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Original poster

I had to explain to my elderly male GP what a mensural cup was

218 replies

Nosig · 01/01/2021 15:19

With hand gestures.

His reply?

“Well personally I would advise against putting anything like that inside yourself for any length of time it doesn’t sound very comfortable” Hmm

Wtf fella?

OP posts:
Sadbadglad · 01/01/2021 17:58

Another one thinking you meant your Grandad/Grandfather

ZeroFuchsGiven · 01/01/2021 17:59

@Whatwouldscullydo

I must admit, I only know about them because of MN

See GPS could signpost to MN for alternative options. So they wouldn't have to know vast details about everything but a big site like MN which is easy to find on a Google search would be a good resource they could suggest to patients.

Its possible there are many women and girls who are on medication/the pill/coil etc who didn't really want to be, to handle their periods, when say period pants / cups may have just provided enough added protection that made them handle-able enough they might have been able to hold off. Its possible isnt it?

Is this a serious post? You think GP's should send patients to MN for medical advice? Hmm
Sparklingbrook · 01/01/2021 17:59

I only heard of them on here. I have no clue is anyone I know uses one and have never seen one in RL. I wouldn't hold it against him that he didn't know what they were TBH.

AcornAutumn · 01/01/2021 18:01

Scully "Obviously it wouldn't work for everyone acorn but cups do hold more than tampons do."

Maybe, but it's the comparison to the pill that confuses me, or the suggestion it might be an alternative. Not comparable. I didn't need something to hold more, I needed something to control the periods and the pill has been a lifesaver, so hearing it compared to a cup is a puzzle.

Poster asking why cups aren't advertised - I can't see them selling enough to warrant advertising expense.

JanetHorne · 01/01/2021 18:03

@Toilenstripes

I’d never heard of them until a few years ago. I’m 53 and they weren’t an option when I was having periods.
I'm 56, I started using a mooncup at 46. I swithered about getting one for at least a year before that, because I thought I might not get much use out of it before hitting the menopause. As soon as I got used to it I regretted having wasted time swithering!

I only had occasion to mention my mooncup to one GP and she replied "They're great, aren't they? I love mine."

Whatwouldscullydo · 01/01/2021 18:05

Where did I say medical advice?

We are talking about menstrual options. If it was relevant to one of their patients they feel would be benefit from switching their menstrual products, why not signpost to people who can recommend / review makers/cups etc

Not talking about surgery or medication.

ancientgran · 01/01/2021 18:06

Yes but this is a GP. Not just any old man. But why would an elderly male GP be studying sanitary products in Superdrug? I'd hope he was keeping up with actual medical issues. Normal menstruation isn't a medical problem and it has never crossed my mind that it was something a GP would need to know about. Apart from anything else which GP would have time to discuss it? Would you ask him if it's a good idea to use a roll on or aerosol deodorant, or perhaps an antiperspirant would be better. Surely we can sort out hygiene issues without needing a GP to be involved.

sheepisheep · 01/01/2021 18:07

I'm a GP trainee.

Sanitary wear is not on the GP curriculum. Or the medical school curriculum. Nor did it come up in the 6 months I spent doing gynaecology.
It's not a medical issue. It's a commercial product for a normal physiological function. I also couldn't tell you the pro's and con's of different types of loo roll.

The fact that so many people "think that a GP should know this" really goes a long way to explaining why mumsnet has such a low opinion of GPs. Your expectations of the role are WAY off base.
Also, you know you don't have to listen to your GP if you don't want to? As long as you have capacity you are free to ignore whatever you like. It's only advice.

ExpensivelyDecorated · 01/01/2021 18:07

Well, I'm extremely glad my GP suggested a coil for my heavy periods instead of trying to fob me off with period pants or a mooncup. Saved me 10 years of needing any sanitary protection at all.

AcornAutumn · 01/01/2021 18:10

@sheepisheep

I'm a GP trainee.

Sanitary wear is not on the GP curriculum. Or the medical school curriculum. Nor did it come up in the 6 months I spent doing gynaecology.
It's not a medical issue. It's a commercial product for a normal physiological function. I also couldn't tell you the pro's and con's of different types of loo roll.

The fact that so many people "think that a GP should know this" really goes a long way to explaining why mumsnet has such a low opinion of GPs. Your expectations of the role are WAY off base.
Also, you know you don't have to listen to your GP if you don't want to? As long as you have capacity you are free to ignore whatever you like. It's only advice.

I don't have a low opinion of GPs and I don't know what most MNers think.

