White Coat, Black Art Testicles outrank ovaries—and other reasons women wait so long for gynecologic surgery
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Dec 5, 2025 Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, an Ottawa family physician, shares her personal experience with long wait times for gynecologic surgery after postmenopausal bleeding. Alongside Dr. Nick Leyland, a leading OBGYN and advocate for women's health, they tackle the alarming disparity in care for women. They discuss systemic issues like the undervaluation of gynecologic surgeries compared to others and the urgent need for more resources. Their conversation emphasizes the necessity for greater female representation in healthcare decision-making and solutions to alleviate long wait times.
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Physician's Personal Cancer Scare
- Nili Kaplan-Myrth described sudden heavy postmenopausal bleeding and rapid diagnostic steps she accessed as a physician-patient.
- She learned her uterine lining was 1.3 cm thick, prompting urgent concern for cancer.
Long Waits Even For High-Risk Findings
- After biopsy showed hyperplasia without atypia, Nili was told a hysterectomy might take a year to 1.5 years to schedule.
- She eventually waited four months and had surgery in a hospital 45 minutes outside Ottawa.
Gynecologists Losing Operating Time
- Nili shared that many local gynecologists stopped doing surgery after OR time was reduced.
- She contrasted guaranteed two OR days per week eight years ago with almost no scheduled OR time now.