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Original poster

Male Doctor- is this appropriate?

24 replies

Kismetjayn · 07/02/2019 10:33

Help, I need to know if I should rebook her appointment!

My DD has what looks like recurrent thrush. Tests come back negative, the drs prescribed canesten but it only goes away for a bit then right back. I don't know if it's down to her wiping or what, but it's making her uncomfortable and needs to get sorted.

Got an appointment and this time forgot to ask for a female doctor, her GP is a man. I know most women would want a female for intimate exams, I prefer a man due to my history, so it just slipped my mind. Should I rebook and ask for a woman? He will be trained just as anyone else... I don't know, what would the MN hive-mind do?

OP posts:

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/02/2019 10:36

If she is little so to young to be embarrassed then it’s fine , how old is she?

Original poster

Kismetjayn · 07/02/2019 10:37

Oops- she's 3, probably should have put that in OP.

OP posts:

CalmDownPacino · 07/02/2019 10:40

If it was my daughter I would re-book with a woman.

Interested in this thread?

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General health

AnnaMagnani · 07/02/2019 10:48

She's 3. The GP is entirely competent to treat this or should be regardless of sex. Plus you are there to chaperone the whole time.

Why does it need a woman doctor?

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 07/02/2019 10:50

Surely there will be a nurse present, also you.
He’s a doctor; she’s a patient. End of.

Hiphopopotamous · 07/02/2019 10:51

I'd keep the appointment. Very different for a child than a pubertal teen who would be embarrassed seeing a man.
Good practice would dictate they get a chaperone anyway.

PARunnerGirl · 07/02/2019 10:52

@CalmDownPacino Eh? She’s 3. Maybe different if she was at an age where things like this could be embarrassing. Otherwise what are we saying? That, as standard, male doctors shouldn’t be treating young girls? Why?

coragreta · 07/02/2019 10:55

I had this exact thing with my 3year old. Male dr was fine. But I'm also happy with a male midwife and male drs anyway. I really don't see a problem. He's a trained professional.

swapsicles · 07/02/2019 10:59

At 3 its fine, no need for her to see a female doctor until she's older and only if she feels the need to as well.

nolongersurprised · 07/02/2019 11:05

Thrush is actually uncommon before puberty, it’s more likely vulvovaginitis which is really common in 3 year olds. It has the same symptoms as thrush but is actually secondary to the area being thinner and more sensitive prior to puberty.

www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Vulvovaginitis/

Reallyevilmuffin · 07/02/2019 11:08

I second that with no longer surprised. Without a confirmed swab of thrush ever more likely the moisturizer aspect of the cream is helping.

Original poster

Kismetjayn · 07/02/2019 11:12

Thank you all! It's things like this I really struggle with, so glad for MN.

And thank you so much @nolongersurprised that is so helpful- sounds exactly like the problem! Thank you. Poor DD has been suffering with no answers back and forth to drs so will raise this if he doesn't.

OP posts:

LadyR77 · 07/02/2019 11:14

I wouldn't have a problem with this at all - he's a trained professional, she's not of an age where she might feel embarrassed/uncomfortable and you will (presumably) be with her throughout anyway. No need to change to a female doctor at all.

drspouse · 07/02/2019 11:20

he's a trained professional, she's not of an age where she might feel embarrassed/uncomfortable and you will (presumably) be with her throughout anyway.

I would say the first of these two are irrelevant:
I have seen a male GP a number of times and yes he's a trained professional but no I don't want to be examined by him without a chaperone.
At age 3, this is an ideal age for you to explain that these bits are private and that nobody should be looking at them unless Mummy says so.

No 3 is relevant here - you are the ideal chaperone.

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/02/2019 11:38

Absolutely fine at three it’s only a “ problem” if a girl is of an age where they are embarrassed and would prefer a female to feel more comfortable.

willowstar · 07/02/2019 12:48

I wouldn't even think about this to be honest. Our GP is a male and he is great and it wouldn't even cross my mind to request a female. I am a health care professional though so Drs are just Drs to me.

ImMeantToBeWorking · 07/02/2019 13:42

Sorry this is slightly off thread but, do you give her much bread that contains yeast?

During my first ever smear my doc asked had I been on antibiotics recently as I had slight thrush but nothing major. I said no, doc asked was it at me, I said no so she said to leave it. Second smear, I get asked the same thing by a nurse. Again I said no.

Fast forward a few years and I get food allergy testing done, it came back that I have an "intolerance" to yeast, and the lady said at worst it would probably cause wind (check), bloating (check) and a little bit of thrush! I now avoid eating as much bread that contains yeast (but I will still eat it a little bit) and the wind and bloating defiantly stopped. In for my smear last Nov and the nurses didn't mention thrush so I assume that has passed too.

Might be worth a shot?

Original poster

Kismetjayn · 07/02/2019 13:55

@ImMeantToBeWorking she does actually, she loves toast so has it every day, for breakfast, or with beans, with soup, etc...
She does get quite windy, might bring that one up to the doctor too and try avoiding bread until the appt.

OP posts:

NanooCov · 07/02/2019 16:13

I had vulvovaginitis a LOT as a child. It was horrendous and would have me beside myself with the itch and pain. Baths helped but the second I got out the itch would be back. Nappy cream (think we used bepanthen) also helped for a short time. Your DD has my sympathy if this is it with her too. I have to be honest, nothing really "cured" it but I did grow out of it eventually.

ImMeantToBeWorking · 07/02/2019 17:38

@Kismetjayn might be worth a shot. Soda break has no yeast so just substitute it and see does it make a difference. Nothing lost nothing gained and all that!

Bluesheep8 · 07/02/2019 17:41

Drs are drs to me, male or female. I've had smear tests done by both so I wouldn't have a problem at all with a male Dr examining a 3 year old girl.

Original poster

Kismetjayn · 07/02/2019 20:15

@NanooCov thank you for your insight- DD's isn't that bad most of the time but it can be and I really feel for her. It just looks so raw and red :( she already wears loose undies/bare bum and long skirt at home, and we try to shower more than bath to avoid soap causing irritation, because those things help with thrush- but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

@ImMeantToBeWorking I can make a really quick soda bread so will get on that- thank you for the suggestion, I hadn't thought of that :)

OP posts:

anotherwearytraveller · 07/02/2019 20:17

Thrush is v uncommon in prepubertal girls

It’s vulvovaginitis that is common and often misdiagnosed

Use emollients

As an aside the whole bread and yeast thing has been debunked and isn’t relevant in kids. Let her eat her toast.

Comeonchameleon · 07/02/2019 20:24

I’ve never ever considered asking for a female doctor. They’re capable of doing the job. Plus she’s 3 so she won’t care.

My daughter gets something similar and we were prescribed Dakarin (or something). It comes back often though. Definitely not thrush

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