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.

Only ever been done by females. Having said that I'd be fine with a male doing it. I've been examined by male gynaecologists.

Just to be clear I would/do fight for more funding for the NHS to enable people to have more choices around the services they receive whatever those choices are but in its current state the NHS is failing and you wanting a same sex professional is very different to you needing one. Finally MN is a strange forum most MNers promote the right to breastfeed anywhere (as do i) demonising those who sexulise women's breasts when being used to feed but are sexulising their own bodies, medical procedures and medical professionals in this thread. Its just mad to me that the same women who happily sat in a restaurant feeding a baby isn't happy for a man to perform a mammogram to save their life

Always a female practice nurse, but TBH a male wouldn’t bother me. It’s horrible whoever does it!

Might add that the only really rough internal exam I ever had was done by a female doctor, when I was in labour. It was as if she was deliberately trying to add to my discomfort. Thank goodness I only saw her the once, nobody else was like that.

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.

I'm guessing you don't understand the concepts of both consent and bodily autonomy.

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.

Let's put the equal treatment of the HCP ahead of the vulnerable patient's right to bodily autonomy.

You're not even trying to understand, which is worse.

I have only had smears done by a man, my gynae. I don't think twice about it. He is there to make sure it is all in working order and that is all. He does the breast checks as well.

Have had both. Couldn't care less whether it was a man or a woman. It's a medical procedure.
After 4 years of ttc to conceive DS and two ectopic pregnancies, I've been poked and prodded by so many people during hospital appointments, I really don't care anymore.
My first ever gynaecologist was male. He was lovely.

The underfunding of the NHS is a Government decision. They choose not to fund it better.
To suggest that the reason why women prefer other women to support them with personal care is somehow stemming from sexuality in some way leaves me lost for words. I can only assume you have worded your point in a somewhat clumsy manner.

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.

The bold part is EXACTLY what I used to think.

Then I was sexually assaulted by a male doctor (not an ob/gyn).

He wasn't the only dr ever to sexually assault his patients. Most sexual assault is not carried out by doctors, but the fact that there are doctors who do it mean you cannot just assume that medical training makes them safe people. They are people with medical training. They are men with medical training. Yes they can save lives, but so can women with medical training.

If you've never had to think about that then rather than suggesting other women should travel further for treatment, or should blindly consent to any medic touching their body purely because they went to nursing or medical school, just thank your lucky stars.

And yes we can report when a medic is inappropriate, but it's too late then, it's already happened. And then, on top of complaining, I should also have to travel further for treatment or lay back and think of Britain, because the government is deliberately underfunding the NHS.

Astounding.

so I guess I just don't understand why some people are so funny about it

Just try thinking about it from someone else's point of view. Someone who has previously been sexually assaulted by a man, and as above, possibly a doctor.

Oh and I always want a woman and I don't see why I should have to explain why to anyone.

First one I had done was done by my male doctor and it was the best one I ever had. Subsequent ones were done by the practice nurse and one of them rammed the speculum in so hard that my cervix bled! She had the cheek to blame me, too, despite the fact I had jumped and cried out because of the pain. Fortunately, I had an early hysterectomy, so the smear is a distant unpleasant memory.

Always a female nurse for me, sometimes with a female trainee observing. I'd feel less at ease with a male nurse I think - it's so intimate and uncomfortable, I'd rather have someone who understands that procedure from the other end.

I've had both. At my Dr's surgery it has airways been female, but when I was 18 I had a full STI check which included a smear. I guess it was HPV they were looking for then. And that was done by a male Dr, they triple checked I was OK to have a man do it all.

It doesn’t matter how many women post on here that they are happy for men to perform intimate procedures on them.
They have no right whatsoever to deny other women the right to demand a female only service.

The patient’s right to be respected comes way above any nurse or doctor’s (or male to female transgender’s) potential hurt feelings or wish for validation.
And I say that as a doctor myself. If any of my male patients had said they wanted a man for a prostate exam etc I would have gladly complied with that.

I have always had women do my smear and that is my preference.
Although, I had a male gynae who did key hole surgery on the endo. The initial appointment was him looking at my cervix. I found it really distressing. I just felt vulnerable. But he was sympathetic and a good surgeon so i relaxed.
I also had a male A&E doctor have a look when i was miscarrying - i didnt actually feel like he knew why he was looking, just thought he should, but he looked quite embarresed and the nurses were teasing him when he went to get the speculum thingy about how he always got the lady problems and it would put him off sex. They upset me as i could hear the laughing so i am glad none of them offered to chaperone!
But the worst was having an ecg. Here someone puts pads all over your chest. Normally they leave the room whilst you change even though they come in an you have a bare top it just feels dignified. This man stayed and watched me undress. In hindsight wish i'd have said something.

