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

[Nosig]

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”

Wtf fella?

@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.

Exactly which is what I said a few posts above.

Mooncups, pads, tampons, whatever you use are personal care products.

They are not medical devices.

If you went in with a infected spot on your leg/underarm/bikini line area, would you expect your GP to know about all forms of hair removal that might have caused it?

Dealing with periods or body hair is personal hygiene.

Also stop being so sexist. I've had off so-so treatment over the years from women drs and wonderful caring treatment from male drs.

@bornatXmastobequiet

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.

I find male GPs, young or elderly, really sympathetic to women health issues. Older female GPs tend to fob me off but male GPs will refer me for scans and tests. They won’t blame me/make me feel insane for my horrific reactions to contraceptive pills. That’s my experience anyway.

@MoiJeJous

I would expect a GP to know what a menstrual cup is and if he didn’t, he shouldn’t be giving advice.

Indeed. I. Would alert the practice manager. There is a GP at a surgery near us who any young woman eg 16 or over who asks for contraception is told to leave it until they are older. Not religious, just because he doesn't feel it is 'moral' quite a few complaints and he's now retired.....

@2021hastobebetter There is a GP at a surgery near us who any young woman eg 16 or over who asks for contraception is told to leave it until they are older.

That’s shocking! So he’d prefer unwanted/unplanned teenage pregnancies and abortions to women of the age of consent using contraception? I’ve never come across a doctor like this.

Why does him being old and male stop him from knowing about stuff that affects 51 percent of his patients.

Because menstrual products are nothing to do with being a doctor.

A female doctor probably uses or has used condoms as part of her sexual activity and viagra is to treat a medical need.

Not rocket science.

@CuteBear they're neither! Take cup out, empty blood, wipe and insert again
Rarely have to change when out and about and I have heavy periods but can often go to work and not need to change
I also use cloth sanitary pads which a lot of people go EW at, but I wish I had found them years ago

I had to go to hospital with one stuck and the medics had to google it to get the gist
BUT that was about 15 years ago!

I use cloth pads now too :)

This isn’t something new or unusual is it?

Well, yes.
Okay, someone a couple of pages ago said she knew of them 10 yrs ago, but personally I've only heard of them on MN (I'm post menopausal now but have 2 x dd who are young women.

As sheepisheep siad - it isn't something I'd expect a GP to know about particularly, whatever their age or sex.

As it happens, I'm inclined to agree with him.

Totally agree with him

Well he's right to say that it shouldn't be used for any length of time isn't he?

I also agree that they sound uncomfortable.

And a faff!

As sheepisheep siad - it isn't something I'd expect a GP to know about particularly, whatever their age or sex

Its a shame though.

I mean I cant be the only one with an awkward "alternative" family. I mean its alot easier since having a smart phone but between eczema/sensitive skin/ reactions etc if even one dr had even hinted at an alternative idea we could have saved so much time and pain and of course money for them as well as us.

I lost count how many cream prescriptions I went through with dd1 ajd her eczema. She gets her annoying skin from my side of the family none worked. The only things that have ever really solved the issues have been stuff I've either seen suggested on here or found in online searches.

Yes I'm.sure I've earnt my awkward badge

By "alternative " I mean always ending up having to use some product from obscure websites .. not that we are some alternative hippy style family.

Nothing wrong with that though of course

@diddl you can use them the same as tampons, so 8hrs. As many years as you need to, some need replacing after 10 years, some a bit sooner

The full conversation went:

Do you have any scratches or bites on your legs? Usually a swollen lymph node in the groin is from a source of infection in the lower limbs.

Me: no not that I know of

GP: could you have possibly injured yourself and not remember even something in your foot

Me: nope. Although I was changing my menstrual cup the other day and caught myself internally with a nail, I suppose I could have scratched myself then?

GP: a menstrual cup? I’m sorry what’s that?

Me: explains cup, made of silicone, collects blood, rinse and reinsert.

GP: so it’s plastic?

Me: no it’s flexible, you fold it up and it opens inside you and seals and then collects the blood

GP: comment as first post

Elderly...he’s 70 if he’s a day. Easily

He did also ask if I had to buy a new one each month, no I just sterilise it in boiling water....

Why should medical people know about various "femine hygiene prodcuts." Because of TSS, because internal things can get stuck. Because pads can cause thrush, Because internal products may not be suited to all. (eg if you have had an iud.). Knowledge is power.

They've been around for decades, as Babdoc says, so they're not new, but I suppose they are still rather niche. And there's an undeniable ick factor for many people - male and female. I wouldn't actually expect a close-to-retirement male GP to have heard of them - but I definitely WOULD expect any GP to listen to me, and not to cast judgement or patronise me about something they clearly know little about.

I remember mentioning it to my female (same age) GP years ago and she didn't bat an eyelid.

Well I think he sounded quite interested tbh.

Anyway Op, did he solve your problem?

How did you first hear of them @GlomOfNit?

@june2007

Why should medical people know about various "femine hygiene prodcuts." Because of TSS, because internal things can get stuck. Because pads can cause thrush, Because internal products may not be suited to all. (eg if you have had an iud.). Knowledge is power.

Toxic shock has been known about for decades. Pads and thrush - well, possibly but all kinds of stuff cause thrush.

Mooncups- not so common.

I didn't know till I saw them here a few years ago and also a feature on woman's hour .

Older male GP I can understand.....

My 6 female friends/family members ranging in age from 27-59 who looked at me in horror as I explained, not so much

@june2007

Why should medical people know about various "femine hygiene prodcuts." Because of TSS, because internal things can get stuck. Because pads can cause thrush, Because internal products may not be suited to all. (eg if you have had an iud.). Knowledge is power.

@june2007: Pads can cause thrush? I suffer terribly from thrush and was told that tampons cause thrush because they absorb the good bacteria in the vagina. So I switched to pads. Have I been doing it all wrong??

Actually I think they both can. But it is something people say they have less of when using washables.

Ginfordinner - Mumsnet! But I've used them since about 2002