*Susan Salenger is an author and women’s healthcare advocate.*

By Susan Salenger

As I was wheeled into the cold operating room, attached to various tubes, I felt angry at myself for agreeing to have surgery I was convinced I didn't need. It turned out I was right—and to this day, many years later, I still feel bad that I had been so passive. But after talking with other women about their healthcare decisions, I found that many of them had acquiesced in the same way and felt similar regrets. These experiences forced me to wonder what makes women agree to do something to our bodies that we fundamentally think is wrong.

In my case, part of the answer was, "doctor knows best." I grew up believing doctors are experts and that it's rude to question them or ask for a second opinion. Some women reported feeling too busy with jobs and families to take the time they needed to care for themselves. In many cases, women blamed themselves for being sick, making them reluctant to even consult a doctor.

I soon realized that I wanted to help empower women to overcome these barriers. I did some research and eventually wrote my new book, Sidelined: How Women Manage and Mismanage Their Health. It's true that the medical profession bears some responsibility for treating women in ways that dismiss or minimize concerns. But I believe that the power to change how we manage our healthcare must come from women themselves.

With any behavioral change, the first step is to be aware of what we want to change and why. And that's where I believe my book can help.

As the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to ban abortion illustrates, we certainly can't count on our courts or government to regulate healthcare in our favor. We can only rely on ourselves.

““It’s true the medical profession bears some responsibility for treating women in ways that dismiss or minimize concerns. I believe the power to change how we manage our healthcare must come from women themselves.” @SusanSalenger #PowerToChangeStories”

Susan Salenger is an author and advocate for women’s healthcare based in California. https://twitter.com/susansalenger; https://www.facebook.com/suesalenger/ ; https://www.instagram.com/susansalenger/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-salenger-a4a02716/ ; https://www.susansalenger.com/