I’m Training to Be A Women’s Health Physician…Who is Moving Back to the South

It’s looking real 1972 around here. As I’m sure you all are aware, the Supreme Court has overturned the constitutional right to abortion; leaving it up to states to decide mandates surrounding abortion access: when, where, how, why, and all of the above. Those who do not know how pregnancy, pregnancy complications, the female anatomy, or even sex, for that matter, work have been damning abortions to hell for centuries…all the while ensuring their young daughters and mistresses have ample access. Now constitutional abortion protections are removed and states in the south are having a field day. In the words of the infamous NeNe Leakes, “Whew, chile. The ghetto.”

Why does the Supreme Court judgement matter specifically to me? Well, I am a Family Medicine-trained doctor who plans to practice women’s health exclusively. I want to be able to practice full-spectrum, competent medical care for all my female patients. Abortion services are a part of that spectrum; or at least they should be.

Completing residency in New York—a state that has decided to protect both doctors performing and women receiving abortions—means I have access to the complete realm of women’s health training. I just completed my 4 week GYN rotation where I had plenty exposure to contraception counseling, contraception initiation, cervical cancer screening, family planning, and, yes, plenty time at Planned Parenthood. I know I am in the right place and in the right program to prepare me procedurally. My program is known for procedures and I know I’ll leave ready to practice the kind of medicine I want. For that I am grateful.

As I am constantly dreaming of returning to Atlanta, I can’t help but think about how some of that practice will be stunted. As it stands now, abortions can only be performed up to 6 weeks in Georgia. So many women do not even know they are pregnant by then. And if they have inconsistent periods? Forget about it. When a pregnant patient comes to me with the desire to terminate, how am I supposed to direct her safely without compromising both our safety, freedom (from litigation) and my license I worked so hard for? Some states are seeking to criminalize doctors who perform abortions and even those who simply tell a patient where to go to get one. That’s scary, y’all. It’s scary. We thought back alley abortions and use of hangers to induce abortion were a thing of the past, but look at us now. Here we are.

There are so many reasons women seek pregnancy termination—none of which are anyone’s business—but here are a few: ectopic pregnancy (which could rupture and kill a woman), fetal anomalies, rape, incest, financial constraints, JUST BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT SHE DESIRES (!!!)…For those using religion as a reason to control a complete stranger’s uterus, please stop. It’s not our job to judge, so shut it up. You go use your body to procreate as much as you want AND go ahead and take on the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial responsibility that comes with it. The real tea is a lot of white radicals are afraid of being outnumbered by people of color in this country and, thereby, losing their ill-gotten positions of power. Many hope that by keeping white women from access to abortion, the scales will keep tipping in their favor. We all saw that notion play out on center stage at a recent Trump-attended rally. We also all saw those voting statistics by race and gender for that last election sooooooo…

Will I be able to perform plenty parts of women’s health in Atlanta? Sure! Am I concerned that abortion is pretty much off the table and my patients will be in need of safe services and may end up risking their lives? Yes. I cannot go rouge and do whatever I want. I’m just starting my career. I’m young. I’m Black…I’m BLACK. I know what you’re thinking. As it stands now, staying in the Northeast is not an option for me. I’ve given it the old college try (literally – I went to college up here). In 1.5 years, I’ve got to go. Living on the west coast is not desirable to me either. It’s gorgeous, but I can go on vacation for gorgeous and buy a home/get so much more for my $$$ elsewhere. Atlanta is my home. No matter where I live—Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, New York—I always long to go right back to Atlanta. I can only hope that Stacey Abrams is elected governor of our state and makes positive changes in favor of women’s health, women’s safety, and reproductive health and human rights. Vote, y’all!!

Forced pregnancy is ghetto. It’s absurd. It’s unsafe. Interestingly enough, I wrote about forced pregnancy and associated risk factors back in 2012 for my MPH thesis. Limited access to abortion? Definitely one of the factors I named. I’m going to be the best doctor I can be. I’m going to provide the most comprehensive medical care I can. Still, as a young physician finding my footing, I can’t help but be concerned about the limitations I’ll have to face—limitations that can impact patient safety and patient care. I don’t have the answers. I don’t have the solution. I do, however, stand in solidarity with physicians across the country trying to ensure women have what they need. Stay vigilant, y’all. “God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” – 2 Timothy 1:7. We gonna be alright.

xx,

Photos by Tina Smith