Disability Services

If you have a disability, those health care needs can sometimes take precedence over gynecological care. You may find it difficult even to access the preventive and routine care you need.

About 27 million women with disabilities have difficulty accessing women’s health care in the U.S.

At UPMC, we believe you should have full access to mammograms, exams, and other screenings. We've focused on delivering accessible care for more than 20 years.

We're committed to serving anyone who needs our care, including women and people who have female reproductive organs.

How Do Disability Services Help?

Disability services help ensure people with physical differences have the same access to care.

For example, if you’re in a wheelchair, getting an annual gynecologic exam or a mammogram is difficult without accessible equipment. You may need a patient lift or a more accessible exam table.

To build our services, we talked with women with disabilities to learn how to make our care better meet their needs. At UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, we designed a specific center, the Center for Women with Disabilities, which is one of the first such centers in the country.

We also focus on making gynecological and other women-focused exams and screenings more accessible, system-wide.

What issues do women with disabilities face?

Lack of accessible equipment makes care for people with disabilities difficult.

Common barriers include:

• Inaccessible exam rooms (doors too narrow or space too small).
• Examining tables that are too high.
• Mammogram equipment that requires people to stand.

Plus, many gynecologists feel ill-prepared to care for women with medical disabilities, such as:

• Down syndrome.
• Neuromuscular conditions.
• Spina bifida.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Stroke.

This is why women with physical disabilities are less likely to:

• Be screened for cervical and breast cancer.
• Get regular pelvic exams.
• Have their needs met when it comes to contraception and pregnancy counseling.

There also some specific risk factors related to certain disabilities.

For example, women with neuromuscular disorders are more likely to have complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. These disorders can also weaken pelvic muscles, making care all the more important.

In addition, women who use wheelchairs may have a higher risk of blood clots. Their doctors needs to consider this when prescribing certain types of birth control.

Women’s Health Services We Provide

We offer full access to gynecological and well-woman care for women and people with female reproductive organs.

Gynecological services

We see people with physical disabilities who need:

• Preventive care.
• Birth control.
• Mammograms.
• Screenings, including Pap tests.
• Testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  

We can also help if you need care for:

• Menopause symptoms.
• Painful periods.
• Pelvic pain.
• Post-menopausal bleeding.
• Vaginitis.

Consulting services

We offer consulting services to organizations interested in establishing specialty clinics for women with disabilities, including:

• Hospitals and medical centers.
• Clinics.
• Community organizations.
• Disability advocate groups.

Other UPMC Resources for Women with Disabilities

The Disability Resource Center at UPMC works to identify and expand the network of clinical services at UPMC for people with disabilities.

The Center for Assistive Technology, a joint program of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh, works to improve choices in wheelchairs, adaptive keyboards, and personal mobility systems.

Why Choose UPMC the Center for Women with Disabilities?

UPMC is committed to providing accessible health care to all people. We offer:

• Compassionate, patient-center care — We built our center to serve your needs. This includes having accessible equipment and providers with special training in providing care to people with disabilities.
• National leadership — We're one of the first centers to focus on providing gynecological and well-woman care to people with disabilities. We help other organizations start programs or expand their care offerings to be more inclusive and accessible.
• Commitment to women’s health — At UPMC, we’re focused on caring for you, throughout your lifetime. It’s why we have so many programs and resources to help with reproductive and pelvic health. We aim to serve people across Pa., and even offer virtual care.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05.