Dr. Julie Nichols Ashmun, MD

Long wait times, unwelcoming

She missed my breast cancer diagnosis. Even after she was told the “cysts” in my breast were changing and the changes weren’t related to my period. I was in my mid 30s at the time and did not have a family history, but the signs were there something was not normal. I am glad I listened to my instinct and got a second opinion - it was ductal carcinoma. I will be ok but Dr Ashmun was just a little too confident in telling me to “stop worrying” for me to feel confident going back.

I began seeing Dr. Julie Ashmun in high school for routine visits and check ups. She was always very nice and made me feel comfortable. During my senior year of college I returned to her when I began having unbearable pain in my lower abdomen. She ordered routine tests and found that I had multiple Dermoid Ovarian Cysts that needed to be removed. After reviewing my scans she returns to the room to tell me that she will remove the cysts, but will most likely have to remove my ovaries during the procedure as well in order to remove the cysts entirely. She told me this as if she was telling me that I needed a mole removed - and with absolutely no emotion. As a young girl beginning to think about her future and possibilities of a family I immediately broke down into tears - she lacked empathy and almost seemed confused as to why I was so upset. I immediately left crying and decided to get a second opinion. Long story short I had the cysts removed with no issues, and I still have… both of my ovaries. When I woke up from the surgery (with the new doctor) my mom said I woke up crying asking if I still had my ovaries. This experience still shocks me to my core some 5 years later. I now have a beautiful daughter and have finally worked up the nerve to share my experience. When in doubt - get a second opinion!

We had our first child in 2012 as a result of a IVF procedure (not done in her office). She was recommended to us by several people in the Lexington area. We met with her for the first time in her office which was great instead of in the exam room. She was with a different practice then. She did a great job at each of my prenatal visits and had the best nurse, Heather. My husband and I never left without answered questions. She prepared us for every step of pregnancy along the way. We were glad that she took charge in the delivery room and was very comfortable in her care. She treated us like friends and not just patients. So when our second pregnancy came around, summer of 2018, we turned to her again but she was with a different practice at this time, Lexington OB GYN. We were VERY disappointed in how we were treated during prenatal visits. She couldn't get out of the room fast enough, was always running late for the visits. I mentioned a few times during visits that I… was feeling fairly bad and she chalked it up to my second pregnancy. She said the second isn't as easy as the first. I also mentioned I felt like I was losing part of my mucus plug gradually but she said it was just discharge and nothing to worry about. I did end up in preterm labor at 33.5 weeks and I can't help but think that if she would have taken more time and listened to me better than she would have been able to catch the preterm labor earlier. She performed the delivery but at one point came into the room and said, "If we are going to do this, we have to do it now". She had me push before my body was ready and rushed the whole thing. She did respect my wishes to allow a tear instead of an episiotomy (even though I think she disagreed). My husband and I were very disappointed and if we would have had more time before delivery we would have switched doctors. We did end up in the hospital getting steroids and magnesium which held off the labor until 35 weeks gestation.

I have seen Dr. Ashmun for 10 years and have always had a great experience. When I first met her I was having horrible cramping with my periods. She reviewed pharmacological methods and non pharmacological methods to help improve cramping (those which I still use today.) She has never blown off my non OB/GYN problems but has always directed me to the correct physician so that I get appropriate care. She delivered my first baby and was absolutely wonderful! I have worked in numerous women’s care units in different hospitals in KY and I have always and will always come to see Dr. Ashmun! I would recommend her to anyone!

Didn’t spend the time with me as a patient when time needed to be spent! Ended up having the be hospitalized after having child! It could have been avoided to have gotten to the point of a possible stroke and life threatening condition if she has LISTENED! Do not go to her if you want someone that actually respects her patients and listens to their concerns without judgment like a good doctor should! Unless you want to be called a “baby” and sent home feeling worse than you did when you got there. I’m lucky to have survived her!

Dr. Ashmun is a wonderful doctor. She is very kind and caring. She doesn't cut corners and she is very direct which is what I like. She always has her patients health and welfare in mind and she explains the pros and cons to any given situation. You will not find a more compassionate, caring doctor then Dr. Ashmun

I began to see Dr. Ashmun when I was about 17. On the intake forms I marked that I had OCD, anxiety, and depression as well as a strong family history of endometriosis. My periods were becoming increasingly longer and more painful (not to mention the accompanying nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and migraines). I also had a few small bumps on my inner thigh that I was also worried about. She blatantly told me that I had HPV and the bumps were genital warts. I began to have a panic attack and she told me to calm down and that it wasn't a big deal (yeah right). She gave me samples of altabax, told me it would burn them off, gave me a script for a birth control pill and sent me on my way. Every visit I would tell her my periods were getting worse so she told me to take midol. I was going through 6+poise pads per day and missing school every month. My last visit to see her was by far the worst. I've never been treated that way by a doctor. She did a pap, not very gently at all, and without… warning stuck her finger in my rectum (I've never had that as part of a pap before). I was clearly uncomfortable and in pain from all of it. I brought up the endometriosis to her again and she told me that I didn't have it, and that I should go see a THERAPIST or a bowel specialist. I left in tears. I switched and started seeing Dr. Tracy Arghavani. On the first visit she agreed to do the laparoscopic procedure to look for endometriosis, and she found that I had a moderate case of it, burned the lesions, and switched birth controls and I haven't ever felt this great! Recently she informed me that I DO NOT HAVE HPV OR ANY TYPE OF WARTS, and that the bumps we're just bumps, no test has ever showed hpv. And the cream that Dr. Ashmun gave me was an antibiotic, and wouldn't do anything to HPV. Lesson of this story, Dr. Ashmun is an inconsiderate and incompetent doctor. No excuses. Even if this only keeps one person away from her it was worth typing all of this.

Obvious that she could care less for her patients!

I was very happy with Dr. Ashmun for several reasons (saw her once a year for my yearly). However, recently I've started having some issues that I was looking for medical advice on, she's completely blown me off without any regard for the pain that I'm in or the frustration that I'm having.