Woman’s Physical Therapy Canceled Because Her PT “Wasn’t Comfortable” With Female Patients

Pregnancy often comes with enough discomfort on its own, so finding out your healthcare provider won’t even see you can feel like salt in the wound. That’s the situation one expectant mom faced when her physical therapist canceled just hours before her appointment.

The reason? The male therapist said he wasn’t “comfortable” treating tailbone pain that might involve pelvic work. Left in pain and disbelief, she couldn’t help but wonder, was it unprofessional, discriminatory, or simply a misunderstanding?

Her husband and doctor both had strong opinions, and so did the internet once she shared her story.

In this story, the OP is six months pregnant, dealing with chronic tailbone pain that’s worsened by pregnancy, books a physical-therapy appointment, and three hours beforehand gets cancelled because the male therapist says he’s “uncomfortable” treating a woman whose issue might involve pelvic-floor therapy.

On one side, the patient sought relief, followed a proper referral, and expected care. On the other side, the clinic invokes “comfort” as a barrier, essentially prioritising provider unease over patient need.

The patient’s motivation was access to treatment; the clinic’s motivation appears to be avoiding a scenario they feel unprepared for.

This raises a broader social issue: gender disparities in pain treatment and women being dismissed in medical settings.

For example, a report by Harvard Women’s Health Watch states that “women’s pain experiences are often minimised or dismissed by clinicians” and that women wait longer for treatment and are less likely to receive pain relief.

Another source shows pregnant women with pelvic-girdle or lumbopelvic pain delay seeking physical therapy because they feel their pain will not be taken seriously.

In the words of pain specialist Samantha Meints of Brigham & Women’s Hospital: “Women are told what they’re experiencing is normal… everything is dismissed as ‘you have a uterus and a vagina, and therefore you need to suck up your pain and deal with it.’”

This quote is relevant here because the OP very likely felt exactly that: her referral was valid, but the cancellation sent the message that her gender and pregnancy made her problem too uncomfortable for the provider to handle, not that it was too complex medically.

The OP should write (or request) a formal explanation from the clinic: ask why the appointment was cancelled, whether another therapist (female or male with documented training in pelvic-health) is available, and if referral to someone experienced is an option.

Simultaneously, she should notify her OB-GYN about what happened and ask for a new referral to a therapist explicitly comfortable with prenatal tailbone/pelvic-floor issues.

When booking future appointments, she might ask upfront: “Do you treat pregnant women with possible pelvic-floor involvement? Do you feel experienced in this area?” This gives her better control.

Lastly, if she feels the cancellation was discriminatory, she may keep records (voicemails/texts) and consider consulting the state physical-therapy licensing board.

Here’s what people had to say to OP:

These commenters rallied behind OP, declaring her NTA and blasting the clinic for wasting her time while she was in pain.

These users brought in professional insight, explaining that pelvic floor therapy is a specialized field requiring additional certification.

This group leaned toward NAH, offering calm, situational understanding.

These commenters took a blunt YTA stance, arguing that comfort and consent apply to professionals too.

This story highlights how professionalism and communication can make or break trust in healthcare. While some might defend the PT’s discomfort as caution, others see it as misplaced judgment that undermines patient care.

Was it a case of poor communication or unconscious bias? Should professionals be allowed to refuse treatment based on gender comfort levels? What’s your take, was the Redditor right to call this out, or should empathy go both ways? Share your thoughts below.