Who does your smear tests? Man or woman?

[Ikeasucks]

In my 50’s and had a recent very painful smear test. I’ve always had a female do them, i just prefer it but it’s always been just the norm in my experience. Just wondered about others as I’m following a thread on twitter where lots of posters are pouring scorn on women wanting or expecting another woman to do it, saying they don’t care or have had males doing it. Some might be from other countries of course where it’s more normal to have men doing it.

"Odd exception" my arse. Do you know the stats?? They're horrendous.

I've only had women do it.

I'd be rather unhappy if it was a man and may well refuse.

I used to prefer female practitioners but after a decade of gynae issues and 5 years of those being with an amazing male to, I now just want someone competent. Last time the female nurse was expecting a call from her bank (which she took while I was in position on the table) and dismissed my concerns that it hurt. I have a documented high pain tolerance, this had me scrambling backwards off the couch. I'm due again and I REALLY don t want to go

I've only ever had females but I wouldn't be bothered about a man doing it. I completely understand that some women may not be comfortable with a man doing it though and wouldn't be scornful about it.

A man delivered my DS actually.

I dont really see why most people would care its a 1 minute medical procedure. I don't really think people have the right to request a same sex nurse/doctor when receiving free nhs services with the odd exception like victims of sexual assault/violence.

Why should we have to disclose it? It's my medical notes because as the doctor patching me up at the time said "only one thing could have happened to me" but if I hadn't been dragged to hospital by my flatmate who found me...

Also it's not a 1 minute procedure for me. My last smear took around 20 minutes, it takes me about 10 minutes to get comfortable enough to lie down. Maybe another 5 to get my pants off and that's with the same woman nurse who has done my last 2 and is well aware of my history.

I don't think male doctors always help themselves either. Dc1 was delivered by a man because it was an emergency and he was only senior doctor in the place. He stroked my hair, he commented to dh on how well I'd done avoiding stretch marks and admired my tiny wrists. My male psychriatrist has called me beautiful more than once. I don't think my pstd aside either of them were a threat but they managed to make me feel damn uncomfortable.

Always by a woman. I’m not sure I would refuse a male, but I would always choose to have it done my a woman.

I have had a male gynae exam me for endo. I was more put out by the chaperone being his receptionist tbh.

I dont really see why most people would care its a 1 minute medical procedure
My last appointment took about 20 minutes. It was incredibly painful. Lucky you it’s so straight forward.

I’ve had both - for the times it was a male, there was a female chaperone there with me without me even needing to ask.

I've had both, but it has usually been a female. When I had a colpcoscopy and subsequent laser treatment, it was done by male gynaecologists.

Doesn't bother me either way.

Always female and would decline having a male do it.

Before anyone asks-

Yes, I know they see 100’s of vaginas every week and it’s just another body part to them.

Yes, I’d be perfectly happy with a lesbian doctor. I would not be happy with a male dr even if they were gay or totally asexual.

No, I don’t care about the male doctor or students ‘feelings’, in this situation my feelings come first.

No, I wouldn’t feel happy even with a female chaperone watching.

Generally a female doing smear - practice nurse.

I see a male obgyn though.

I've had both. Was surprised at how uncomfortable I felt with a Male even though he was very professional and competent. I ask for women now.

I love the responses saying "I've always had a woman do it but wouldn't mind a man". Honestly, even without a trauma history, that's really only something you'll start to know for sure when you're taking your knickers off before a strange man touches your nether regions.

I've had a really really horrible female gynaecologist btw - their sex isn't an indication of bedside manner, but I still can only see women.

I’ve had both. I’m not fussed to be honest, just grateful for their skill and care.
It was a male GP who discovered I had an ovarian cyst (due to endometriosis) during a smear examination.
My DCs were both delivered by men - the only thing I felt was thankful for safe deliveries.

I've only had smears done by the female practice nurse.

I've had a cervical polyp removed by a male gynecologist, without a chaperone, it didn't bother me.

*I actually don't mind whether a man or woman does mine.

That doesn't mean I don't have the empathy or critical understanding to understand why some women might mind and why every women should always have the option for treatment by their preferred sex HCP (emergency situations notwithstanding)*

This reflects my thoughts on the matter perfectly.

The last smear I had done was by a male gynaecologist ( I’ve had a lot of surgery and, despite the best efforts of the kind GP practice nurse and my deep breathing, it was impossible) He was excellent and I barely noticed it happening.

I’ve always had women do it.

I ask when making an appointment if it will be a woman carrying out the procedure and it always has been so far.

I had a gynae problem a few years ago and chose to go private to a female gynaecologist.

I have had gynae procedures done by male doctors and consultants but that was for emergency procedures.

Only ever had women do my smear tests. A man did my hysteroscopy but I was asked in advance if that was ok.

I've only had smear tests done by women hcp.

I've had a male gynaecologist, male gp, intimately examine me. A male midwife delivered my last dc. It was absolutely fine for me.

