Marina Baninno, 36, has endometriosis, or so she suspects. Despite seeing numerous doctors and spending thousands on scans and tests, the Marketing Manager has been told the cause of her chronic pelvic pain is unknown. At an appointment with her doctor, she was advised to ‘live with it.’ Her husband Jack was there for moral support and was offered a prescription for Viagra.
While Jack has no reported erectile dysfunction issues, Dr Frankiston wanted to ensure that if – God forbid – Jack encountered a diminishment in penile function, there is a well-researched, simple, affordable and non-invasive solution.
Moments earlier, Marina had undergone an intrusive vaginal ultrasound, her third this year. Marina suffers from pelvic pain that lasts for three out of four weeks. It is so debilitating she can’t get out of bed.
Marina said, “One doctor thought I might have endo. But it takes most women over six years to get a diagnosis. I’ve only been in pain for four years, so I’ll have to wait.”
Endometriosis is where the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. It will affect one in nine women in their lifetime. There is no cure.
Dr Frankiston said, “We don’t know much about women’s body’s. Between you and me, it’s just a big jumble of organs somewhere in the body. And frankly, it’s all a little bit yuck. Scans rarely pick anything up, so I just rummage around in there because Marina keeps insisting that I do something.”
Marina told Babbler, “Dr Frankiston said I should take the contraceptive pill and strong pain killers to mask my symptoms.” She added with a nervous laugh, “So, I guess that’s something.”
Stories like Marina’s have led some women to believe that there is a gender bias in medicine. Dr Frankiston said with a chuckle, “No, absolutely not. Women’s medicine is a niche. It doesn’t make sense to invest resources into something that only affects some people.”
Independent studies indicate that women make up roughly 50% of the population.
Dr Frankiston said, “Men’s medicine, or should I say, ‘medicine’, has made great advancements for the greater good. A solid boner benefits everyone, men and women.”
Jack accepted the Viagra prescription. He declined Babbler’s request for comment.
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