Women's Bodies, Doctors' Dynamics

Abstract

Medicine treats men's and women's reproductive organs and functions markedly differently. Interventions affecting male functioning are regarded as very serious and are seldom undertaken except to treat significant pathology. Interventions affecting perfectly normal female functioning, such as treatment for menstrual cycle mood changes, menopause, episiotomy, cesarean and other assisted delivery, hormonal contraception, and even hysterectomy, are rampant. These interventions can be attributed to men's unconscious (and conscious) curiosity, jealousy, hostility, and helplessness about female reproduction, coupled with the fact that men have dominated the field of medicine for most of its history. This article describes these interventions and the rationalizations for them, and questions their utility and meaning in the light of current knowledge.