Jen Gunter Explained

Jen Gunter
Birth Name:Jennifer Gunter
Birth Place:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Other Names:Dr. Jen
Education:University of Manitoba (MD), University of Western Ontario, University of Winnipeg
Occupation:Gynecologist, author, columnist
Years Active:1996–present

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]

Early life and education

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 pain management.[6] [7]

Career

Doctor

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.[9] Instead she focused on gynecology, specializing in vaginal and vulval conditions.

Gunter has practiced medicine since 1996. 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.[10]

Since 2006, she has been at The Permanente Medical Group of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.[11] At Kaiser, Gunter manages a health clinic for women in the Chronic Pelvic Pain & Vulvo-Vaginal Disorders division.[12] [13]

Author

In 2004, Gunter delivered triplets prematurely. One was born at 22 weeks and did not survive. 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, The Preemie Primer: A Complete Guide for Parents of Premature Babies — from Birth through the Toddler Years and Beyond.[14] [15]

Since 2011, Gunter has written a blog that has reached 15 million views and has generated controversies in the mainstream media. Gunter has been critical of health claims made by celebrities and the careless way that media outlets report on matters such as reproductive health and vaccination. She advocates for more responsible health coverage by the news media, less attention to health advice by celebrities, and for doctors to communicate better with their patients.

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."[16]

In 2019 to 2020, Gunter wrote two columns on women's health at The New York Times: a monthly column called "The Cycle" and a weekly column called "You Asked".[17] In 2021, Gunter started a substack newsletter, The Vajenda, focused on providing medical information to women — and combatting medical misinformation.[18]

Gunter is known by the nickname "Twitter's Resident Gynecologist" and has used X (formerly Twitter) to share information about pain management and debunk myths about women's health.[19] As of 2024, her X account reaches over 360,000 followers.[20] [21]

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.[22]

The Vagina Bible

In 2019 Gunter's second book, The Vagina Bible, was published. The book presents medical information about female reproductive anatomy and corrects common myths. Gunter stated that she wrote the book to counter what she considers a large amount of dangerous false information on the web about female health.[23] [24] [25] The book includes a section focusing on trans men and women. The title reached No. 1 on the list of Canadian nonfiction bestsellers, according to the Retail Council of Canada.[26]

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.[27] [28]

Popular culture

As a doctor, Gunter has spoken out on a variety of topics affecting women's health, including abortion, the HPV vaccine, and the use of fetal tissue in research. Gunter aims to correct misconceptions about women's health through her books, newspaper column and online discussions.[29] In 2021 to 2023, Gunter hosted a TED Audio Collective podcast called Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, which aimed to combat common health myths.[30] [31]

In 2015, Gunter's blog post critical of a Toronto Star article that mischaracterized the safety of Gardasil, a HPV vaccine, resulted in an apology by Toronto Star.[32] [33] [34] [35] There was additional discussion and scrutiny over the coverage of vaccine safety in the mainstream press.[36] [37] [38] [39]

Goop

Gunter is a long-time critic of products sold by Goop, the company owned by actress Gwyneth Paltrow.[40]

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. Additional posts elicited a written response from Goop.[41] [42] Goop eventually paid consumer protection fines and refunded the cost of vaginal eggs to customers who purchased them.[43]

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."[44] 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.[45]

Jensplaining

In June 2019, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced the 10-part docuseries called Jensplaining, which aired on its free streaming network, CBC Gem, in August 2019.[46] The series comprised ten episodes, with topics including menstruation, wellness, vaccines, menopause, weight loss, birth and sex.[47] [48] [49]

Vagisil

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. Gunter expressed concern with OMV! advertising suggesting that something needed to be fixed with teens' vaginas. She explained that vulvas and vaginas take care of themselves and that 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.

Shoes

Gunter and Fluevog partnered together for The Dr. Gunter shoes, lace-up heels "inspired by her positivity and confidence."[50]

Personal life

Gunter has been married twice. Gunter is divorced from her second husband.[51] Gunter and her twin sons have lived in Northern California since 2005. The third son of what would have been triplets died moments after birth at 22 weeks gestation.[52]

Gunter has spoken about her struggles with a lifelong binge eating disorder and said she has considered writing a book about weight loss.

