Has anyone ever had a mammogram or smear by a male nurse?

[strawberrisc]

Just posting here for traffic.

"Stop pushing your own “men are all evil, they only want to abuse and repress women” rhetoric down everyone’s else’s throats. "
Blimey! If you read that into my posts then you are Donald Trump and I claim my £5!

I believe most male doctors with loads of experience won't be getting off on performing initmate examinations

Yes, I totally agree, Somerville. I'm sorry if it came across otherwise!

It saddens me, though, that women fought for the rights to single sex spaces and to be able to request a female HCP and people seem to have forgotten why. There seems to be a lot of wilful naivety going on, with people denying the reality that sexual abuse is a male crime, usually.

Do you really not understand that some women have had awful experiences ? Or that some women will simply be more comfortable seeing another woman?

Giving them that choice has no impact on women who have no preference.

most of them are just there, yknow, doing their job, trying to HELP YOU.

Yes, they are.

It's not man-hating to accept the fact that a small number of them are sexual abusers, yet the same is not true of women in the same numbers.

That's just reality, sadly. I wish it were not so. But ignoring it doesn't make it not true.

I would always request a female HCP for intimate examinations- you are allowed to do so and I see no issue with doing it and no reason to apologise for or justify my preference. In much the same way I wouldn’t want a trainee in the room for some procedures.

Some people feel differently and that’s fine but it doesn’t make my feelings wrong.

I can't really understand why a man would want to be a gynecologist**

Presumably for the same reasons as a woman might choose O&G as a specialty. I've only ever been treated by male consultants throughout all my fertility treatment and my gynae cancer investigations, and in my experience they are dedicated professionals who want to help people. My fertility consultant is a specialist in reproductive medicine as well as general gynae and obstetrics (incl minimal access surgery), and he says it's immensely satisfying to help couples have a family. He's a specialist in endometriosis and fibroids and feels passionately that women's health is woefully under valued and women have to suffer unnecessary pain when their issues are dismissed. Fertility medicine isn't just clinical, it's people's hopes and dreams. To be able to help a couple have a much wanted child is an incredible thing. Then obstetrics to help safe delivery of a child, to try to ensure a happy outcome for mother and baby - I don't see why this is so unreasonable to consider

For many women it's not about sexual abuse or even sex at all. It's about women-and men- being able to express a preference. I just cannot understand why this seem to be such a difficult concept for some people.

I also don't understand why people
are so angry about it!

Yes the male nurses are usually far gentler!

I can't really understand why a man would want to be a gynecologist

I thought that was not a point worth making.

Yes smears but both men and women

But when I had a specific issue I wanted to discuss and needed an examination I asked for a women doctor when I booked yhe appointment (gp appointment) becuase I felt more comfortable asking the question to a woman

We should always have that choice if we feel we need it

As it would appear that a female chaperone is always present when a male does a smear test, why is this?

I never used to have a problem with male doctors performing internal examinations until I had a bad experience with a male consultant. