to exercise, what vitamins to take and what screenings to do and when. Yes, nutrition, physical fitness and regular health screenings are all important. But one of the most essential things you can do for your overall health and well-being is to advocate for yourself at the doctor.

Why is healthcare self-advocacy so important?

Becoming an advocate for your health can help you get proper and prompt care. It can help ensure that you are not only listened to, but that your concerns are addressed. And it can help guarantee that specific issues like reproductive, sexual and gynecological health are an ever-present part of the conversation.

Advocating women’s health is especially important. Studies show that women’s pain is viewed as less intense and more psychologically based.¹ A 2019 analysis published in Nature Communications found that 72% of women in Denmark wait longer for a diagnosis compared to men. And a 2019 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology stated that women receive significantly less timely treatments for heart disease compared to men.³

Additionally, in a 2021 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, national data was summarized for reproductive health measures, including contraceptive use, mammograms, Pap tests, maternal mortality and unintended pregnancies, and racial and ethnic disparities were found in every reproductive health category,⁴ making self-advocacy even more critical. In the U.S., significant racial and socioeconomic inequalities have been shown in studies among women specifically seeking fertility care.^5,6

How to advocate for your health

So how do you become not only a women’s health advocate but your own best self-advocate? Here are seven practical ways.

1. Find a primary care provider and ob-gyn you like, and see them annually

It’s easy to get in the habit of only seeing a healthcare provider when you have a problem, like when your period is irregular or when you have a urinary tract infection. But it’s important to find a primary care provider and an ob-gyn you like and make an appointment with each of them every year. This 2021 infographic⁷ from The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) covers the many health-related topics an ob-gyn can discuss with you, including:

• General health maintenance
• Menstrual concerns
• Sexuality and healthy relationships
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Birth control
• Genetics and cancer screening
• Vaccinations
• Mental health screening
• Healthy weight
• Infertility counseling
• Pre-pregnancy counseling
• Pregnancy care
• Urinary incontinence
• Menopause

Once you make a habit of visiting your primary care provider and ob-gyn annually, they’ll have history, background and medical records to reference and compare. You can also build better rapports with your providers, and, with time, you’ll better understand each other.

Not sure where to start? Often the best recommendations come from family members and friends. Just be sure to check with your insurance to make sure they’re in-network.

2. Get all recommended screenings

Your ob-gyn will likely recommend certain screenings and may even send you texts, emails or postcard reminders. But ultimately, it’s up to you to make the appointments and get them done. Regular health screenings are one of the easiest ways to advocate for your own health. For example, regular breast screenings can help detect cancer earlier (and possibly at a more curable stage).⁸

• Mammograms: According to ACOG, in the U.S., one in eight women will develop breast cancer by the time they are 75 years old.⁸ Your healthcare provider can help you determine how often you need a mammogram based on your age and risk.
• Pap smears: Many women no longer need to get a Pap smear every year. Per ACOG and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you’re 21 to 29 years old and your Pap smear result is normal, you may be able to wait three years until your next test.^9,10 If you’re 30 to 65 years old, your ob-gyn will help you determine how long you need to wait until your next test.^9,10
• Additional screening tests: Depending on your lifestyle, genetics and more, your ob-gyn or primary healthcare provider may recommend additional screening tests, including a skin exam by a dermatologist, a colonoscopy and more.¹¹

3. Stay in tune with your body

You know you best. Pay attention to your body and any changes you might be experiencing. And don’t rely on memory! Here are some tips for tuning in to your body:

• Keep a detailed diary. If you’re concerned about something, write it down. Note when your symptoms started, daily changes, things you’ve tried, etc.
• Track your period. Whether in the Notes section of your phone or in your planner, keep track of when your cycle begins
• Put yourself first. Whether you’re swamped at work, you’re in the midst of exams or you’re caring for a newborn who isn’t sleeping, you have to make time for you. One of the most important elements of self-care is paying attention to your body when it’s trying to tell you something is wrong.

4. Research your symptoms

Your healthcare providers may be the experts, but you know your body best. Take what you know about yourself — your symptoms, what changes you’ve been experiencing — and think of “research” in broad terms. Research prior to an appointment can look like a lot of different things:

• Online research: Although a lot of misinformation exists online, there are many reliable websites directly related to women’s health (Hint: Look for sites ending in .org, .gov or .edu). Here are some to start your search: 
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Women’s Health
  • The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists: For Patients
  • MedlinePlus: Women
  • The Office on Women’s Health

Also, many hospitals publish a wealth of online information for patients.

• Online forums: More than ever, women are sharing their personal health-related stories, on everything from fertility to cancer, in public and private forums. The #Conceivinghood campaign is an empowering example. Search for groups online and on social media sites to connect with women going through similar experiences and having similar symptoms. Although every person is different, it’s possible to glean information from someone further along in their journey and make notes of ideas and possibilities to discuss during your next ob-gyn visit.
• Peer-reviewed articles: Don’t be intimidated to look up topics in peer-reviewed journals. Yes, some get science-y quite quickly, but the following tricks will help you get the info you need even if you don’t have a PhD:
  • Use dedicated sites for searching peer-reviewed journals, such as Google Scholar and PubMed Central.
  • When reading a peer-reviewed article, pay attention to the beginning. Read the abstract, objective, results and conclusion. There you will likely find answers or, at least, topics to discuss at your next appointment.
  • Don’t ignore the sources at the end of each peer-reviewed article, which will typically list several additional articles about the topic at hand.

5. Ask questions (and write down the answers you get!)

Many women feel uncomfortable asking their healthcare provider or ob-gyn questions about their own health. In case you need a pep talk, here goes:

• You are allowed to ask questions.
• You are not taking up too much of your doctor’s time.
• Your questions are not silly or stupid.
• Your doctor is not judging you.
• Your doctor does not think you are a hypochondriac.
• If you feel as if your doctor is rushing you, you are not obligated to skip or rush through your questions in return.
• If your doctor is dismissive, you are allowed to ask the same question twice.
• If you don’t understand an answer, you are allowed to — and should — ask for a better explanation.
• If your doctor has a patient portal (or a way to ask follow-up questions online), use it! You can always call the doctor’s office with follow-up questions as well.
• You never have to apologize for your questions.

6. Follow through and persevere until the final diagnosis

Consider second opinions. You won’t hurt anyone’s feelings, and in fact, many doctors not only expect it, but recommend it. When should you get a second opinion? Some doctors recommend seeking one when the diagnosis is cancer, when surgery is recommended, when the treatment or diagnosis is unclear or when you simply need it for peace of mind.¹²

Also, listen to your doctor if they suggest a referral. If, for example, you’re having trouble with urinary incontinence and your ob-gyn refers you to urogynecologist, go. In one study of cases, 66% of the diagnoses determined after the referral were better defined or refined than the initial diagnoses, and 21% of the final cases were distinctly different than the initial diagnoses.¹³

7. Enlist help

Self-advocacy doesn’t have to be done in isolation. Sometimes friends and family members may notice signs and symptoms you initially miss. If you’re comfortable, find a partner to assist you, whether in noticing changes, helping you with research, scheduling appointments, accompanying you to the doctor’s office and more. When you’re in the thick of something difficult and personal, it can be helpful to have someone who is a bit more removed assist you from time to time or, if necessary, ask a difficult question, insist on more information or advocate for you when you physically, emotionally or mentally cannot. You can also hire advocates in the form of doulas if you’re pregnant or by using resources such as the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy.