What would you like us to know about your experience accessing reproductive healthcare?
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Accessible and covered but long wait times and miscommunication makes getting procedures done in time make things delayed and harder to connect with the right people and understand where I am in the process.
I identify as Black or African American .
Because of gender dysphoria and previous trauma, I have been temporarily putting off getting regular sexual and reproductive care at the moment.
I identify as Asian .
Yeah it's just been so hard it was so hard to get a consultation to get seen for Perry and menopause that almost gave up but you know sometimes it's just so hard to get a specialist to look at that and figure out and my Imperium menopause or not which is really important because what supplements and hormones and different things like that it does affect a lot of different things plus I have a thyroid disorder so like knowing where I am in my reproductive Health would have been really helpful to know a lot earlier and it took me a long time to find out so then it took me a long time to get my thyroid out and it just slowed up a lot of medical things
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Black or African American, Latinx .
Being trans and non-binary can be a huge barrier to getting culturally and identity/body compentent care for my health issues typically associated with women. and all too often my disabilities are seen as a a barrier to treating me for unrelated health issues, causing me to only get sicker & have compounding health problems build on each other.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Asian, Black or African American, Latinx, White.
Could be to expensive to access
I identify as Latinx .
Doctors lack knowledge about what I'm looking for: non-hormonal birth control. I've had to educate myself and my doctors about what I found and need e.g. Kaiser reimbursement for biometric tracking birth control app tracker and prescription for a female diaphragm. I was also judged for not wanting to take hormonal birth control without the doctor offering any medical advice of actions I could take.
I also have trauma due to an extremely painful IUD insertion when I was younger. I overprepare and experience medical anxiety for any reproductive-related tests. It makes a difference the way that I communicate with a doctor.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Latinx .
Drs need to take sexual and reproductive health care more seriously. Stop blaming it on cramps or our periods!
I identify as Black or African American, Latinx .
finding actual non women's health places that aren't run by old yt women is almost impossible, let alone covered by insurance. finding ppl that recognize these types of appointments might be harder for non gender conforming ppl or neurodivergent ppl, also basically impossible.
I identify as Latinx, White .
Honest, I don’t access this healthcare although I should because I have multiple sexual partners. I’m poly, brown and “visibly” queer. I just don’t feel comfy with any pcp I’ve had here in Pdx.
I identify as Latinx .
Huge lack of knowledge on gender affrrming care. Lack of access and barriers in place to prevent me accessing reproductive care. Gaslighting by reproductive doctor.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Black or African American .
I’m happy to have OHP to help with accessibility
I identify as Latinx .
I access appointments with the gender care clinic virtually which makes accessing care much more accessible. If I had to go in person for check ins it would be a lot more problematic because I would have to take time off work.
I identify as Asian, White .
I would like to acknowledge the great accessibility of planned parenthood where i was able to get an IUD for free
I identify as Latinx .
I wish there was more help from the Consulate of Japan in Portland about how to navigate the local medical system in Portland. I want more personalized, vetted information on where to go, which doctors to see. I'd like to see BIPOC (especially Asian) female doctors who have experiences with Asian immigrants in Portland for my sexual and reproductive care.
Luckily, I have found a BIPOC female naturopath in Portland and she is going to test my sexual hormones, but I am still not sure when I can get sexual and reproductive routine exams.
*I am a voluntary immigrant who came here to get married with my American husband.
I identify as Asian .
I avoid sexual and reproductive care due to sexual trauma.
I identify as Asian, Black or African American, White, .
I go to the Gender care clinic at Kaiser Interstate Medical Center. I have OHP. I've always gotten the care that I've requested from them. My PHP is queer and he's never made me feel fearful of going to him with concerns.
I identify as Asian, Latinx .
I have access to incredible fertility and endometriosis providers in the portland area. the biggest barrier is lack of insurance coverage for IVF. I am an excellent candidate for IVF and have no other options due to tubal endometriosis. i'm relatively young and have a great egg count, all my other numbers are great. all i need is coverage for IVF to be able to grow our queer family in the way my wife and I want to. IUI and other methods are not an option for us. I wish Oregon mandated this coverage for queer families. the other issue is long wait times for my OBGYN who is amazing but it's so hard to get in to see her.
lastly, it took way too long to get diagnosed with endo. i saw multiple providers who did not take my pain seriously.
