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Original poster

Why Do men become gynocologists?

237 replies

Blankiefan · 02/12/2019 07:33

I have to have some treatment and all of the gynocologists I can pick from are men. I don't trust male gynocologists (no bad history just bias). It'd help me to understand good reasons why some men choose this specialism.

As I see it, I have an ear so I can understand what it's like when someone pokes their finger in it. I get the experience of having an ear and have an interest in furthering medicine into it. Buy why are male doctors interested in women's genitals? Is it some deep respect for their mothers? A peculiar interest in otherness? I don't see the motivation.

I entirely accept on an intellectual level that most of them aren't in it for kicks and that being elbow deep in hoo hoo all day isn't erotic but I really don't get what motivation got them there.

Does anyone have any insight?

OP posts:
halcyondays · 02/12/2019 10:33

Are you going private if you’re able to pick who you get?

I was referred to a gynaecologist by my GP. I got a letter asking to me to phone to make an appointment. I suppose I could have requested to see a woman but I didn’t care and it may have taken longer to be seen.

I didn’t know if I was going to see a man or a woman as the letter just gave their initial but I thought it was likely to be a man. It was and he was very nice, gentle and put you at ease. I had a scan and endometrial sampling. A female nurse was in the room the whole time. This was at our small local hospital, I’m to have a hysteroscopy but this will be done at a bigger hospital. Hopefully I will get a nice one again next time.

tillytrotter1 · 02/12/2019 10:36

Why do women become gynaechologists? Are female doctors not allowed to examine the private bits of male patients? It feels like we're back in the dark ages.

Autumnsloth · 02/12/2019 10:37

I've just finished reading 'this is going to hurt: the secret diary of a junior doctor'. The author describes choosing O&G because of the mix of surgery, medicine and patient care and because it's the only area where you end up with more patients than you started with.... It is surely one of the few specialisations where you help people through a chosen and joyful stage of life, rather than trying to contain or help then though something they wouldn't choose to have. Also reasonably low risk.

WatchingTheMoon · 02/12/2019 10:41

I was really wary of having a male doctor during my pregnancy but mine couldn't be nicer. He's really friendly and way more relaxed than my previous doctor. He is really open about any tests etc I don't want too.

Loopyloopy · 02/12/2019 10:44

Because it's the only field of medicine in.which most of the patients are glad that they need to see you.

Babdoc · 02/12/2019 10:48

Autumnsloth it certainly isn't low risk! Obstetrician/gynaecologists pay the highest insurance premiums of any specialty, because a dead mother or brain damaged baby means a massive payout.

Mishfit0819 · 02/12/2019 10:50

You should read 'This is going to hurt' by Adam Kay - diary of a junior doctor who went into gynaecology and the reasons he chose to. Won't answer for all male Dr's but interesting insight and great book.

dietcokemum · 02/12/2019 10:52

The on call rota is one of the easier ones I imagine

Seriously? Do women only given birth 9-5 during the week? Most have to do at least some obstetrics.

InglouriousBasterd · 02/12/2019 10:53

Didn’t Adam Kay mention it’s one of those areas where you only need a few ops / techniques that are used regularly I.e c section, forceps, internal exams. As opposed to other areas that are more complex.

Disclaimer, haven’t read the book for ages so not 100% on that!

DustyMaiden · 02/12/2019 10:53

I actually asked my gynaecologist this question and he said it was an area that you could greatly improve someone’s quality of life quite easily.

Sagradafamiliar · 02/12/2019 10:54

So it's an ego thing for some men then.

Butterfly02 · 02/12/2019 10:54

I dont think you can generalise - I've had multiple gynaecological issues over the years been under 3 different hospital trusts. Had some good and bad experiences and I don't think gender has been an issue.
3 consultants stand out in my memory for bad reasons - two were female one was male. My current gynaecologist is male and is great and so is his registrar (also male).
Also just because you're female doesn't mean you've been through what other women are going through - my sister has had a walk in the park compared to what me and my mum have gone through.