But the example the OP has given is a bit like my GP being unaware of nasal rinses, which I have used in the past to help allergies and asthma. I don't mind that she doesn't know, it's not something I expect a GP to know.

june2007 · 01/01/2021 18:10

I think that if a gP didn,t know about a product it would be wrong to make a judgement on that product. And use it as an opportunity to find out more.

ancientgran · 01/01/2021 18:11

@sheepisheep I'm pleased to hear it, seems totally logical to me and I would definitely prefer doctors to be spending their time on medical issues.

AcornAutumn · 01/01/2021 18:11

@ExpensivelyDecorated

Well, I'm extremely glad my GP suggested a coil for my heavy periods instead of trying to fob me off with period pants or a mooncup. Saved me 10 years of needing any sanitary protection at all.
Exactly!
ancientgran · 01/01/2021 18:13

I think that if a gP didn,t know about a product it would be wrong to make a judgement on that product. And use it as an opportunity to find out more. According to OP he made it perfectly clear it was his personal opinion, no hint of it being a medical opinion and why would it be as it isn't a medical issue. Doctors are human just like the rest of us and can have a personal opinion.

Dixiechickonhols · 01/01/2021 18:14

I've only heard of them on mumsnet. Never seen an advert in a magazine or on facebook/instagram. I don't like tampons never have and wouldn't ever try a cup they look uncomfortable.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 01/01/2021 18:16

So did you say to him "I mentioned I had possibly scratched myself changing my cup over"? Rather then saying your menstrual cup? If so and you just came out with that then perhaps he was a little confused.

Why try and make a dick of someone just trying to help you?

Whatwouldscullydo · 01/01/2021 18:16

I didn't say people should be fobbed off with anything.

I didnt get on with the pill. I also cant have a coil , I spent years getting rashes and smothering my bits with sudecrem or yogurt and soaking in baths trying to stop the pain and itching from pads. It actually would have been helpful for me to know these things existed. I really didnt want to have to back on the pill and risk the problems I had before just so I didnt have to put up with it all.

BabySmuffPending · 01/01/2021 18:22

Years ago I had something called a Bartholin’s cyst. Excruciatingly painful and my (older) female GP told me it was “because you shave”. Please note, there’s no hair near the Bartholin’s glands as it’s inside.

It was a male GP (at A&E) who then diagnosed it for me. I’ve found that medical misogyny is rife, especially with female GP’s who should really know better.

I doubt my GP would know what a menstrual cup is either.

RasherOfWind · 01/01/2021 18:29

GPs are ultra cautious and are very reluctant to give advice on anything unless it's been approved by NICE and unless those lovely pharma companies give their permission. They worry that if they do so, they might get sued, sacked or struck off. Which is why medical conventions move forward at a snail's pace.

Whatwouldscullydo · 01/01/2021 18:34

baby I once went for pain swelling during/after sex which they thought could be either thrush or a reaction to the condoms which made sense but apart from suggesting other forms of contraception I didn't want to take , it was an accidental find of some vegan condoms that fixed the problem. Drs didnt seem to know about them or didn't suggest them

Lookslikerainted · 01/01/2021 18:42

I would agree with him

CuteBear · 01/01/2021 18:42

I’m a woman in my early 20s I and didn’t know what menstrual cups were until last year. They do sound uncomfortable and messy. What if you need to change it in public?

bornatXmastobequiet · 01/01/2021 18:45

I’ve always found elderly male GPs far more sympathetic and helpful with regard to period/menopause issues than younger female ones. Of course, I realise that’s only my own personal experience.

littlepattilou · 01/01/2021 18:46

@Lookslikerainted

I would agree with him
Me too.
littlepattilou · 01/01/2021 18:47

@Belladonna12

I'm not surprised he doesn't know about them. Why would he? It's not something that would be covered by CPD .While they are fine some people, they aren't suitable for everyone. I certainly found it very uncomfortable.
Agree with this. Whether he is 'elderly' or not, (and the OP doesn't seem to want to say how old,) it's perfectly OK for him to have not heard of menstrual cups. I never heard of them til about 4 or 5 years ago, and would certainly not ever 'wear' one.

Me and DH, and our adult children, AND a number of people we know, have been (with various ailments,) to many male and female GPs of various ages, and they sometimes GOOGLE the symptoms to try and see what it could be.

In addition, they sometimes pore through a book to see what meds they should be giving. So - as a few posters have said - many of them have limited medical knowledge.

Some are very good, but there are some GPs that are so clueless that I swear I know more than them about most stuff. The only reason I go is because I can't write my own prescriptions!

Going back to the OP's point... Why anyone thinks it's weird for an 'elderly' male doctor to have never heard of menstrual cups, just baffles me. And he is entitled to his opinion that it doesn't seem like a good idea to have it stuck up there for days on end. Many would agree.

Have to say also, I have NEVER seen menstrual cups advertised, nor have I seen them for sale anywhere. Maybe there are for sale in pharmacies/supermarkets, but I have never seen them.