I identify as Asian, White .
I've had symptoms of PCOS since I was a teenager. I wasn't diagnosed with it till my mid 30's due to medical bias.
I identify as Black or African American, Latinx .
I have an undiagnosed condition in my reproductive organs, that doctors and other providers haven't been able to figure out. but only ever reffer me to minimal testing/ screenings and after they "cant tell" whats wrong they don't ever go searching for deeper avenues of testing. it feels like all i get is a, I cant tell whats wrong with you, a shrug and a let us know if it gets worse. it feels as since im not dying i dont get to know whats wrong with my uterus.
I identify as Latinx .
My experiences in Oregon have been pretty good but it’s important to note that my chronic reproductive health condition (adenomyosis) has been very stable and well managed the whole time I have lived here w no need for any changes to the treatment plan. If my condition got worse, I don’t feel super confident that my current care providers would be able to help and don’t know where else I could seek care.
I identify as Asian .
I have found that online resources have been super helpful in finding affordable and accessible care options.
I identify as Black or African American .
I have not had access to sexual and reproductive health services. I believe it’s important to make these services more available and accessible, especially for people who are new to the country or unfamiliar with the healthcare system.
I identify as Latinx .
I have PMDD. I have often not been treated for it or am offered treatment I do not want. I once had a nexplanon in my arm and it was making my PMDD symptoms happen 24/7 instead of half of the month (which is usual. I had a provider that die to my nexplanon not being expired they kept canceling my my appointment without my consent. I kept calling and telling on staff not to cancel then another person would call leave a voicemail and cancel… when I finally saw the provider I told her I wanted it out because it was giving me my period daily and she said I had another two years until it expired. She kept saying she wanted to keep it in… then when I said I had PMDD and was suicidal all she wanted to do was give me SSRI’s. She talked me out of taking it out and even though I agreed to her plan to take the ssri… she turned to my partner who is a cis male and asked him if he was okay with the plan… he was confused on why she was asking his permission… this was at the Kaiser Sunnyside obgyn… I really love my current doctor at the rockwood clinic but I am wanting to start a family soon and the sunnyside center is the closest clinic… it makes me worried about starting our family…
I identify as Asian .
My provider is also queer and trans; I'm lucky to have access to a doctor who understands me, my concerns, and is able to answer my questions well without me having to be the one to educate them.
I identify as Black or African American .
I haven't had any experience in Oregon yet. In Michigan all of my healthcare was covered. I just got on OHP and I'm hoping everything here is covered
I identify as Black or African American, White .
The forcing of birth control or surgeries for all chronic hormonal disorders is frustrating. So many people including myself have pcos and have found nothing that works for them but stay ok birth control despite the chronic symptoms it causes.
I identify as Black or African American .
I only currently receive HRT and reproductive health does not apply to me as I'm not sexually active, but I experience many complications in the health world due to having Long COVID
I identify as Latinx .
I only decide to get care when i really need it and when i know it's safe, after word of mouth referral and reading reviews. Keeping myself safe is most important but also means long wait times for appointments
I identify as Asian, White .
I started hormone therapy here in Oregon and the process was much easier than I anticipated, it wasn’t full of barriers or judgement just a medical professional who was helping me get what I need
I identify as Latinx .
I struggle with my insurance because it’s through work, and it won’t cover my HRT because I haven’t seen a therapist continuously for over a year about my gender identity. So I’m paying for T out of pocket, and it’s a lot of money. Same with the labs that need to be done to make sure I’m safe.
I identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .
I'm a trans advocate and educator who works in healthcare, so I admit that my access and understanding of insurance, medical care, and community resources is higher than most. I also moved to OR from OK, so I'm used to navigating much *much* worse systems for gender, sexual, and reproductive healthcare. In comparison, Portland seems like a walk in the park
I identify as Latinx, White .
