Do you request a female doctor/nurse to do your smear test?

[catscan]

Just that really.

I would definitely want a female (with no male parts, sorry).

I would confirm in advance that the nurse carrying it out is female, although I am not too sure what female means in today's context if the receptionist says yes. I presume I can still decline to go ahead with the procedure if on the day, I felt uncomfortable with the HCP.

Perfectly I am absolutely not worried about a male hcp "lusting over my bits" as you put it.
I am concerned about the rough treatment and dismissive attitude I have encountered from male hcp when having a smear and discussions about gynea issues.
I therefore choose to see female hcp for these things.

As is my right.

I wonder how some women from certain cultural backgrounds are going to manage to exist if the GRA comes in. And thats not meant sarcastically, I'm genuinely worried for them.

The problem with trans people, self identification and working as a hcp is that it makes it impossible to ask for a "female" hcp.
I have no doubt that the huge majority of trans woman and men are perfectly lovely, and I don't think they are any more of a risk than any other man or woman.
However, when I, or a any other woman asks to see a female then that is what we should get. Not "Susan" Steve with stubble and a male body.

Its interesting reading posters comments about why they prefer a female nurse, because it is for the same reasons that I usually prefer a male. In my experience with gynea issues, and i've had quite a few of those, I have found the women terribly judgemental, rough and dismissive. Almost like saying, 'I'm a woman too and its not that big a deal, so just get on with it!'. I've practically had this said to me in particular by a young female doctor who just rolled her eyes after a rough examination and left me on the hospital stretcher after being blue lighted in. The odd male nurse or doctor i've met seem to listen carefully to you and show more sympathy, as if quietly saying, 'I don't know what its like, but i believe you and what you are describing sounds very painful'.

Just my experience.

avery I said lusting after you, but hey ho.

I've had the same experience Endo, not across the board but certainly I've experienced it.

At our surgery, there are only female nurses anyway (and they're always the ones who do them). But yes, I would if I needed to and I'd happily delay an appointment to have a female as that's what I'm most comfortable with. When I needed to have a hospital gyn appointment last year, I also requested a female doctor and they were more than happy to oblige. They said it would be whatever doctors were on that day, but there's always at least one woman, and if I got assigned the male doctor, they'd just have be wait and they'd swop patients when my time came up so I would be comfortable. I've always done that and it's never been an issue.

That said though, if this is becoming a trans debate , I wouldn't have a problem with trans woman doing my smear either. I have several trans friends (both trans women and trans men) and I'd not feel uncomfortable with anyone doing my smear as long as they were woman-identified as I feel safe with other women. I really doubt there are male gynos out there pretending to be trans women just so they can see some vag.

I never request- I genuinely don't care- but I've only ever had smears done by female practitioners. Some of those have been nice, some have been horrible. Some rough, some gentle. Some understanding, some with the empathy of a brick.

cat why are you now reframing your OP to include general surgery? We are discussing smear tests and intimate exams no?

Lady I don’t get why you’re being so aggressive. This is AIBU, it’s for general conversation. The conversation widened, they do that sometimes.

It also veered onto transwomen as a sub-topic and you didn’t have an issue with that.

And for those upthread who are ‘bored’ with the trans topic regarding this issue and believe it to be no more a niche issue (in other words stop being silly and get on with it) and are inferring that some of us are overreacting, good for you, that is your right. My right is to refuse a male for an intimate exam, fact! And that includes any one who is confused about their own biology, I do not want that right removed, however boring or niche others may think it is, because it makes ME very uncomfortable and I matter. Btw, If my arm was falling off, I would have zero issue with a transwoman or man or anyone else treating me, just not when they are elbow deep in my vagina thanks.

I for one am glad this topic hasnt just been relegated to the feminism boards, as it is an issue that potentially affects every woman regardless of a feminist standpoint and the new gender self id laws are going to impact us all very very soon if they pass.

How is that aggressive? I am just wondering why you are widening the original point as it would suggest we have the same view for all treatment, which is unfair imho, the transwoman issue DOES fall under the original OP as it does directly correlate with the male/female question about smear tests.

I wouldn't mind male or female doing my smear as long as they are well trained with a good technique which isn't too painful. MIL told me the last time she had her smear done, it hurt so much she couldn't walk properly for two days afterwards.

Tbh Lady, I started posting yesterday being concerned about women’s rights being eroded by self-identification and was thinking about how others view what I see as public spaces as women’s spaces; scenarios I hadn’t considered before. You and other posters are now hounding me and I can’t be bothered with it. I had multiple messages from people who read my threads on the Feminism boards who sympathised with me and said I shouldn’t have been “attacked.” These posters didn’t feel they could say that publicly on a public discussion board about feminism.

The Feminism boards don’t feel like a welcoming or safe space to discuss concerns to me now. The response has put me off the whole debate and put me off learning more, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Congrats on alienating people who are concerned, are trying to learn and would otherwise have supported some of what you’re saying.

...it did seem a touch aggressive... Impossible to guage tone on the internet though isn't it.

Hounding you? Have I slipped into a parallel universe?

I asked if posters requested a female for smears. The conversation segued into discussion on whether posters who requested women would be comfortable with transwomen. It also segued into whether other posters requested females for other medical activities.

Both are equally valid discussions.

You’re not in charge.

Am I not entitled to respond and ask questions then? Do we class that as hounding now?

“Thisusername well, the only reason I can think that people would prefer a female doctor or nurse is because they don't want their doctor or nurse lusting after them or assaulting them while they're doing the test.”

Really? You can’t see how a woman might be embarrassed or have cultural or religious objections or be incredibly nervous because of past abuse or just feel more relaxed and comfortable with another woman?

Fine Cat I will remove my self from the discussion then if it makes you feel more comfortable. I guess my previously shared experience of a potential assault by my male gp adds no weight to the discussion and I am only here to ‘hound you’.

Catscan - With all due respect, I see no evidence of Lady or anyone hounding you on here? how is she hounding you? that's a very serious allegation.

Which was Lady’s aggressive post?

Lady you were "beginning to wonder about [my] agenda... I guess the answers over on feminism chat were not good enough? " my agenda is having a discussion with a wide group of women to learn more about others' experiences and needs

"I will say it again, directly to Cat this time, as I dont think she has acknowledged my earlier post" - there were about 140 other posts at this point, why did I need to directly acknowledge you? Lots of people shared their experiences, negative and otherwise

"But what difference do “official stats” or ‘mumsnet’ stats make anyway? Out of curiosity?" yes, curiosity is why most people post questions on message boards