ThanksAllTheSame · 02/12/2019 10:56

This reply has been deleted

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SunniDay · 02/12/2019 11:03

I don’t understand why anyone would want to be any kind of medical doctor - holding people’s lives in their hands and the risk of getting sued/struck off in any given afternoon. I’d run screaming for the hills. I think they must all be adrenaline junkies or psychopaths. That said I’m bloody glad someone wants to do it else where would we be?

fromdownwest · 02/12/2019 11:04

Wow - Such a depressing thread. Last week I had a surveyor come to my property, and it was a .... woman... I should have asked her why she did not become a nurse or a secretary....

KnitFastDieWarm · 02/12/2019 11:04

What a bizarre question.
My brother is a mechanic but, amazingly enough he’s not a car Hmm he just finds them interesting and is good at learning about them and fixing them.
Or maybe he’s a car-mad sexual deviant. Who can say?

Astrabees · 02/12/2019 11:04

years ago I had two miscarriages, after having a healthy son and being very desperate for a sibling for him. I had the most kindly and empathic male gynaecologist you could hope to meet, and he helped reassure me that I would have every support if and when I became pregnant again ( I did). He had some discussions with my husband about the job being very much like engineering in some respects. I think if the person is good at their job and kindly and supportive you do not really bother to think about whether they are male or female.

mencken · 02/12/2019 11:05

ignoring the bigotry, I'm another one recommending 'This is going to hurt' where Adam Kay (who is gay BTW) explains why he chose obs and gynae. One reason was ending up with twice the number of patients that he started with, or at least most of the time.

and if you think your genitalia or anyone else's are attractive, I suggest you see an eye specialist. They are just bits of flesh!

KnitFastDieWarm · 02/12/2019 11:07

It's also lesbian lady doctors who love looking at fannies all day
Grin

Am bisexual woman, can confirm that fannies in a medical context are not sexy, any more hands or lips in a medical context are not sexy. Following the logic on this thread, do people also think that dentists are in it because they really like kissing and therefore want to stare at mouths all day? Hmm

peachesforfree · 02/12/2019 11:07

Having seen a (female) gynae for the past 6 months, I think it's a fascinating area of medicine - there is so much going on and interplay betweeen endocrinology, physiology, psychology, genetics, a huge personal element, some procedural/surgical stuff but also a huge amount of 'medicine'. I also have never had the feeling that my (female) gynae was in any way looking at my bits, in the very brief scans I have had with a modesty sheet over the top - it's the internal bits (womb etc) they are interested in which are not sexually interesting to anyone as far as I know! I can't see why men would not find this interesting from a clinical/academic perspective just as much as women would, and as pp have said, when they get results and can ensure the couple get their much longed for child, it must be one of the most rewarding possible areas of medicine there is.

The question seems highly ignorant and prejudiced to me.

neonglow · 02/12/2019 11:08

It’s fine that some women are happy to have care from a man but why is it not okay that other women have their own boundaries and may only want a female HCP for intimate care?

neonglow · 02/12/2019 11:09

And women who have survived sexual assault/rape were usually victim to a man hence feeling uncomfortable with male drs, I’m pretty sure they don’t care if their female caregiver is gay or bisexual.

ScreamingLadySutch · 02/12/2019 11:11

Because it is lucrative.

They end up as specialist consultants in the private sector.

AlexaAmbidextra · 02/12/2019 11:11

Yes, he does sound lovely but he doesn't really bring babies into the world...mothers do and they are sometimes assisted and facilitated in this endeavour by others.

Oh ffs, stop being pedantic. You know what he meant.

KnitFastDieWarm · 02/12/2019 11:11

^
It’s fine that some women are happy to have care from a man but why is it not okay that other women have their own boundaries and may only want a female HCP for intimate care?^

That is obviously fine. It’s not remotely the same thing as assuming all male gynaecologists are perverts.

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