I think the questions have covered this pretty thoroughly, but I wanted to state in my own words that a huge barrier for me accessing any health services is finding this mysterious and elusive combination of healthcare providers who move through the world similar enough to me that I don’t have to catch them up so to speak. Often it’s I found a cool queer doctor but they’re white, I found a cool therapist but they’re white and young. Honestly, I’m going to stop there and just say it is nigh impossible to find a queer & Black healthcare providers who move who is around my age, or, isn’t around my age. And that’s even before I get into an any combination of that + takes my insurance. The cost is prohibitive, and the risks of having to educate my provider on what I would consider essential knowledge is too high.
I identify as Black or African American .
I was not taken seriously at OHSU about hormonal testing and the main doctor there said they would block my insurance if I tried to order hormone testing
I identify as Asian, White .
I was sexually assaulted in the past, and when I went to Kaiser ER in Sunnyside, the nurse told me I couldn't be raped because I was trans. Only cis women could be raped. I stormed out of the ER and it was 3 days until my friend took me to another hospital to get care, get STI testing, etc.
I identify as Latinx .
Vasectomy - scheduling for a commutative appointment was very difficult. Ultimately, decided it wasn’t worth it to go through all of the bureaucracy
I identify as Asian .
It is readily accessible but the problem is the cost of having it without insurance
I identify as Black or African American .
It’s kind of expensive and you need a good insurance to cover everything
I identify as Latinx .
It's difficult to find a decent OBGYN in the Kaiser system that won't talk about weight before anything else comes out of my mouth.
I identify as Black or African American .
The homophobia and assumptions of heterosexuality, especially if you have birthed children from a previous relationship with a male. This has caused many issues with providers that I have sought for care. They assume I have sex with men or someone with a penis or that I will again at some point, regardless of what I say or how long it has been. This creats an unsafe environment and road blocks access to certain kinds of care.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Latinx, White, .
Living in Portland has thankfully given me decent access to sexual/reproductive care, but the quality, accessibility and affordability can vary wildly because I'm reliant on OHP which is not accepted everywhere and also limits the degree of care available. For example, sperm cryopreservation is not covered, which inhibits my willingness to start HRT, ultimately leaving me in a negative feedback loop where I want to start HRT - and theoretically could start - but am hesitant due to possible infertility. This, to me, feels like a goal of the system; to force me to choose between a potential family and my own happiness.
I identify as Black or African American, White .
When I changed insurance, I tried to get STI tested with providence but I didn't know how. I signed up for an e-visit and I joined the line while at work. I waited for 2 hours and at that point, I had to leave work so I never actually got to talk to anyone. I still don't know how to set up an appointment and I got discouraged by the long wait time.
I identify as Asian .
Often i am turnt away when i try to get care because my insurance doe not cover thr care.
I identify as Black or African American .
It’s impossible to get the care I need as an intersex person. No one knows how to care for me. No one thinks to check the prostate cells I have because I also have a vulva/vagina.
I identify as Prefer not to say or use these categories .
OHP providers are notorious for treating patients poorly - I remember a few years back, I think OHEA held a community forum online about patients with OHP and there were so many horror stories about dentists and doctors. Submitting complaints to the state of Oregon about this treatment is too hard, especially for monolingual non-English speakers, who already feel like they're not taken seriously.
I identify as Latinx .
Lack of QTBIPOC care providers sometimes leads to avoidance in seeking care. This holds especially true for finding non-biased mental health providers. I had to change my PCP and clinic due to lack of access/knowledge of gender-affirming care.
I identify as Asian, Latinx .
sometimes providers can be condescending. bad experiences in the past keep me from bringing up questions at appointments if im not at a specifically queer health space.
I identify as Latinx, White .
They made me feel dirty
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Latinx .
It’s difficult to find someone who has experience and knowledge working with transmasculine people
I identify as Latinx .
