To think men should not be allowed to be gynaecologists

Anyway my male breast surgeon was amazing and I’m bloody glad I was in his care!

I was told triple negative very likely to return hence the large amount of adjuvant chemo.

I certainly didn’t have that lot for no reason.

A simple google search would also confirm that.

Your workplace is really unusual - nationally in it’s about 3/4 female, and even higher at the trainee level. So people like the OP can rest easy knowing male OBGYN are being phased out, so to speak.

Ah, a fellow triple negative! Quite a rare type and definitely the most aggressive! I only know of three others.

In October 2018 I found a lump on the outside of my right breast. It felt like muscle, and on examination, the GP thought the same, so I just plodded along as normal. In December 2019, I found a lump in my left breast. I wasn't unduly concerned as I had a history of cysts, so was a regular at the local breast clinic and was used to having fine needle aspirations (FNA).

I got it checked out by my GP (a different one to before) and also mentioned the lump on my right breast. She thought it could be a lipoma. I was generally quite stressed at the time and couldn't face going to my local NHS breast clinic as the waiting room is very small and it was always so busy! I had just had a PPI payout, so used that money to go privately. It wasn't any quicker because, at that time, the NHS breast clinic was seeing referrals within a week. I saw Sascha on the Tuesday and she checked both lumps. With the one on my right breast I could sense immediately that she wasn't happy. She told me straightway that she would need to see me again on the Friday (£200 I hadn't budgeted for). Then she sent me off to have a mammogram, an FNA on my left lump (a cyst) and a biopsy on the right. Went back into see her and she confirmed I had cancer, but wouldn't know what type until Friday.

After that I decided to make a complaint to my GP surgery because the original GP hadn't referred me. He hadn't even written about the examination in my notes! On the way out, I had quickly asked about my contact dermatitis and that was all he had written! As it turned out, my oncologist then told me that the cancer would definitely not have been detectable in October 2018, so the tumour must have grown into that particular muscle. It was 40mm when removed and was growing at the rate of 1cm a month. That's because triple negative is so aggressive. If it's any consolation, triple negative is highly unlikely to come back after five years. If it's going to return, it will happen fairly quickly.

Were you referred for genetic testing?Because I hadn't long turned 60, I was tested for BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2. All clear, but I was advised that because of my history, DD could start routine screening at the age of 40 instead of 50. I was told that as genetic testing is advancing all the time, I would be informed if they ever discovered a dodgy gene.

I am glad you have completed your treatment and I wish you well.

And to say women who have had experience of male gynocology and find it hugely uncomfortable are ridiculous is concerning. Particularly from somebody who hasn’t.

It’s absolutely not ridiculous.

Ridiculous. As long as he knows what he's doing, I wouldn't care.

Totally agree. Seeing a male gynie has put me off going for quite serious investigations.

I used to work with a lovely lady, regular church goer, lived in a very nice part of north Leeds, was not known for making things up or exaggerating. She was friends with a number of consultants and said men often go into gynaecology because there is always a lot of private work to be had and it’s very lucrative.

Not sure if it is true, but it seems believable.

DD does proctograms for a living, she finds defecating fascinating, but it really is just another part of the body to her, one whose function is extremely interesting, she is a very normal person whose line of work led her to bums.

You just have to google the issue to see there are gynaecologists who have been convicted for the sexual violation of patients though, usually after many years and dozens of patients. One predatory gynaecologist can cause a lot of harm, and unfortunately they don't wear signs telling you that they're predatory beforehand.

Unsurprisingly, when googling "gynaecologist sexual abuse" I didn't come across any female gynaecologists accused of sexual misconduct or sexual assault. Here's a few examples:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/army-gynecologist-took-secret-videos-patients-intimate-exams-lawsuit-s-rcna242846

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/jul/20/NHS.uknews

https://www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/our-insights/posts/doctor-accused-of-rogue-hysterectomies-investigated-in-womens-health-scandal/

https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-gynecologist-fabio-ortega-sexual-abuse-cook-county-skokie

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/former-gynaecologist-convicted-of-sex-assaults-on-patients-at-london-hospitals-a3279636.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-26/gynecologist-accused-of-abusing-patients-sentenced-20-years/102648188

https://www.cps.gov.uk/north-west/news/doctor-jailed-sexually-assaulting-female-patients

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/470354/gynaecologist-accused-of-inappropriate-comment-during-exam

No issue with male gynaecologist here. Prefer a woman though.

Maybe they just like making women feel better and saving lives 🤷‍♀️

And thank fuck they do!

It’s not weird for a doctor to want to specialise in obs and gynae at all. It’s actually one of the most varied and interesting areas of medicine to specialise in. You have a mix of surgery, oncology and medicine and then the added bonus of helping deliver babies. There are very few medical roles which encompass those three main areas of surgical , medical and oncology. I think gynae might be the only one actually.

Do you think so? It always struck me as odd that a man would want to be a gynaecologist, hence why I asked the question. She didn't phrase it quite like that, but that was the gist. I found the response very interesting at the time, hence why I remembered it.

I've worked in women's health and if we didn't have male gynaecologists there would be a huge shortfall! Probably 3/4 of our gynaecologists were male.

Conversely, one of my good friends (a woman) worked in men's health and had a far more intimate knowledge of the male appendages than I would ever want to have!

It is absolutely your right to request a female gynaecologist but, when you are waiting twice as long (or longer) for your appointment please don't complain. Of the gynaecologists I know, the kindest and most respectful have been men. I think, perhaps BECAUSE they are men, they have a genuine interest in how women's reproductive systems work.

Yeah I was just thinking about my first two births- both ended in emergencies and both were resolved by men. I didn’t care about their sex at all obviously, it didn’t occur to me whatsoever and why would it? When your life is in danger, you just want the doctor to save you. I never thought of it from their perspective of it being quite exciting because the “boring” births are handled by midwives!

so remove all male gynaecologists let’s see the waiting lists for appointments then! I’ve never heard anything so bizarre

A high percentage of those fannys will be having unpleasant problems too! Hardly the easiest route to getting your rocks off.

This is one of the most ridiculous threads I've ever read.

YANBU to prefer a female gynecologist. I've had excellent care from multiple male gynecologists though so YABU to want to ban them.

Yanbu at all!!! Dunno why a man would want to specialise in women's fannies. It's fucking weird.

Lol at citing Adam Kay. An absolute misogynist. Just cos he's gay, doesn't mean he's fine to study my anatomy.

Honestly, the handmaids out in force on this subject amaze me.

My triple negative cancer diagnosed Dec 24.

I was cancer free January 26 after the lumpectomy, the follow up chemo and radio were adjuvant treatment, which I’m very pleased to have received. Prevention is better than cure.

Mine was diagnosed through a mammogram, out of interest how did a gynaecologist diagnose yours?

My gynae/ obstetrician consultant was amazing born pre and during pregnancy. Validating about a long term health condition, advocated for me with other health professionals and ultimately kept me and my baby alive during labour.
I think it’s about the individual rather than the gender here and if you can’t see that, that’s a you problem.

A woman has her own opinion, so she’s a handmaiden! How irritating is it when this is trotted out?

Don’t want to see a male gynaecologist, don’t!

But don’t name call me because I’m ok with it.

Shall I start name calling you?

I roared with laughter at the brats and twats line. Adam Kay delivered it superbly.

OP you do know you have a choice. If you dont want a dude scoping out your vagina, its not compulsory.

Personally, I have never had an issue with male Obs & Gynae and think your opinion that this is a field exclusively for women is a reflection on your needs, not the competence of the highly trained specialists who work in this field.