However, it is essential that women should be able to chose who examines them. If people don't see why, they need their head's examining instead.

Twitter is ridiculous for this sort of thing.

I think I've only ever had women by happenstance (and they've been great).

When I was younger I don't think I would have been too fazed by having a man conduct a smear (particularly with a chaperone) on the pragmatic basis that they are doctors, have seen it all before, and are likely to be professional. For some reason, though, as I've got older I think I would be more reluctant to consent to a male doctor doing this.

Maybe because of a greater acquaintance with negative stories, maybe because of my general life experience, or maybe a bloody-mindedness born of attitudes like those upthread that suggest women shouldn't be "allowed" to request female doctors to examine them!

To be honest, if that's the result of more women being relaxed about the sex of the doctor performing intimate examinations I am inclined to push back and insist on same sex treatment just to preserve that right for women who really do want or need it .

Seem to have offended half of the pp. So I'll try again with a much more long winded post sorry OP.
Replace odd exception with certain exceptions - I was referring to the number of exceptions not the number of people it affects how anyone thought otherwise is beyond me and if you're suffering mental anguish from the aftermath of a sexual assault then the medical professionals really should know so they can make the additional adjustments you need even if thats just a longer appointment slot and you shouldn't and wouldn't have to explain each time as it would flag up could even flag whether you do or don't want it referred to.
Whilst you can ask for a same sex nurse/doctor its not a given that you will be given one and/or you may have to wait longer or travel somewhere else for treatment either way its not as much as a right as you may think. Its much more a we'll do our best to accommodate your request but can't guarantee it.
As posted its always women nurses at gp surgeries as the nhs can't afford to pay for chaperones so rather a mute point anyway and if its a consultant doing it at the hospital like I've had then i think you'll find the big C is more worrying than the man doing the procedure.
The NHS is a free service yes we pay taxes so it can be provided but its free at the point of use to everyone whether they've paid thousands in tax or not a penny. Its seriously underfunded and I don't see that changing anytime soon so i think everyone who can should do their bit to ensure they don't put unnecessary strain on the system and not insisting on a same sex nurse is one of those things imo particularly once you're at the appointment as its wasting precious resources.
Im not really coming from the consent angle but i guess i think you're consenting to the procedure and the professional in front of you has spent many training to do the procedure and their sex shouldnt matter surely equality works both ways and men should also be able to do their job without prejudice.
As for it being a 1 minute procedure, I'm truly baffled how it takes so long for some people and i wasn't including getting changed anyway but I'll explain myself again. I've had quite a lot of smears as I had to have them yearly. I wear a dress so I just slip my knickers off hitch up dress lie down feet by bum drop and relax knees nurse pretty much doesn't even look and only touches me with hands for seconds whilst guiding in the clamp thing then inserts the scraper can feel it scrape the side a few times then thats it clamp out all done. Nurse goes other side of curtain i get dressed. That's my experience every single time which is all I can comment on and tbf the OP did ask what our experience was.
I'm quite appalled that a pp had medical professionals comment on appearance stretch marks ect thats totally unacceptable and hope you reported it.
Tbh like quite a few pp im quite relaxed about the whole thing and ive had lots of intimate procedures carried out by men, ive had 2 rounds of ivf 1 free 1 not if you're interested and the operations parts were carried out by men. I've had a missed miscarriage and the op to remove was carried out by a man and i was awake for it. Both my children were delivered by men 1 forceps 1 emergency c section and lots of other prodding and poking i even had a male trainee midwife at all my ante natal appointments with my first so I guess I just don't understand why some people are so funny about it. I'm just grateful for the treatment I've received.

When I was younger I don't think I would have been too fazed by having a man conduct a smear (particularly with a chaperone) on the pragmatic basis that they are doctors, have seen it all before, and are likely to be professional. For some reason, though, as I've got older I think I would be more reluctant to consent to a male doctor doing this.

It is interesting that you should say this, CityofTsars as that is how I feel too but I don’t really know why.

A man performed my hysteroscopy last year. There was a nurse as chaperone and my husband was there to hold my hand too. But I would probably make the effort to request a woman next time (highly likely I will need another).

Woman and woman for my mammogram. I prefer a woman to a man.

I asked my female GP about this in Friday ( about smears and internal examinations) . She said that smear tests are routine for the female nurses in our Practice so they are very skilled at doing them. She isn't as good and the male GPs rarely do them so aren't very good ( she wasn't being horrid) and are basically deskilled. They don't get the practice and she would always request a nurse herself

There's no male drs or nurses at my drs surgery. Also at hospital it's an all female team (I've had to be referred to gyn)

I've only had smear tests and mammograms performed by female staff and that's the way I would like it to continue.
I think women should have the right to ask for someone of the same sex to do intimate tests, without having to justify or explain that preference to anyone. I wouldn't mind having to wait slightly longer.
Anyone who can't understand why that would be certainly has no place to be deciding for anyone else.