Ottawa family physician, Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, experienced unexpected postmenopausal bleeding at 51 years old, prompting concerns about her health. Understanding the long wait times for gynecological surgery in Ontario, Kaplan-Myrth recognized the challenges her patients faced in accessing timely care from gynecologists who perform surgeries, with wait times stretching from six months to a year or more.
Data from Ontario Health indicated average wait times of up to four months for gynecological surgeries, a significant increase from approximately a month and a half a decade ago. A 2020 study published by the National Library of Medicine revealed that a consultation with a gynecologist alone could take around four and a half months on average.
Dr. Kaplan-Myrth highlighted the detrimental impact of prolonged waits for gynecological surgeries on Canadian women, emphasizing the suffering endured by those awaiting elective procedures. Dr. Nick Leyland, the president-elect of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, attributed these delays to systemic underinvestment, competition for surgical resources, and unique challenges within the field of gynecology.
Michelle Ganam, diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis, shared her struggle with chronic pelvic pain and heavy periods, illustrating the daily challenges faced by women awaiting necessary surgeries. Despite being approved for a hysterectomy, Ganam faced further delays, underscoring the urgency for improved access to gynecological care.
Dr. Leyland raised concerns about a gender-based pay gap affecting surgical procedures, with women’s surgeries often reimbursed at lower rates compared to similar or more complex procedures for men. This disparity, combined with limited operating room access and training opportunities for gynecologists, contributes to prolonged wait times and challenges in providing timely care for women’s health issues.
Efforts are underway to address surgical backlogs, with initiatives like leveraging after-hours operating room time and centralizing booking systems aimed at expediting gynecological procedures. However, Dr. Kaplan-Myrth emphasized the need for a broader shift in the healthcare system’s approach to women’s health, stressing the critical importance of timely access to surgeries to prevent complications and ensure better health outcomes for women.