Certifications

Selected works and publications

Books

Selected articles

Selected journals

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jennifer Gunter, MD; Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Francisco Medical Center. The Permanente Medical Group. October 25, 2019.
  2. News: Wiseman. Eva. Jennifer Gunter: 'Women are being told lies about their bodies'. The Guardian. September 8, 2019.
  3. News: Adam. Aalia. 'Keep coffee out of your rectum, quit steaming your vagina': Q&A with Dr. Jen Gunter. Global News. September 8, 2019.
  4. News: Girvan. Chloe E.. Debunking the scientifically inaccurate: Dr. Jen Gunter is on a mission for women's health. iPolitics. July 13, 2018. July 15, 2018. May 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210527032112/https://ipolitics.ca/article/debunking-the-scientifically-inaccurate-dr-jen-gunter-is-on-a-mission-for-womens-health/. dead.
  5. News: Mayes. Alison. News From Alumni: Gynecologist Gunter on bogus health claims: 'Somebody has to take a stand'. UM Today. University of Manitoba. February 22, 2019. en.
  6. News: Topol. Eric J.. Dr Jen Gunter Is a Trailblazer for Truth (and the Vagina). 1–4. August 26, 2019. Medscape.
  7. News: Marcotte. Amanda. Dr. Jen Gunter is on a crusade to save your vagina. August 27, 2019. Salon.
  8. News: Haulshak. Maureen. Badass OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter has no time for your pseudoscience nonsense. Today's Parent. July 17, 2019.
  9. News: Gunter . Jen . February 26, 2019 . I Didn’t Kill My Baby . June 27, 2024 . The New York Times.
  10. News: Topol. Eric J.. Dr Jen Gunter Is a Trailblazer for Truth (and the Vagina). August 26, 2019. Medscape.
  11. News: Phillips. Kristine. No, Gwyneth Paltrow, women should not put jade eggs in their vaginas, gynecologist says. The Washington Post. January 22, 2017. en.
  12. Web site: Faculty. Kaiser Permanente Undergraduate & Graduate Medical Education Northern California. The Permanente Medical Group. October 26, 2019.
  13. News: O'Leary. Lizzie. For So Long, Women Have Been Marginalized by Medicine. The Atlantic. August 27, 2019.
  14. News: Keshavan. Meghana. Armed with science (and snark), a gynecologist takes on Trump, Goop, and all manner of bizarre health trends. STAT. August 4, 2017.
  15. Web site: Gunter. Jennifer. Mother of 3, parent of 2. Reflections on the saddest sorority. Jen Gunter. July 7, 2017.
  16. Gunter. Jen. Medical misinformation and the internet: a call to arms. The Lancet. June 2019. 393. 10188. 2294–2295. 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31206-1. 31180024. 179122378 . 0140-6736. 8164688620.
  17. News: Style: The Cycle. October 26, 2019. The New York Times.
  18. Web site: Gunter . Jen . February 10, 2021 . Welcome to The Vajenda! . June 27, 2024 . The Vajenda (substack).
  19. Social Media Guide. ACOG Today. November 2012. 5, 9, 11. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
  20. News: Lytton. Charlotte. Dr Jen Gunter, the 'vaginal antichrist', on her mission to bring down Goop. The Telegraph. September 9, 2019.
  21. Web site: June 27, 2024 . @drjengunter . June 27, 2024 . X.
  22. News: Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books Best Sellers . The New York Times . June 6, 2021 . June 6, 2021.
  23. News: Belluz. Julia. Julia Belluz. The Vagina Bible: This feminist gynecologist wants you to know your body and fight the patriarchy. Vox. August 14, 2019.
  24. News: Girvan. Chloe. Canadian-born gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter tells it like it is in The Vagina Bible. The Toronto Star. August 22, 2019.
  25. News: Somos. Christy. 'Vagina Bible' aims to dispel myths and misinformation about genital health. CTV News. September 3, 2019.
  26. Web site: Booknet Canada: Independent Bestseller List, Overall Bestsellers (August 26 – September 1, 2019). Retail Council of Canada. The Vagina Bible Gunter, Jen 9780735277373 Random House of Canada; 26.95.
  27. News: Ritschel. Chelsea. Gynaecologist calls out Twitter for banning book adverts over the use of the word "vagina". The Independent. August 29, 2019.
  28. News: Wodinsky. Shoshana. Twitter's Ad Network Is Waging a War Against Anatomy. Adweek. August 27, 2019.
