Twitter Thread Advising Doctors On How To Approach Sexual Assault Survivors For Examination Is So Relevant
We live in a country where the number of sexual assault cases against women is always on a rise. We also live in a country that doesn’t exactly support women to come out and speak up about their traumas. Instead, it asks them to be ‘hush-hush’ about the entire incident. What makes this entire situation even worse is when sexual assault or rape survivors have to go through medical examinations that are conducted, more often than not, in a very un-empathetic manner. The way doctors or medical professionals might approach the patient that has undergone trauma can sometimes be rude, insensitive, and undignified. But one Twitter user has tweeted a thread that talks about how both doctors and patients (including sexual assault survivors) can approach pelvic exams and pap smear type examinations, with full sensitivity and empathy.
Recently, a Twitter user, @roocheetah, wrote a thread of tweets that highlighted how medical professionals can sometimes have questionable bedside manners when examining sexual assault survivors. What’s more, the general aversion to talking about things like sex and relevant procedures like pap smears or pelvic exams that are also required to detect cervical cancer in women means that women aren’t often comfortable during these appointments. This thread then does a very crucial job of not only suggesting ways for doctors to be mindful and empathetic, but also providing a sort of explainer for patients who might be going in for their first ever pap smear or cervical examination
Pelvic exams and Pap smears for survivors of sexual assault: A thread for patients and doctors. Please consider this a trigger warning since we will be delving deep into anatomy, sexual trauma and experiences with healthcare providers.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
We talk and understand very little about this. Sexual assault rates are very high in India and cervical cancer testing is very low. Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in Indian women. Healthcare providers have poor bedside manner which makes things worse.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
If you have survived sexual assault, here are some possible responses your body may experience during a pelvic exam or pap smear – muscle tightness or spasms, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, contraction of vaginal muscles, pelvic pain. This is a trauma response.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
Our bodies store trauma. When explicit memory fails during a traumatic experience, the trauma isn't logged in and stored properly in our episodic memories. Our brain resorts to an easier process and encrypts traumatic memories as bodily sensations.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
Also Read: Spiritual Healer, Previously Accused Of Sexual Assault, Wants To “Free” Woman From Her Parents. Court Says No
It can help for clinicians to have a conversation during intake. Questions like 'Have you experienced unwanted sexual contact or abuse? Do you feel safe at home/with your partner? Are you willing to discuss your history of sexual assault?' can be useful to start conversation.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
Patients are bound to feel hesitant & in a region like South Asia where stigmatisation around sex & sexual violence is high, patients don't comfortable disclosing information unless asked gently. Many patients may not even identify these bodily sensations as trauma responses.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
It can help for clinicians to explain the steps involved during pelvic exams and pap smears. Clinicians often get irritated when patients are not at ease during pap smears,which makes the test painful & difficult to complete. Clenching of vaginal muscles is a stress response.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
Walking the patient through the process and allowing time can not only help manage the trauma responses, it can also prevent retraumatisation. Creating a safe environment for patients with a history of sexual assault is a physican's responsibility.
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) September 14, 2021
Having read the Twitter thread, one thing is clear that taking a bit of effort to make a safe space for the patients can make things easier for them as well as the medical professionals. Being empathetic, caring, and sensitive towards them will make them comfortable enough to open up, particularly if they are sexual assault survivors who might already be rattled. We need our medical professionals to consider the patient’s psychological and physiological condition as well during the examinations.