Women here. But wouldn,t object to a man.

Me again.
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.
^this is not my opinion this is NHS policy they actually put the onus on you the patient to choose a surgery that will accommodate your needs.
I really do understand consent but this is in a medical context so you consent to the procedure and its possible affects not to who performs it similarly bodily autonomy you're consenting to the procedure being carried out. You can of course not give your consent thats your right.
Putting aside those who need a same sex HCP for a moment . I actually said I don't understand why women don't want procedures carried out by a male i even gave an example of why I personally find it strange so I don't know why I'm being flamed when no one is really giving an actual reason why it needs to be a female. Again putting aside those who need it, generally pp are saying i wouldn't feel comfortable with a man but you're there to have a possibly life saving test surely a minute or twenty of being a bit eww is worth it, if thats all thats available.
There will always be predators out there and some of us will fall victim to them but you're not particularly vulnerable during these types of procedures just because they are initimate in nature.
I did try to explain that this view is purely due to the strain on the NHS, generally i believe we all should be able to choose for whats its worth ive written to my mp regarding healthcare provision, been on marches signed petitions all to try and improve/save the NHS. Maybe im wording these posts clumsily but I'm not against choice I'm against wasting precious resources and I am for equality and diversity too if a man is trained and paid to do a job then he should be able to do it.

*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.
*
Wow. So wanting a female HCP is now putting the NHS under unnecessary strain? I'm sorry but that's utter bollocks- people going to see their GP with a cold, turning up at A&E for non emergency problems, people missing appointments, and people making the choice to live unhealthy lifestyles are putting unnecessary strain on the NHS.

How nice for you, that you have had treatment from male HCP's and it hasn't bothered you. You are not everyone else.

How is it wasting resources for the NHS, that as soon as I received a letter for my colposcopy, I phoned the hospital and asked to see a female HCP for it? I gave them as much notice as I possibly could and they were happy to understanding to accommodate me.

You mentioned having IVF- you realise that some people would argue the NHS funding IVF when it is 'failing' as you put it, isn't right and money should be spent on treatments for cancer etc? This is NOT my opinion btw, I don't agree to cuts to IVF but you were the one who commented that people shouldn't put unnecessary strain on the NHS.

I’ve always had a woman do mine, but l would have no probs with a man. My only concern is that they are professional, gentle, respectful and qualified.

So, playing devil’s avocate here, would those concerned about gender also be bothered if a woman performing the test was lesbian?

Respurces are too stretched for these gender games!

Wiaa, yes you’re wording your posts very clumsily

“Putting aside those who need a same sex HCP for a moment . I actually said I don't understand why women don't want procedures carried out by a male i even gave an example of why I personally find it strange so I don't know why I'm being flamed when no one is really giving an actual reason why it needs to be a female. Again putting aside those who need it, generally pp are saying i wouldn't feel comfortable with a man but you're there to have a possibly life saving test surely a minute or twenty of being a bit eww is worth it, if thats all thats available.
There will always be predators out there and some of us will fall victim to them but you're not particularly vulnerable during these types of procedures just because they are initimate in nature.”

I can't believe pp is trying to defend her comment that you need a "qualifying" reason to request same sex practitioner; and those that don't have a "good enough" one should be ashamed for wasting the NHS money *

What a horrible, horrible attitude to have.

( * - which is bullshit anyway! Male HCP have plenty of other patients they can see, they won't just be twiddling their thumbs because I requested a female to poke around in my vag once every 3 years!)

Only ever a female HCP for any intimate procedure.

I do not consent to a male stranger looking at or touching intimate areas of my body. I don't care how nice or how professional he is, because it's not about him, it's about my discomfort. The most likely scenario if I turned up for an appointment and a male was there is that I wouldn't be able to undress and/or I'd have a panic attack. That's more of a waste of resources than me stating in advance that I need to see a woman, surely.

I wouldn't care at all if my female HCP were a lesbian. I'm also judging on the basis of biological sex. I don't care what 'gender' anyone is.

So, playing devil’s avocate here, would those concerned about gender also be bothered if a woman performing the test was lesbian?

Are you serious? Like, actually serious with that comment?

We are discussing sex - male HCP vs female HCP. not airy-fairy special feelings gender. In what world is a lesbian woman ever a male person?

Thinking about it if more folk, than not, prefer a female to do their smear test and others don’t mind either way - it probably helps and saves time, resources, money- if a practice nurse is female.