Jen Gunter | |
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 Jennifer Gunter at CSICon 2018 | |
| Born | Jennifer Gunter Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Other names | Dr. Jen |
| Education | University of Manitoba (MD), University of Western Ontario, University of Winnipeg |
| Occupation(s) | Gynecologist, author, columnist |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Website | drjengunter |
Jennifer Gunter is a Canadian-American gynecologist, a New York Times columnist covering women's health, an author, and a specialist in chronic pain medicine and vulvovaginal disorders. [1] [2]
Gunter was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. [3]
A positive experience at the hospital when she was eleven and had a skateboard accident motivated her to decide on a career in health care: declining sedation, she watched the hospital staff perform an angiogram on her ruptured spleen as they explained the procedure to her. [4]
From 1984 to 1986, Gunter studied at the University of Winnipeg until being accepted into medical school in 1986. In 1990, Gunter graduated from the University of Manitoba College of Medicine. [5] From 1990 to 1995, she completed obstetrics and gynecology training at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. In 1995, Gunter moved to the United States for a fellowship in infectious diseases and women's health at the University of Kansas Medical Center where she also developed an interest in the area of pain management. [1] [6] [7]
From 1996 to 2001, Gunter worked at the University of Kansas Medical Center for an additional five years after the one year fellowship ended. [8]
In 2001, Gunter worked as a lecturer at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, Colorado. During this time the loss of one of Gunter's sons in a triplet pregnancy she described as traumatic made her decide to shift her work away from the field of obstetrics. Instead she focused on gynecology, specializing in vaginal and vulval conditions. [8]
Gunter has practiced medicine since 1996. [1] Gunter works as an OB/GYN and a pain medicine physician. Her approach is based on evidence-based medicine integrated with a focus on empathy and the patient experience, which Gunter said she learned from the University of Western Ontario, and the adjacency to McMaster University Medical School, which is a center of evidence-based medicine. [9]
Since 2006, she has been at The Permanente Medical Group of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. [1] [10] At Kaiser, Gunter manages a health clinic for women in the Chronic Pelvic Pain & Vulvo-Vaginal Disorders division. [11] [12]
Around 2004 Gunter delivered triplets prematurely: one was born at just 22 weeks and did not survive and the other two were born at 26 weeks. The lack of publicly available, medically sound information about the particular needs of premature babies motivated her to write a book entitled, The Preemie Primer: A Complete Guide for Parents of Premature Babies — from Birth through the Toddler Years and Beyond. [13] [14]
Since 2011 Gunter has written a blog that has reached 15 million views and has generated controversies in the mainstream media. [4] [6] [13] Gunter has been critical of dubious health claims made by celebrities and the careless way that media outlets report on matters such as reproductive health and vaccination. [3] She advocates for more responsible health coverage by the news media, less weight given to health advice by celebrities and for doctors to communicate better with their patients. [6]
In June 2019, The Lancet published an opinion piece by Gunter calling for "a better medical internet" by having more medical experts involved in disseminating adequate medical information to the public. "It is simply not acceptable to me that quality research that can save lives and reduce suffering could be undone by a medical conspiracy theorist or a celebrity looking to sell supplements." [6] [15]
Gunter writes two regular columns on women's health at The New York Times : a monthly column called "The Cycle" and a weekly column called "You Asked". [16]
Gunter is known by the nickname "Twitter's Resident Gynecologist", and has used Twitter to share information about pain management and to debunk myths about women's health. [17] As of 2019, her Twitter account reaches over 200,000 followers. [18]
Her book The Menopause Manifesto debuted at number 4 on The New York Times best seller list for "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous" on June 6, 2021. [19]
In 2019 Gunter's second book, The Vagina Bible, was published. [2] The book presents medical information about female reproductive anatomy and corrects common myths. Writing the book is a reaction to what she sees as a large amount of dangerous false information on the web about female health. [12] [20] [21] [22] The book includes a section focusing on trans men and women. [7] The title reached No. 1 on the list of Canadian nonfiction bestsellers, according to the Retail Council of Canada. [23]
During promotion of the book there was controversy when the publisher's Twitter advertisements were blocked for use of inappropriate language (presumably the word vagina). The ads were only allowed to run after a large online conversation developed. [24] [25] In a 2019 review, doctor Harriet Hall states that "Dr. Jen Gunter has done women everywhere a great service by writing" this book. Hall calls Gunter the perfect person to write this with her years in medicine and gynecology as well as being a "gifted communicator". Hall calls The Vagina Bible a "owner's manual for the vagina ... I wish every girl and woman everywhere had a copy of this book." [26]
As a doctor, Gunter has spoken out on a variety of topics affecting women's health, including abortion, [12] the HPV vaccine, and the use of fetal tissue in research. [13] Gunter corrects misconceptions about women's health through her books, newspaper column and online discussions. [21] [27] Since May 2021, Gunter hosts a TED Audio Collective podcast called Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, which aims to combat common health myths. [28] [29]
In 2015, Gunter's blog post critical over an article in the Toronto Star which mischaracterized the safety of Gardasil, a HPV vaccine, resulted in an apology by Toronto Star. [30] [31] [32] [33] There was additional discussion and scrutiny over the coverage of vaccine safety in the mainstream press. [34] [35] [36] [37]