Providers' lack of competency navigating sexual and reproductive care with trans patients, particularly patients who are on hormone replacement therapy and have received one or more gender-affirming surgeries
I identify as Asian, White, Prefer not to say or use these categories, .
something I have noticed is that it doesn't seem as if most medical professionals agree on how to tell symptoms for UTIs because so many people in my community and I have also experienced finding out we HAD UTIs only after we were actively suffeering from kidney infections
I identify as Asian .
please focus on VULVAR conditions not just vaginal conditions, such as atrophic vulvar lichen planus that is also capable of affecting anywhere there is mucosa (EVERYWHERE). also focus on lichen sclerosis for the same reasons and have sexual health providers be unafraid of the clitoris for god's sakes and check people with vulvas for ADHESIONS AND PHIMOSIS. I was told I had "just discharge" when I had a whole condition... for SEVEN YEARS.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Asian, Black or African American, Latinx, Middle Eastern or North Africann, White.
Some providers can be judgemental about polyamory and pansexuality.
I identify as Latinx .
My doctor was kind, but it’s has been hard to get ahold of provides that give gender affirming care. Everything has a waitlist and is very frustrating
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Latinx .
Wait times are incredibly long and the referral process is so mond-numbing sometimes. I have to jump through hoops to prove I need the help I need. I havent recieved any sexual health care in over 6 years as a result of this. Its too much to navigate.
I identify as Black or African American .
Typically, the doctors always lead with that my weight is the cause of all my medical issues.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Latinx, White, .
My provider is excellent. However, the practice added to my chart and medical records "risky sexual behaviors" once I began PrEp. I am in a mostly monogamous marriage. This feels stigmatizing and "judgy." The provider is Providence Primary Care, so I feel their religious affiliation and potential personal biases caused this.
I identify as Latinx .
Often not feeling listened to or taken seriously when discussing my symptoms. Very few options to deal with issues relating to sexual health for people with uteruses.
I identify as Black or African American, White .
my job covers this care and my doctor for this care has generally been helpful and responsive. I was diagnosed for endometriosis at a young age and I've learned to advocate for myself to keep my pain low.
I identify as Black or African American .
One of the major barriers to accessing care (specifically pap smears) is the double whammy of being a survivor of sexual violence and agender. So getting a pap smear is retraumatizing, but the ways that my doctors have often dealt with that is by leaning hard into gendered language--it's so important for me to get a pap smear to protect my womanhood, so that I can be a mother, etc. (One PCP did a whole, like, Divine Feminine/Mother Goddess thing which would have been funny if I weren't on the verge of a panic attack the whole time.) So the combination of "I have to do this thing that is deeply physically uncomfortable and will set off my PTSD for the rest of the day" and "my provider will 'helpfully' misgender me the whole time" makes me avoid pap smears for as long as I can. Also, because I'm asexual and have never had consensual sex, providers get really confused about how to deal with me. Perhaps the most telling exchange was when a PCP asked me about the genders of my past partners. I asked if she was asking what had come into contact with my genitals in what configurations, and she said, no, she was asking about past partners. I said the genders of my partners, and then pointed out that two of the three had been trans and one of those partners I had not been sexually active with and asked again if she was asking what had come in contact with genitals. She said no again, but then was shocked when I told her that I'd never had PIV sex (after she ignored me and tried to use a regular size speculum when I said the regular size wouldn't fit). I think that some providers prefer to use more euphemistic language, but I want the most clinical language at all times to prevent stupid assumptions like that.
I identify as Latinx .
Sometimes I am not taken as seriously due to ageism (I present younger despite my actual age). Appointments are also too short (15 minutes) to address major concerns. I made a request for routine labwork that was denied because "if you're not feeling pain, you should be fine." I agreed not to pursue labwork due to the costs.
I identify as Asian .
Planned Parenthood on MLK has been amazing for me and my partner. Other doctors have been callous and unsafe. I was unable to access HRT until I started going to PP.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, White .
Assumptions and bias around being a Black mother and forced birth control. "Making sure" i don't get pregnant
I identify as Black or African American, Latinx .
At my first ever gynecologist appointment (in a seemingly all-white clinic) I experienced a traumatic examination by a doctor who spent the majority of the appointment ignoring and belittling me, and who later prescribed me a medication that majorly impacted my physical and mental health. I haven't tried again.
