About the Unsilenced Movement
Advocating for Overdue Reform in Pediatric Urology
The Unsilenced Movement was launched in 2023 to raise awareness about VCUG trauma. After connecting with former patients on a subreddit called r/VCUG_Trauma, our founders recognized a decades-old institutional failure that has harmed generations of children on a global scale. Since its launch, our grassroots organization has connected with thousands of former patients of all ages and backgrounds.
Who We Are
Our community includes patients, parents, and professionals from the United States, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, UK, and beyond. We aim to unify patients and providers in establishing trauma-informed care in pediatric urology, with a primary focus on informed consent.
VCUG is promoted as safe, painless, and low risk by hospitals and clinics. The lack of transparency and disclosure has prevented children and families from receiving the support they need. This has resulted in generations of patients experiencing trauma symptoms like suicidality, PTSD, vaginismus, self-harm, fear of sex and intimacy, and refusal of care in adulthood.
Our Mission
Unsilenced is committed to closing the knowledge gap and establishing an equal power balance between providers and families navigating a vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) diagnosis by highlighting the need for alternative diagnostic measures and a standardized protocol for pediatric VCUGs.
Even today, medical institutions are failing to disclose pertinent information prior to referring children for VCUG, including the risk of child sexual abuse (CSA) symptoms and the availability of safe and effective alternatives like ceVUS.
Our five-part mission includes:
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Establishing a standardized protocol for VCUGs, including consistent criteria for referrals, medical necessity, frequency, and follow-up.
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Retire the VCUG as the "gold standard" by establishing safer, equally effective alternatives for diagnosing VUR.
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Hold providers accountable for their obligations under the informed consent doctrine, including diagnostic alternatives and the risk of sexual and medical trauma, before a VCUG is performed.
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Inform patients and parents of alternative care measures when medically appropriate to limit unnecessary trauma and radiation exposure, such as corrective valve surgery.
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Prevent hospitals from advocating against reasonable alternatives that may be appropriate and medically beneficial for the patient.
Unsilenced in the Press
The Unsilenced Movement has gained national and international recognition for its powerful advocacy and storytelling. Together, our community is helping to expose injustice, amplify survivor voices, and drive global awareness of pediatric medical trauma.
Award-Winning Documentary Films
More Than a Test (dir. Shelby Smith) is an intimate, award-winning short film highlighting the lived experience of VCUG trauma and its lifelong impact. It won the Social Impact Award and “Best Documentary” at multiple festivals.
Unsilenced (dir. Isabelle Primavera) is an award-winning documentary that explores unethical pediatric practices and shines a light on survivor voices. It won “Best Short Documentary” and was a semi-finalist at two additional festivals.
Media & Publications
In September 2023, the voices behind the movement were featured in STAT News, a leading health and science publication. The article brought international attention to the lasting psychological harm caused by VCUG procedures and the urgent need for reform.
Global Outreach
With over 24.6 million views garnered on TikTok alone, the Unsilenced Movement has sparked an international dialogue about VCUG trauma, as well as the broader implications of medical ethics, informed consent, and patient autonomy.
NOTE: The Unsilenced Movement is not affiliated with Unsilenced.org or the troubled teen industry.