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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think men should not be allowed to be gynaecologists

637 replies

CaragianettE · 10/06/2026 22:45

Just that, really. Saw one last week. He was trying to be helpful, but I really really really don’t want to discuss ‘do you get clots’ ‘do you experience flooding’ ‘do you find intercourse painful’ with a strange man. Yes it would be awkward with a strange woman too, but at least I know she likely has some lived experience of what we are talking about. TBH I also question men’s motives for choosing this job, not just the licence to look at strange women’s vaginas, but I think there’s something deep in the male psyche that just loves laying down the law to women about their reproductive systems. It’s a job for a woman, and while I know men were allowed to train for it in the past, I think they should now be phased out.

OP posts:
pavillion1 · 10/06/2026 22:58

I hear you OP

SpudGunToo · 10/06/2026 22:58

It’s totally understandable to not want a male as your gynaecologist and you should always have the choice, but men are damned if they do and damned if they don’t get involved in women’s medicine.

If they don’t they are told that they don’t care about women’s health issues and if they do they are told they are making women uncomfortable and are probably perverts.

FarmGirl78 · 10/06/2026 22:57

Oh give over. There are some men out there who don't fit the Mumsnet narrative of "all men are dirty perverts". Would you also barr lesbians from becoming gynaecologists? Male surgeons from doing mastectomies? Anyone over the age of 18 from operating on children incase they're paedophiles? Waiting lists are long enough as it is and you want to make them even longer?

I'm going to use the famous phrase used by all disgruntled NHS staff when knobhead Patients are being hilariously self important and unrealistic...."Perhaps a private service might suit your needs better".

Kirbert2 · 10/06/2026 22:56

Only if you're happy to wait even longer for appointments.

You can request a female. No one should be banned from a career due to their sex.

Ace56 · 10/06/2026 22:56

I do agree to an extent as I think it’s an odd specialisation for a man to choose. I’d love to find out what made them choose this area out of all the hundreds of areas of the body they could specialise in. If there was a penis specialisation I doubt many female doctors would choose to go into this (and no, urologist is not the male equivalent of gynaecologist). However, I don’t think men should be banned from specialising in gynaecology.

TheBossOfMe · 10/06/2026 22:55

I’ve had the opposite happen. Female medical professionals assuming because it wasn’t their experience it must not be true. Have a look at some of the recent midwifery issues.

MyKidsAreTooNoisy · 10/06/2026 22:55

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You’ve lost the argument twice over with this silly analogy

SuitcaseAndSecrets · 10/06/2026 22:55

I am 68 and scince l was 28 l have had gynae problems from PID to PCOS/ endometriosis. Had 8 laparoscopies to remove ovarian cysts. Had an endometrial resection.. a laparotomy where all my organs / uterus/ tubes/ bowels/ bladder etc were stuck together. Three hour surgery to seperate them. After 9 years of hell and one ectopic he helped me concive again...after my second daughter l had a total hysterectomy age 38.. all under a male consultant.. same one and his under study.. this surgeon was amazing..the best one within our local NHS trust at the time.. ( 1980's).. my sister had a female gynecologist.. who was absolutely hopeless... never got anything done.. dismissed as put up and shut up .. we females have to suffer etc etc... just because she herself never suffered.

MissVerucaSalt · 10/06/2026 22:54

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You haven’t read the book, have you….? There’s only one person on this thread thinking someone should be restricted and banned purely for their sex, and it’s you 🤷‍♀️

Gowlett · 10/06/2026 22:54

I mean, I really connect with my female GP.

But, also my male midwife was amazing…

When I went for a vaginal ultrasound, I was expecting the usual lady sonographer. But it was a guy instead. I felt fine about it, I like her a lot, but I found him very good at the job too.

LittleGreenShoots · 10/06/2026 22:54

CaragianettE · 10/06/2026 22:50

Adam ‘brats and twats’ Kay? That Adam Kay?

Yes- but I feel like you are taking that out of context to imply he didn't care deeply about his work and his patients. If you read his books you see he cared so much it almost destroyed him and his personal life. Dark humour is a very common way of dealing with the difficulties of being in that kind of high stress environment.

Thechaseison71 · 10/06/2026 22:54

ItsGregg · 10/06/2026 22:52

YANBU.
Only male gynaecologists I’ve experienced have been dismissive. I’ve learnt to question the motives of men choosing this as their field of expertise.

I find that doctors of both sexes tend to be more dismissive on women's iasues

Whataflippincircus · 10/06/2026 22:53

I know what you mean @CaragianettE . I felt uncomfortable discussing my prolapse with a man, I had only just met. He went on to repair my prolapse and did an excellent job, which was the main thing really.

dartmoordays · 10/06/2026 22:53

YABU. Some of the best gynaecologists at my local hospital are male. Much more sympathetic than the women I’ve found.

OneThreadOnlybyN · 10/06/2026 22:53

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What on earth are you on about??

PiIIock · 10/06/2026 22:53

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So basically ypu thought everyone would validate you and now it hasn’t happened, everyone’s a handmaiden?

I don’t care what sex they are as long as they’re knowledgeable and make me feel comfortable.

ItsGregg · 10/06/2026 22:52

YANBU.
Only male gynaecologists I’ve experienced have been dismissive. I’ve learnt to question the motives of men choosing this as their field of expertise.

pollyhilly · 10/06/2026 22:52

Has it occurred to you that without male gynaecologists there would be even less doctors available and you’d have to wait a lot longer for treatment for these issues? Do you object to women treating men for issues relating to their genitalia?

I mean I get it, I’d probably prefer to see a female gynaecologist too. But banning all men from the profession? Don’t be silly.

OneThreadOnlybyN · 10/06/2026 22:52

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Quite an achievement after the OP!

NestingNameChange · 10/06/2026 22:51

My gynaecologist is a man and he’s fantastic!

OneThreadOnlybyN · 10/06/2026 22:51

LittleGreenShoots · 10/06/2026 22:49

I don't know- Adam Kay's books were wonderfully written and he was a male gynecologist and also completely gay, so really not doing it for anything other than the medical calling.

When I've had smear tests etc by a man I've actually found it less weird. It feels more natural to have a man down there than a woman for me.

Me too.

SunnySunnyDayz · 10/06/2026 22:51

Yanu to prefer a female, I would too. But lots don't care and if men were restricted there may not be enough of them.

MajorSamanthaCarter · 10/06/2026 22:50

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CaragianettE · 10/06/2026 22:50

LittleGreenShoots · 10/06/2026 22:49

I don't know- Adam Kay's books were wonderfully written and he was a male gynecologist and also completely gay, so really not doing it for anything other than the medical calling.

When I've had smear tests etc by a man I've actually found it less weird. It feels more natural to have a man down there than a woman for me.

Adam ‘brats and twats’ Kay? That Adam Kay?

OP posts:
Galaxylights · 10/06/2026 22:50

You're being very unreasonable.

There are some fabulous male consultants in gynae at the hospital I work in.

They are medically trained you know...