I recently went through an experience that opened my eyes to a serious gap in our healthcare system. After having intercourse, I unknowingly experienced a split condom. Despite having a period afterward, I went to the doctors 5 weeks after my period which would have made me 8/9 weeks pregnant for a GnRH injection to treat my PMDD, having not had intercourse since my last period. The medical staff simply asked if I had had sex since my last period, to which I truthfully replied, "No."

The injection was administered without a pregnancy test. Unfortunately, I soon began feeling quite unwell. A little over a week after the injection, I experienced a frightening episode where I passed out and lost clots of blood. Having miscarried in the past, I decided to take a pregnancy test out of an abundance of caution. To my shock, it came back positive.

This experience made me realize that not conducting a pregnancy test before administering certain gynecological procedures can have serious, possibly life-threatening consequences. A simple, inexpensive test could prevent these traumatic experiences for many women.

Pregnancy testing should be a legal requirement prior to any gynecological procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Many women might not know they are pregnant, especially in the early stages, and missing this information can lead to medical decisions that could have severe impacts.

By making pregnancy testing mandatory, healthcare providers can help prevent cases like mine and protect women from unintended harm during medical procedures. This is not an extraordinary measure; it is a necessary safeguard to ensure women's health and safety.

Let's urge the healthcare system to adopt this practice universally. Sign this petition to help make pregnancy testing a mandatory safety protocol before any gynecological procedures. Together, we can advocate for safer healthcare for all women.