From ‘dismissal’ to ‘medical gaslighting’: A literature review of women’s experiences of reproductive health services in the UK

Key Takeaways for GI Nurses

• Medical gaslighting and dismissal patterns documented in reproductive health settings likely extend to GI/endoscopy practice, particularly affecting women patients presenting with functional GI disorders, pelvic pain, or symptoms that overlap with gynecological conditions
• Female patients may experience delayed diagnosis or inadequate pain management during endoscopic procedures due to systemic gender bias in healthcare, requiring heightened advocacy and validation from nursing staff
• Conditions like endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease in women may be subject to dismissive attitudes that GI nurses should actively counteract through patient-centered communication and thorough symptom assessment
• Understanding reproductive health dismissal patterns can help GI nurses recognize and interrupt similar dynamics in their own practice settings, improving patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes

Clinical Relevance

This research highlights critical implications for endoscopy and GI nursing practice, particularly when caring for female patients whose symptoms intersect with reproductive health concerns. Many women presenting for GI procedures may have experienced previous medical dismissal, creating heightened anxiety and mistrust of healthcare providers. GI nurses play a pivotal role in breaking this cycle by providing validation, thorough pre-procedure assessments, and advocating for appropriate pain management during colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, and other procedures.

The findings are especially relevant for patients with conditions like endometriosis affecting the bowel, functional GI disorders predominantly affecting women, or chronic abdominal pain of unclear etiology. These patients often navigate complex diagnostic journeys involving both GI and reproductive health services. GI nurses must be aware that dismissive communication patterns can perpetuate trauma and delay appropriate care. This knowledge should inform unit protocols around patient communication, informed consent processes, and pain assessment practices.

From an operational perspective, understanding medical gaslighting can improve patient experience scores and reduce procedure-related anxiety. Training programs should incorporate gender-sensitive communication techniques and bias recognition. GI nurses are uniquely positioned to create therapeutic relationships that validate patient experiences while providing evidence-based education about procedures and conditions, ultimately improving both patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes in endoscopy units.

Bottom Line

Medical gaslighting research from reproductive health settings reveals patterns that likely impact female GI patients, requiring endoscopy nurses to actively validate patient experiences, advocate for appropriate symptom management, and recognize how previous healthcare dismissal may affect patient trust and procedure tolerance in GI settings.