Dr. Nicholas Stephen Laurora, MD

At my first appointment at 17 years old, I sat with no bra on and the sheet over my lap. He told me I should 'sit up straight and stick out my chest' because 'you look just like a Playboy bunny'. I thought it was a compliment, because I didn't know any better. After this, he began my breast exam. I told my Mom, but she said that he was 'a joker'. When I was 18 and thought I was pregnant with my first boyfriend. He told me I was not and I began to cry uncontrollably. He asked me why I was crying, did I want to be pregnant. I told him I did not, it was because I was relieved. He was clearly getting frustrated with my crying and said, 'if you don't want to get pregnant, then use one of these' and pulled a black dldo out of his drawer. I was shocked, but since he was the only gynecologist I had ever known (my Mom's too), I just figured this is how it was. I told my Mom. She thought it was weird, but continued to see him and also continued to take me. I am 56 years old… and remember these appointments like they happened yesterday. There were other appointments where I was made to feel uncomfortable, but these two are the worst of them. I am ashamed for not saying anything so many years ago. I am sure this was not an isolated case, I mean he had that dldo in his desk. After my experiences with the Laurora brothers, I decided that I no longer wanted to have a male gynecologist. I do remember that the experiences with professional physicians were completely different. No jokes, no inappropriate words or touching, just the information I needed in a more clinical fashion. I appreciate the opportunity to tell my story. Every once in a while, I get this pang of shame for what I let happen to me, that I didn't tell anyone who could help me. My Mom continued to see him for years afterward.