To think men should not be allowed to be gynaecologists

Considering that I regularly have to wait months longer on the NHS waiting list to see a female Gynae, yes I do think there's a shortage.

Edited to add: I've been told frequently by hospital booking staff that I could have an appointment much sooner if I would agree to see a male doctor.

That is quite an odd take from an intelligent person

Just when I thought questions on MN couldn't get any more ridiculous. Utter madness...

That’s your hang up though. Your problem if you don’t feel comfortable.

Ask for a female one if you prefer.

They are doctors doing a job

Reading through this, i'm not sure id want anyone to look and tell me the truth.

Not true. Dr Sascha Dua is an eminent female Consultant Breast Surgeon who was actually on tv a couple of months ago (I want to say Channel 5) and it followed her life both at work and at home. She diagnosed my triple negative breast cancer back in December 2019. She is pretty impressive! I saw her privately, but then went on to have NHS treatment at my local hospital. I didn't want to go down the Plan A route of chemotherapy/lumpectomy/radiotherapy so opted for a mastectomy which meant I was cancer-free in six weeks, as opposed to at least seven months (much of which would have been during lockdown). My surgery was done by a Consultant General Surgeon and he was amazing! I definitely had 5 star treatment!

Calling people who don't agree with your preposterous suggestion handmaidens... grow up.

Those who cannot convince others of their argument often resort to insults. It's a sign.

My DM always used to say she preferred seeing a male doctor.

I used to do private secretarial work for a well-respected child and adolescent psychiatrist, and one day I asked her why she thought some men wanted to be gynaecologists. Her response was that women had the ultimate control because they were able to give birth to the next generation, and this profession was the closest thing for men who were that way inclined. Basically, it seems to be about control. Food for thought.

What an utterly ridiculous and silly OP.

I've been seen and even operated on by both male and female gynaecologists and both were absolutely fine.

You haven't received the 100% validation you were expecting so now you seem to have flounced.

So you think men study for 7 years, just so they can look at fannys all day? 😂

I’ve only ever had female OB/GYNs, but the fertility specialist who helped my parents conceive me was male and my mom thought he was fantastic. My parents tried unsuccessfully for a few years to have a second baby, and I remember going to appointments with my mom and her doctor letting me spin around on the stool in the exam room. Fun times. 🙂 He’s still practicing over 40 years later and has won several awards.

YABU.

My easiest smear test was done by a male gynae. The female nurses I'd seen up to that point dismissed any concerns I had and didnt seem to know how to do the procedure properly at all. Having then been referred to the hospital for the smear, this guy immediately made me feel at ease and took the swab in about 30 seconds. Didn't feel a thing, in fact, I was very surprised when he said he'd done it. Given the choice, I'd have a male gynae every time.

I'm a 67 year old female who has never had a gynae issue in my entire life, so how on earth would I have any more idea of what a woman was going through than a man would? Other than having the same "bits" I would have nothing in common with a patient.

I really can't be bothered with people who can't deal with a man doing a job, for which they are highly trained, simply because he is a man.

Mammographers who do the public screenings are all women.

Of course men shouldn't be banned from practicing certain types of medicine any more than women should be. Choose someone you're comfortable with and let others do the same.

“a push to recruit”? Do you think there’s a shortage of female trainees in OBGYN? Are you joking?

I mean there aren’t that many around anymore, are there? Isn’t it one of the most female dominated specialisms? Where I live, OBGYNs are 85% female, I believe.

So just rebook with a woman. 🤷‍♀️

This has been my experience with male vs. female gynecologists. When my old doctor retired, I chose a new male doctor.

Also, I believe "banning" someone from doing a job based on their sex is what you would call a slippery slope...

Last year I had to have some gynae investigations/treatment and I had a wonderful male gynaecologist. He was very caring, professional and took time to explain everything really clearly. Made sure I was giving informed consent at every step - which is more than I can say for the female obstetrician I had when I was pregnant who gave me a sweep without my consent! So I think you can have good and bad individuals in any profession, doesn't mean we should ban them because of their sex.

I agree with this. I actually found the male ones listened more when I had explaining symptoms. The female one I saw was rude bordering on aggressive.

Personally, I've had unpleasant, sexist, and painful experiences with male gynaes over the years and only one negative experience with the many female gynaes I've seen. I would much prefer a push to recruit many more female doctors into gynaecology services to ensure that female patients have a genuine choice when seeing a doctor.

Assault, basically. I’m sorry that happened.

I will add that the male OB who assisted with DS2's birth was awful compared to the female OB who attended DS1 and all the female midwives who treated me before during and after both:

-Laughed in my face at my final antenatal appointment (~39 weeks) when I told him I thought labour was imminent and described the ways my body felt different. I went into labour later that day.
-Refused to stop stitching up my perineum to top up the anaesthesia when I told him it had worn off and he was hurting me. 'Just one more stitch!' 'OK just one more!' 'One more!'. My feet were up in stirrups with a light shone at my vagina, I was shaking uncontrollably from the shock and pain.

Ugh, DS2 is 20 and I'm getting angry all over again just thinking about it.

The big Tesco on sundays after 4pm. It’s really the right thing to do in 2026.