Male obstetricians & gynaes

Tolly I don't know but my gut instinct is a male obs and gynae might be more sympathetic because they have not and cannot experience periods, childbirth etc... Whereas a female obs and gynae might be a bit more 'big deal, we all get period pains' 'I never had an epidural' etc...

I have no preference regarding the gender of the obs and gynae. I'd just want a good one who had all the necessary qualifications and experience.

I wouldnt expect a female Dr to be more sympathetic to period or childbirth problems. Actually I think thats a really sexist thing to say. What if they have never had children, or had really easy births? Its completely irrelevant.

Is the only good orthopaedic surgeon one who has at some point broken his leg? Of course not. Or the only good geriatrician someone who is themself very elderly?

6k per year in insurance fees for O+G consultants AFAIK.

I dont think that gender is relevent in terms of determining if someone will be a good O+G doctor, though the shift patterns aren't especially family friendly.

The sex of the doctor is irrelevant. I have known good and bad Obstetricians/Gynaecologists of both sexes. The toughest, most abrupt one of all was a woman (quite often praised on MN as it happens, but then I knew her as a junior dr), as was the one who actually made me almost pass out in pain through her roughness.

The loveliest and most gentle was a man. Its to do with their personalities and capabilities, not their gender.

You might expect it but you don't always get it!

no... but you expect a female dr to be more sympathetic to period or childbirth problems.. but their not. how a male dr can empathise with heavy painful periods I don't know.. same as we can't empathise with prostate or impotence issues for example..

*hear.

obs and gynae is one of the worst areas for drs to work in.. in a medic legal sense. the highest amount of patients suing trusts... I've been told... Is in obstetrics..

Empathy and a good bedside manner have nothing whatever to do with the sex of the person.

I work in obs and gynae.. three female cons and two male. I would only trust 1 of the female consultants and only one of the male consultants. the other male cons is near retirement and not with all the new changes and proposals. the other two women cons have no empathy and are very harsh and abrupt. never heat a good word about them..

I think it a non issue. It works both ways, if all jobs are open to women they should be open to men too.
The best gynaecologist I have ever seen was a man-he had a superb bedside manner. I have also seen a dreadful male one. The same goes for women. You get the whole range in both sexes.

As the mother of DSs I would be very annoyed if they were banned from some jobs.

I have my own gripes about maternity services but non are related to the sex of HCPs. We're driven through the system like sheep through a sodding dip. Have this test, take some blood, here's a tiny little tube - pee in it, here is your scan appointment. Rince and repeat.