Gina M Proctor

I had an appointment with this provider on the MidiHealth platform and expected care from a menopause-focused provider, but the experience was extremely disappointing. During the visit I asked about prolonged absence of my cycle and whether inducing a withdrawal bleed might be appropriate. The provider told me I “don’t need to bleed because I’m not a young 25-year-old” and stated that if the uterine lining becomes thick it will simply “bleed on its own.” When I asked about unopposed estrogen and the role of progesterone in protecting the endometrium, the provider dismissed the question entirely and said she didn’t know where I was getting my research from. This was surprising given that endometrial protection in the presence of estrogen exposure is basic gynecologic physiology. Ironically, earlier in the appointment the provider recommended that I read a menopause book — which I had already read and which specifically discusses these exact concepts. Equally concerning was the… provider’s demeanor. The interaction felt abrasive and dismissive throughout the visit, as if basic questions were being treated as an annoyance rather than an opportunity for a clinical discussion. The provider seemed to approach the conversation with a chip on her shoulder rather than engaging constructively with the patient. The visit ended without any meaningful discussion of treatment options or a clinical plan. I was simply told to come back in a month after I “decide what I want to do.” For a provider who claims to be a “menopause specialist,” dismissing legitimate questions about hormone therapy and endometrial protection while providing no clinical guidance is extremely disappointing.

Spoke with her via telemedicine through the Penn Fibroid Institute. Our initial consultation seemed very good. She was pleasant and attentive, and went over all the treatment options as well as next steps, including an MRI. Once my MRI results were received, we had a call to discuss which treatment option was best for me. This call was the complete opposite of the first. She was dismissive of my symptoms, advising they were due to my age and getting older. She then recommended a treatment option because I *might* have a "touch" of endometriosis. I later read this treatment wasn't ideal for my type of fibroids. When the doctor's office called to arrange that appointment, I came to learn it would be months before I could have it, because they didn't even yet have the equipment to perform such a procedure. I then re-read my MRI report which specifically stated there were no signs of endometriosis or adenomyosis- which I had suspected anyway due to the fact that I didn't have any clinical… signs of it. I ought out other opinions and the two subsequent doctors I saw both concurred that endometriosis was not present, and my symptoms were 100% related to my fibroids. As one put it- "It's basic physics. Your abdominal cavity is only so large. When you add extra things to it- like fibroids- especially yours where you have one that's the size of an avocado- there's no way things don't stretch and press where they don't belong." She showed me on my MRI (the same films Ms. Proctor ordered and viewed) how my bladder was compressed, my uterus was measuring at 18 weeks pregnant (despite not being pregnant), and everything else was getting pushed upwards to the point that I also have an umbilical hernia due to the overcrowding from my fibroids. I am so happy I didn't listen to this woman and found providers who were willing to listen, read, view images, and suggest appropriate treatments options. All the symptoms I expressed to Ms. Proctor are now gone, despite being a year older.