I went to see Dr. Binford to have my copper IUD changed, it was due to expire. First, she was very pushy about not inserting a copper IUD, saying she regularly removes them, even though I'd had one for years already without issue. She was convinced that all this time I've actually had a hormonal IUD, because my periods were getting lights and according to her thats inconsistent with an IUD, and because I'd had it put in abroad (it's called a Multiload)--which to me, was a little xenophobic to suggest that the clinic I'd gone to didn't know what they were putting inside of me... However, with limited time and insurance options, I decided to continue with booking the appt. to have it changed--she said she would "decide" which one (hormonal or copper) to put in after looking at my old one. We made the appt. for a month out, after my IUD was set to expire. I asked if I should use a back-up method in the meantime, and she said that was not necessary.
To be fair, I got a second opinion who agreed I probably didn't need a back-up, most IUD's last longer than they say. Unfortunately, I still got pregnant, and this is where Dr. Binford's treatment became unacceptable.
First, she freaked me out saying it was likely I'd miscarry. A second opinion (my friend, an out of state OBGYN) assured me that while IUD's can increase the chances of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, it's small. I knew already I would not go through with the pregnancy, so the next step was to find out if it was indeed ectopic or viable. I did appreciate that Dr. Binford's office got me in first thing in the morning for the ultrasound. However, after confirming the pregnancy was not ectopic, when I told Dr. Binford that I planned to just have the IUD changed at the same time as I received the planned abortion at another clinic (to minimize the number of invasive procedures that I was already undergoing), she became aggressive in attempting to coerce me into having the IUD removed. She seemed offended that I'd sought a second opinion, and she was talking to me like I was a misguided moron who should't have the first say in choices regarding my own body. At one point I had to actually tell her she was being patronising, and that my friend had agreed to let me call her on speaker phone during the appointment if there were any questions. Dr. Binford finally dismissed removing the IUD, however, then she began to try to tell me I probably had pcos! Her only reasoning was that it would explain my periods getting lighter over time, which according to her was inconsistent with having a copper IUD. At this point I was incredulous as to why we were even still discussing whether I had a copper IUD or not, and moreover--I found it negligent that she thought it appropriate to unecessarily add onto my emtional distress during a vulnerable moment in my life as I was facing a difficult decision that I had responsibly done everything to avoid. Even if it were true that I had pcos (I don't), it was not the time or place to pursue that diagnosis. In the end, I had to go to a well women's clinic that can provide an abortion, and not only were the staff kind, reassuring and efficient--they also didn't even bat an eye at my Multiload copper IUD. The doctor was familiar with it!
This story gets a little weirder when I found out last week that not one but two of my friends have had negative experiences and discontinued seeing Dr. Binford too! That's when I knew I had to write this review, something I don't usually do. I am trying to be fair here, Dr. Binford was prompt about getting me in her office, and she was physically gentle during the procedures--however, her bedside manner is poor and there clearly seems to be a pattern through these reviews--if you are a young woman seeking advice on birth control, she seems to belittle your role in the decision-making with regards to your own body. Not only was she combative about removing my IUD, she never even asked me why I was so adamantly against having hormonal birth control-- she just pushed her reasoning onto me (which was that she has to remove a lot???). She also misdiagnosed one of my friends with herpes. She's just rude, and while I know it can be frustrating as a doctor (my sister is an MD, I get it) when you feel like your patients have some half-formed ideas about medicine or care via the internet (like WebMD), to entirely dismiss, to belittle, and to push your opinions onto a woman--especially at the moment they're most vulnerable, is unacceptable. I would not recommend Dr. Binford. read more