Medical gaslighting can take a toll on women with hemophilia

Medical gaslighting can take a toll on women with hemophilia

Even now, I hesitate to tell doctors I have hemophilia. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been met with blank stares, skepticism, or outright dismissal. Instead, I’ve learned to say, “I have a bleeding disorder.” It’s safer. It avoids the uncomfortable silence, the subtle smirk, or the long pause followed by, “But women don’t have hemophilia.” That’s medical gaslighting — when a healthcare provider downplays or disregards your symptoms, or …