IT’S HARD TO GIRLBOSS WHEN THERE IS GATEKEEPING: UNDERSTANDING WHAT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND WOMEN 18+ KNOW ABOUT DIETARY INTERACTIONS WITH GYNECOLOGICAL HEALTH

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This thesis seeks to determine how everyday women understand dietary impacts on their gynecological health, including conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and overall menstrual health. Drawing on 42 semi-structured interviews&mdash;30 with biological women 18+ and 12 with health care providers including gynecologists, nurse practitioners in women&rsquo;s health and in preventative and functional medicine, a specialist in pain management and function medicine, a medical resident in Ob/Gyn, and registered dietitians/registered dietitian nutritionists&mdash;I compared and contrasted what women are told by their providers regarding dietary interactions with gynecological health and the clinical knowledge and practices of providers. Throughout this research I address existing literature on dietary-gynecological connections, what women are told about dietary interactions with gynecological health and what health care providers are taught about dietary-gynecological connections, and the social and institutional barriers&mdash;including stigma, gender bias in medicine, and nutritional reductionism&mdash;that shape how knowledge is produced, shared, and received by women. Overall, these findings suggest that both women and providers operate with fragmented information. Women do not receive any information from providers, but instead often rely on anecdotal or peer-sourced advice. Providers report limited training in nutrition, specifically in how nutrition impacts women&rsquo;s health. This research highlights the need for more integrated, evidence-based, and openly communicated dietary guidance in gynecological care, while also highlighting systemic issues that hinder such progress including the lack of value given to nutritional and dietary treatments as they are historically utilized by marginalized groups and minorities.</span>