Medical Gaslighting: Why Women Struggle to Be Heard With Nikki V

On Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen support women in changing their relationship with alcohol and trusting themselves along the way. In this episode, Sonia talks with Nikki Sapiro Vinckier, an OB-GYN physician assistant, author of We Deserve More, and founder of Take Back Trust, about advocating for better women’s healthcare.

What does medical gaslighting sound like? When does “that’s normal” leave a real concern unanswered? How can perimenopause, sobriety, and changing relationships complicate the way women understand their bodies? Sonia and Nikki explore pain, reproductive health, and the questions patients may hesitate to ask.

Nikki explains how to prepare for an appointment, describe symptoms through their impact on daily life, and ask for a clear next step. The conversation covers perimenopause and menopause, trauma-informed care, LGBTQ+ inclusion, weight stigma, and rebuilding trust in a changing body.

The conversation becomes personal when Sonia shares the fear and isolation of receiving an HPV result by mail. Their exchange explores sexual-health stigma, gaps in communication, and why questions about prevention and follow-up deserve space in the exam room.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.

Nikki’s Links

📸 Instagram📚 We Deserve More

SIS Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Timestamped Highlights

01:00 — Meet Nikki Sapiro Vinckier02:00 — An unexpected path into OB-GYN care04:00 — Why Nikki took her advocacy beyond the clinic06:00 — What medical gaslighting can sound like08:00 — Why speaking up can feel difficult12:00 — Prepare before entering the exam room13:00 — Describe symptoms and their daily impact15:00 — Responding when a concern is called “normal”18:00 — Perimenopause symptoms across daily life20:00 — Getting to know the body in sobriety22:00 — Bias and the history of women’s healthcare24:00 — Finding a clinician who takes concerns seriously28:00 — Perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause30:00 — Birth control and menopause assessment32:00 — Gaps in training and trauma-informed care33:00 — How healthcare fails LGBTQ+ patients36:00 — Asking for care preferences around weighing38:00