  29. News: Oatman. Maddie. Dr. Jen Gunter Wants to Protect Your Vagina From Gwyneth Paltrow. Mother Jones. August 23, 2019.
  30. Web site: "Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter," a new podcast from the TED Audio Collective, premieres May 19 TED Blog. May 12, 2021 . 2021-05-27. en-US.
  31. Web site: Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter on Apple Podcasts. 2021-05-27. Apple Podcasts. en-US.
  32. News: Bruser. David. McLean. Jesse. A wonder drug's dark side. Toronto Star. February 5, 2015.
  33. Web site: Gunter. Jen. Toronto Star claims HPV vaccine unsafe. Science says the Toronto Star is wrong. Jen Gunter. February 5, 2015.
  34. News: Mallick. Heather. Vaccine debate is one we shouldn't even be having: Mallick. Toronto Star. February 6, 2015.
  35. News: Young. Leslie. 'We failed' in presentation of HPV vaccine story, Star publisher says. Global News. February 11, 2015.
  36. News: Kay. Jonathan. Dropping science: The Toronto Star's scandalously bad article on HPV vaccines illustrates a larger problem with Canadian newsrooms. The Walrus. February 12, 2015.
  37. News: Hiltzik. Michael. How a major newspaper bungled a vaccine story, then smeared its critics. Los Angeles Times. February 13, 201.
  38. News: Gorski. David. How not to report about vaccine safety issues, Toronto Star edition. Science-Based Medicine. February 16, 2015.
  39. News: Girardi. Stephanie. Unpublishing. Ryerson Review of Journalism. February 25, 2015.
  40. News: McKnight. Zoe. This Canadian doctor is going head-to-head with Gwyneth Paltrow over Goop. Toronto Star. July 18, 2017.
  41. News: Shea. Courtney. Who is Dr. Jen Gunter, and why is she on Gwyneth Paltrow's bad side?. Chatelaine. Rogers Digital Media. July 25, 2017.
  42. Web site: Gundry. Stephen. Romm. Aviva. Uncensored: A word from our doctors. Goop. July 12, 2017.
  43. News: Rosman. Katherine. A Doctor Gives Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop an Examination. The New York Times. July 29, 2017.
  44. News: Caulfield. Timothy. Sorry, Gwyneth Paltrow. Science will always beat goopy junk. The Globe and Mail. July 14, 2017.
  45. Gunter. Jennifer. Parcak. Sarah. Vaginal Jade Eggs: Ancient Chinese Practice or Modern Marketing Myth?. Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery. October 25, 2018. 25. 1. 1–2. 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000643. 30365448. 53113146 .
  46. News: Hawke. Teaghan. New CBC Original Docseries Jensplaining, Hosted by "Twitter's Resident Gynecologist" Dr. Jen Gunter Launches August 23 on CBC Gem. June 12, 2019. Press release.
  47. News: Wilner. Norman. Canadian anti-Goop doctor Jen Gunter is getting a web series. NOW Magazine. June 13, 2019. en-us.
  48. News: Szklarski. Cassandra. Jen Gunter vs. the modern snake oil salesmen. Toronto Star. August 22, 2019.
  49. Web site: Jensplaining with Dr. Jen Gunter, MD . CBC Gem . March 4, 2021 . March 23, 2021 . February 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210228221054/https://gem.cbc.ca/season/jensplaining/season-1/9064a0b9-bbd2-4129-8998-a30cc97ebbb2 . dead .
  50. Web site: Fluevog Shoes - Fluevog partners with Dr. Jen Gunter for special Sole Talk shoe. Edward. Nieh. July 14, 2022.
  51. News: Butler. Peggy. My Interview with Dr. Jennifer Gunter. Success & Chocolate. 2012. As of 2012, Gunter was divorced.
  52. News: Hesse . Monica . What every member of Congress should know about vaginas . November 8, 2019 . . November 2, 2019.
  53. Web site: Diplomates. American Board of Pain Medicine. October 26, 2019. Jennifer Gunter, MD; Last Test Date: 04/27/2012; Cert Program Expiration Date: 12/31/2023.
  54. Web site: ACOG Physician Lookup. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. October 26, 2017. Gunter, Jennifer; San Francisco CA (415); F (Fellow).
  55. Web site: The Royal College Directory: Jen Gunter. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. October 26, 2017. Gunter, Jennifer; Fellow, 04 Aug 1995; FRCSC; San Francisco, California, United States; Obstetrics and Gynecology, 30 Jun 1995.

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