Gunter is a long-time critic of products sold by Goop, the company owned by actress Gwyneth Paltrow. [12] [20] [27] [38]
Her criticism of one of Goop's products, a jade egg meant to be inserted in one's vagina, came to the attention of a wider audience when her blog post of January 17, 2017, was picked up by a tabloid newspaper. [10] Additional posts elicited a written response from Goop directly responding to Gunter's criticism. [27] [39] [40] Goop also eventually paid consumer protection fines and refunded the cost of vaginal eggs to customers who purchased them. [8] [27] [41]
This exchange provoked an intervention by Timothy Caulfield, a Canada research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, who supported Gunter's position. Caulfield stated that, "studies have consistently found, for example, that celebrities can have a measurable and less-than-ideal impact on everything from cancer screening to smoking to the food that we eat." [42]
In October 2018, Gunter and archaeologist Sarah Parcak published a study to investigate whether or not jade eggs were used vaginally in ancient China, as Goop's marketing claims they were. A review of the description of 5,000 artifacts available in major databases of Chinese archeology found no mention of such an object. [27] [43]
In June 2019, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced the 10-part docuseries called Jensplaining which aired on their free streaming network called CBC Gem in August 2019. [44] The series comprised ten episodes, with topics including menstruation, wellness, vaccines, menopause, weight loss, birth and sex. [12] [45] [46] [47]
In February 2021, Vagisil released a new line of products called OMV!, aimed at teenagers, which include scented wipes, cleansers and anti itch creams for vaginas and vulvas. [48] Gunter expressed her discontent with the company's advertising suggesting that something needed to be fixed with teens' vaginas. She states that vulvas and vaginas take care of themselves and explains that even wipes can be irritating and cause inflammation. Vagisil has responded to criticism of their new line by stating that their products are safe for external use and have been tested by independent dermatologists and gynecologists. [48]
Gunter and Fluevog partnered together for The Dr. Gunter shoes, lace-up heels "inspired by her positivity and confidence." [49]
Gunter has been married twice. [8] Gunter is divorced from her second husband. [50] Gunter and her twin sons have lived in Northern California since 2005. [8] The third son of what would have been triplets died moments after birth at 22 weeks gestation. [51]
Gunter has spoken about her struggles with a lifelong binge eating disorder and said she has considered writing a book about weight loss. [13]
In mammals and other animals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen. At the deep end, the cervix bulges into the vagina. The vagina allows for copulation and birth. It also channels menstrual flow, which occurs in humans and closely related primates as part of the menstrual cycle.
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome that affects the vulvar area and occurs without an identifiable cause. Symptoms typically include a feeling of burning or irritation. It has been established by the ISSVD that for the diagnosis to be made symptoms must last at least three months.
Obstetrics and gynaecology is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics and gynaecology. The specialization is an important part of care for women's health.
Gynaecology or gynecology is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined area of obstetrics and gynaecology (OB-GYN).
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse. While bleeding after sex may not be serious, it may also indicate the presence of cervical cancer.
Vaginismus is a condition in which involuntary muscle spasm interferes with vaginal intercourse or other penetration of the vagina. This often results in pain with attempts at sex. Often it begins when vaginal intercourse is first attempted.
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Supracervical hysterectomy refers to removal of the uterus while the cervix is spared. These procedures may also involve removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), and other surrounding structures. The term “partial” or “total” hysterectomy are lay-terms that incorrectly describe the addition or omission of oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy. These procedures are usually performed by a gynecologist. Removal of the uterus renders the patient unable to bear children and has surgical risks as well as long-term effects, so the surgery is normally recommended only when other treatment options are not available or have failed. It is the second most commonly performed gynecological surgical procedure, after cesarean section, in the United States. Nearly 68 percent were performed for conditions such as endometriosis, irregular bleeding, and uterine fibroids. It is expected that the frequency of hysterectomies for non-malignant indications will continue to fall given the development of alternative treatment options.
In gynecology, a rectocele or posterior vaginal wall prolapse results when the rectum bulges (herniates) into the vagina. Two common causes of this defect are childbirth and hysterectomy. Rectocele also tends to occur with other forms of pelvic organ prolapse, such as enterocele, sigmoidocele and cystocele.
Vaginoplasty is any surgical procedure that results in the construction or reconstruction of the vagina. It is a type of genitoplasty. Pelvic organ prolapse is often treated with one or more surgeries to repair the vagina. Sometimes a vaginoplasty is needed following the treatment or removal of malignant growths or abscesses to restore a normal vaginal structure and function. Surgery to the vagina is done to correct congenital defects to the vagina, urethra and rectum. It may correct protrusion of the urinary bladder into the vagina (cystocele) and protrusion of the rectum (rectocele) into the vagina. Often, a vaginoplasty is performed to repair the vagina and its attached structures due to trauma or injury.
