Do you know a female Lenny?

[chickenninja]

I have my smear test booked for tomorrow with the nurse 'Anne'. Not a fun experience but I'll suck it up and get on with it.
Now I'm just a bit worried because the receptionist has emailed me and said can we change your appointment to x time, with Lenny?
I've emailed back and said yes but now I'm thinking Lenny is probably a man and I don't want to be an awkward customer and ask for a female!
I know there are a lot of very capable, professional male gynaecologists etc but I've heard a few horror stories and I'm bit worried now.
Do I need to get a grip?

[EduCated]

I know a Helena who goes by Lenny. Though more a family nickname I think, not sure if she uses it professionally. She is a nurse though!

[VaggieMight]

I know a female Lenny.

I always ask for a woman for intimate examinations, mainly because men have a chaperone which is usually the receptionist and I've found them to be a bit gawpy 👀

[MrsPnut]

I know a female Lenny, full name is Malena.

[CindersCatsSister]

If the nurse was male, they would have told you on the text.

[runwithme]

I knew a Leonara who went by Lenny

[chickenninja]

Okay that reassuring, thanks so much for your responses. I thought of asking for a chaperone but then I don't want to waste anyone's time. I know they're all very busy.

I've never heard a girls name shortened to Lenny before so fingers crossed it'll be fine anyway.

[Crinkledbeetroot]

Yes! Two of them.

[CarlottaValdez]

I know one!

[Stompythedinosaur]

I would ring back and check, it will set your mind at ease.

I'd be enormously surprised if a smear test had been booked with a male without it being made clear to you.

[user32723]

Yes I have met female Lenny's. Lenora, Helen, Lena, Lennox, Eleanor, Elena, could be any of those.

[MitziK]

You'll be offered a chaperone irrespective of the sex of the person performing the smear. I was, at any rate even though after 27 years of assuming the Frog Position and sighing resignedly I'm really beyond caring who does it

But I have also known several women known as Lennie, Leni, Lenny - Madeleine, Leonora, Lienna and Glenda. Lots of women have always adopted masculine sounding nicknames/shortenings - so I'd have assumed somebody in that context is most likely to be female (with an 'oh, OK' if I were wrong).

[nowlook]

They're never enjoyable, but hopefully you stating (boasting?) that you're going to suck it up will help you relax tomorrow

Fwiw, I also know a female Lenny (Helen!)

[MrBucket]

Yes, Selena is her full name

[SBTLove]

Could be Leni, which is a reasonably common name, short for many things.
Just call and ask you are entitled to feel comfortable.

[lachy]

Does your surgery have a website? Ours has pictures of key staff on the staff page (or at least they did last time I looked)

[chickenninja]

@nowlook oof that was a bad choice of phrase wasn't it!

Thanks so much for all your comments, it's really reassuring to me. I just had visions of the big guy from mice and men that squashed the little mouse. With his giant hands.
I was listening to a podcast in which some women had said they'd bad experiences of male nurses and doctors poking things in wrong holes! They was having a laugh about it but it's made me nervous. I should be less shy after having kids really!

Anyway thanks so much for your comments, I'll report back tomorrow after meeting my new friend Helena/big Leonard

[chickenninja]

Definitely Lenny not Leni.

Good shout about the website, I'll have a look.

[chickenninja]

@lachy you absolute gem!! Just looked at the website... 'Mrs Lenny (Surname)'

Phew!! I can confidently assume the frog position now ladies. Thanks for all your help!

[purrswhileheeats]

I thought this was going to be about Of Mice and Men

I'm a 'Leni/Eleni', not my name but locals struggle to pronounce my proper one.

[LangClegsInSpace]

I do know a female Lenny but I think it's quite an unusual female name.

You don't need to get a grip, you are entitled to request a female HCP to do your smear. If it was me I'd call back and check, just to set my mind at rest. If it turns out it is a man and they have omitted to tell you, you can just reschedule and say you want a female HCP. Smears are dismal enough without this additional stress.

[LynetteScavo]

No I don't know anyone called Lenny, but it's a fantastic name and more people should name their baby Lenny.

[SavoyCabbage]

Yes, about five.😂 All Australian all called Charlene.

[Bupkis]

I know 2, a Leni (full name) and a Lenny (short for Magdalena)

[Ishihtzuknot]

My 24 year old half sister is Lenny, not a nickname it’s on her birth certificate (funny enough she’s a nurse do you live in/near a place beginning with S by any chance)
Smears are over within minutes try not to worry

[WowserBowser]

My Guinea Pig was called Lenny. She was named after Lenny Henry.. The bigger one was called Dawn