Don’t Blindly Trust Every Gynae in Pakistan

I wanted to share my experience to warn other women about how some gynecologists in Pakistan let cultural biases affect their medical advice.

When I was 16, I missed a single period, and my gynecologist immediately diagnosed me with PCOS—without any proper tests. She then scared my mother by saying that if I wanted a chance at having kids, I should get married and start trying before 25. Mind you, I was a healthy weight, had a normal BMI, and had no other symptoms of PCOS. I was just a teenage girl with ambitions, and I never even planned on getting married until my late 20s.

She even tried convincing my mom that I should get married right after my FSC so I could have “healthy kids.” When I told her I had no plans of marrying before I built a financially secure career and life, her tone changed, almost bitter, as if she disapproved of my choice.

That diagnosis weighed on me for years. The fear, the uncertainty, and the pressure stuck with me mostly due to how much Pakistani culture values offsprings. Finally, after reading up on PCOS myself and realizing I had none of the symptoms, I went to another gynecologist, who confirmed that I never had PCOS in the first place.

Moral of the story: Please do your own research and don’t blindly accept every doctor’s advice, especially in a country where many gynecologists still push outdated, culturally influenced narratives. Your health decisions should be based on facts, not fear.