Vaginal discharge is a mixture of liquid, cells, and bacteria that lubricate and protect the vagina. This mixture is constantly produced by the cells of the vagina and cervix, and it exits the body through the vaginal opening. The composition, amount, and quality of discharge varies between individuals and can vary throughout the menstrual cycle and throughout the stages of sexual and reproductive development. Normal vaginal discharge may have a thin, watery consistency or a thick, sticky consistency, and it may be clear or white in color. Normal vaginal discharge may be large in volume but typically does not have a strong odor, nor is it typically associated with itching or pain. While most discharge is considered physiologic or represents normal functioning of the body, some changes in discharge can reflect infection or other pathological processes. Infections that may cause changes in vaginal discharge include vaginal yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and sexually transmitted infections. The characteristics of abnormal vaginal discharge vary depending on the cause, but common features include a change in color, a foul odor, and associated symptoms such as itching, burning, pelvic pain, or pain during sexual intercourse.
Vaginal cancer is an extraordinarily rare form of cancer that develops in the tissue of the vagina. Primary vaginal cancer originates from the vaginal tissue – most frequently squamous cell carcinoma, but primary vaginal adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, and melanoma have also been reported – while secondary vaginal cancer involves the metastasis of a cancer that originated in a different part of the body. Secondary vaginal cancer is more common. Signs of vaginal cancer may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, dysuria, tenesmus, or pelvic pain, though as many as 20% of women diagnosed with vaginal cancer are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Vaginal cancer occurs more frequently in women over age 50, and the mean age of diagnosis of vaginal cancer is 60 years. It often can be cured if found and treated in early stages. Surgery alone or surgery combined with pelvic radiation is typically used to treat vaginal cancer.
A pelvic examination is the physical examination of the external and internal female pelvic organs. It is frequently used in gynecology for the evaluation of symptoms affecting the female reproductive and urinary tract, such as pain, bleeding, discharge, urinary incontinence, or trauma. It can also be used to assess a woman's anatomy in preparation for procedures. The exam can be done awake in the clinic and emergency department, or under anesthesia in the operating room. The most commonly performed components of the exam are 1) the external exam, to evaluate the external genitalia 2) the internal exam with palpation to examine the uterus, ovaries, and structures adjacent to the uterus (adnexae) and 3) the internal exam using a speculum to visualize the vaginal walls and cervix. During the pelvic exam, sample of cells and fluids may be collected to screen for sexually transmitted infections or cancer.
The vaginal cuff is the upper portion of the vagina that opens up into the peritoneum and is sutured shut after the removal of the cervix and uterus during a hysterectomy.
Dr. Subodh Mitra M.D., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G. (1896-1961) was an eminent obstretrician and gynecologist in India. He is the founder of the "Mitra operation" for cervical cancer.
Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is non-menstrual vaginal bleeding that occurs during or after sexual intercourse. Though some causes are with associated pain, it is typically painless and frequently associated with intermenstrual bleeding.
Cervical agenesis is a congenital disorder of the female genital system that manifests itself in the absence of a cervix, the connecting structure between the uterus and vagina. Milder forms of the condition, in which the cervix is present but deformed and nonfunctional, are known as cervical atresia or cervical dysgenesis.
Vaginal steaming, sometimes shortened to V-steaming and also known as wormwood steaming, is an alternative health treatment wherein a woman squats or sits over steaming water containing herbs such as mugwort, rosemary, wormwood, and basil. It has been practiced in Africa, Asia, and Central America.
Goop is a wellness and lifestyle brand and company founded by the American actress Gwyneth Paltrow. It was launched in September 2008 as a weekly e-mail newsletter providing new age advice, such as "police your thoughts" and "eliminate white foods", and the slogan "Nourish the Inner Aspect". Goop expanded into e-commerce, collaborating with fashion brands, launching pop-up shops, holding a "wellness summit", launching a print magazine, a podcast, and a docuseries for Netflix.
Kelly Brogan is an American author of books on alternative medicine who has promoted conspiracy theories and misinformation about discredited medical hypotheses.
Christiane Northrup is a former obstetrics and gynaecology physician and author who promotes pseudoscientific alternative medicine and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. She has a history of opposing vaccination and has embraced QAnon ideology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Northrup reaches a significant audience through popular books and multiple social media platforms and spreads misinformation, notably about COVID-19.
The Vagina Bible Gunter, Jen 9780735277373 Random House of Canada; 26.95
As of 2012, Gunter was divorced
Jennifer Gunter, MD; Last Test Date: 04/27/2012; Cert Program Expiration Date: 12/31/2023
Gunter, Jennifer; San Francisco CA (415); F (Fellow)
Gunter, Jennifer; Fellow, 04 Aug 1995; FRCSC; San Francisco, California, United States; Obstetrics and Gynecology, 30 Jun 1995
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