Please help me not to dread and feel icky about my upcoming gynae procedure.

[CaffeineAndAlcoholFree]

For reasons I won't bore you with I'm really not fine with having male HCPs for intimate procedures.

I'm due a transvaginal ultrasound next week. Very quickly arranged. Its good it's happening as I am having a bit of a health scare. But it's with a man. A "Professor" indeed.
So, I wasn't delighted but thought I'd just suck it up. Professor of gynaecology, I'd assumed.

But no. He's not a gynaecologist nor any kind of doctor, sonographer or nurse. He's a physicist and his professorship is in engineering!

I understand he has expertise with sonography equipment, it's use and development, and the interpretation of data, imaging etc. but why would a physicist be sticking things into vaginas and not clinical staff? It just seems so inappropriate to me.

It's a private hospital and it's in a few days time. Not sure I can ask for an alternative now.

I don't know why this is bothering me so much. I assume he does this often and is professional. Please talk some sense into me.

(N.B. please be reasonably gentle: I have a health scare going on, my DD is in hospital, and my beloved dog is dying.😞)

As a HCP myself I’d be fairly sure that you’ve just googled the wrong name OP! No engineer would be performing medical procedures.

I really haven't, alas. It mentions working in medical physics and gynaecological sonography in his bio.
Right town, too.

Can understand the link and involvement, but not the performing procedures on undressed patients part!

Surely he needs to be a registered HCP?

You have time to ask.

He clearly will be qualified, but you have time to confirm this with the clinic.

Is a medical physicist considered an HCP, maybe?
It's a private hospital, too... maybe they have different rules.

Have you looked on GMC and HCPC websites to see if they're registered?

I understand. TV ultrasound is very invasive. I had one last year and was dreading it but the lady who did it was very good - and gentle. I read elsewhere that the trick is to make sure it’s someone who does them often so they have a good technique. Hope it all goes ok.

Thanks @TheQuietestSpace and everyone else.

I'm sure he must be qualified, but its my feelings of discomfort that I'm struggling with rather than concern for the correct documentation.
I guess I'm being silly.

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/about-us/who-we-work-with/professional-bodies/clinical-scientists/

No, @DisforDarkChocolate ill do that, thanks.

I'd love a nice gentle woman to be doing mine @StepsInTime

https://www.careers.nhs.scot/explore-careers/healthcare-science/medical-physicist/

This explains what a medical physicist is, what they do and who they work with. It looks likely the person would be registered with the HCPC and would absolutely be the right person to be working in that area of medicine.

It’s likely that there will be others present in the room whilst the scan is ongoing - mine was carried out by a male, but the two nurses were female.

It's a private hospital and it's in a few days time. Not sure I can ask for an alternative now.

If you're not comfortable, at least talk to the hospital about the arrangements and how they can support you. There's no harm in having a conversation and gathering information.

Thank you so much I'll look through those links.

Yes, there will others there. At least a nurse. Hopefully she/they will get me prepared and covered up but you know that little peek under the sheet they have to do to see where to aim?

Urgh!

Can you contact the hospital and explain your concern about the procedure- I am sure they will be able to give you some reassurance

A person with a PhD in engineering and zero medical qualifications is not doing your procedure.
You can guarantee that.

You can say you'd rather have a female, but it could delay the procedure for a long time if they don't have many of them.

I hope you realise that nobody who isn't fully qualified would ever be in a position to be involved in gynae procedures.

Yes @sandrevolutionary i may ask for an alternative and tell them I'd be happier with a woman if possible. If not tell them I'm nervous and "shy" so they know.

It's just a bit last minute.

Thanks @BobbyBiscuits thats exactly the sort of talking to I need.

I know he must be qualified and probably has great expertise, but I'm stupidly uncomfortable with a man who's not primarily involved in gynaecology seeing my bits.

I’m booked in for a colposcopy next Monday with a male gynaecologist. Dreading it to be fair. But I’m in so much pain I just want some answers. Also waiting on an appointment for a tv ultrasound. But I’m sure Iv had one of those before when in early pregnancy.

You could ask to insert it yourself. That's a common adjustment.

Bless you @Puppypeewee i hope your procedures go well and you get some answers.

Great idea, thanks @sandrevolutionary

Please don't worry. They literally see and operate on 'bits' on a daily basis.
I know if you've had bad experiences with men it can feel awkward or difficult. But they really are just professionals who are there to help you. X

If it gives you any reassurance, you are covered up and I inserted and removed the wand myself (it's not very thick). It is painless and not too bad at all.

I know he must be qualified and probably has great expertise, but I'm stupidly uncomfortable with a man who's not primarily involved in gynaecology seeing my bits.

The thing is that, if he's doing this procedure, he is primarily involved in gynaecology. He isn't just having a go at doing your particular vaginal examination as a change from his usual job: this is what he does and he'll have seen many, many "bits".
Hope that helps a bit in the context of what you were worried about in the post of yours I quoted. I understand that nothing will make you totally relaxed about the exam and that's very normal.
Hope all goes well.

Sounds a bit odd but just wanted to say I've had lots of procedures and weirdly men IME are more respectful and gentle, even though in theory I think it's weird there are male gynaecologists. Last scan I had was a woman and she kept trying to ram my back passage with the wand. Seriously!

I hope whoever you have is gentle and your results are clear.