I identify as Asian, Black or African American, White, .
Being discriminated for my weight is the worst because it makes me not want to get the help and just leave. It already takes alot of courage to walk in there for help.
I identify as American Indian or Native American .
Drs in Oregon have been shockingly competent in trans medicine compared to my really terrible experiences in Arizona. I have been able to get top surgery within my first year being on OHP.
I identify as Latinx .
Family planning is not covered by my insurance so all fertility and family planning costs are OOP. I go to a subpar clinic out of state because it's all I can afford.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Black or African American .
having a ute is bs
they dont care.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Black or African American, Latinx, .
Having perimenopause symptoms and not receiving support or health education on how to help relieve any of these symptoms. Now that I’m not having any more children I don’t feel like they hear or have any support for my next phase of life.
I identify as Black or African American .
I was denied STI testing because of my sexual orientation (queer), and I had to speak up and advocate for it several times in the conversation with the doctor before they begrudgingly agreed to test me. It impacted how I view repro health screenings and I still find myself nervous to seek out that kind of care.
I identify as Latinx, White .
I was referred to a surgeon for top surgery and my primary care doctor made sure she found one that performs the surgery on fat people. She was concerned that I would get turned down by other surgeons because I’m “overweight”
I identify as Latinx .
Long wait times and high copays make me less inclined to seek out sexual and reproductive care
I identify as Asian .
More free condoms around would be nice
I identify as Black or African American .
Most doctors outside of the "transhealth care" network don't know BASIC things on how to treat trans men. and inside the Transhealth care is alot of control and decsion making for me under the guise of acess. I have had many medical issue that relate to my disabilities from birth be misdiagnosed as a "trans related medical issue". its bias made to look like informed treatement of trans people. No trans people in this state are getting adequete healthcare across the board. Especially emergency services.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, White .
Multnomah county STI clinic is a great resource that I use often. I have not paid during times of financial instability and never felt shamed for it
I identify as Black or African American, White .
Not sure if this is helpful to include, but before seeing specific survey questions, I would have assumed for myself my healthcare in this field was pretty solid, but the prompts helped me re-realize I have been avoiding certain types of care because it feels too daunting (mostly financially, and also somewhat from past instances of not feeling heard or assumed my issues are not as serious as they have felt internally)
I identify as Asian .
Often in seeking sexual and reproductive care i come up against weight based bias as well as sex worker bias.
I identify as Latinx .
Prism Health is where I go. The care is amazing, and afforable with insurance but the long wait times can be difficult.
I identify as Black or African American, White .
The care is not comprehensive, and sometimes they do not prescribe treatments (like MRIs) that are expensive but needed
I identify as Latinx .
uff too traumatizing to relive… but simply put, i havent gotten my pap because of multiple past negative experiences. i don’t know when i’ll be comfy having someone screen me between my legs. hopefully soon though
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Latinx .
When I was in gender pathways; instead of helping me with my gender affirming care I was told to try to get pregnant. They have still to this day refused to test my hormone levels; they just give me meds that I eventually stop taking.
I identify as Black or African American, Latinx .
asian and white nurses stab me at least 3+ times even though filipino & Pacific Islander nurses have told me my veins are easy to find.
I identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .
I would feel most comfortable if I were able to find a provider who shares my ethnic, religious, and queer identities, who speaks my first language, but because I am able to adapt and speak English I get by with most providers. As a brown person who constantly experiences racism, being with other BIPOC providers is preferable to me.
I identify as Asian .
it is an added effort to access labs, lab services due to limitations of hours/times and transportation accessibility.
I identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .
when I did not have insurance, I was only able to go to health clinics and I had to wait in line or not be seen.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, White, .
I have had experiences with 2 different health care providers in the past: OHSU and Kaiser. My experiences with OHSU were wonderful and I felt like all of the providers took me seriously and we accessible for reproductive and sexual healthcare. Kaiser is a little less accessible and I have experienced bias from some Kaiser providers.
I identify as American Indian or Native American, White .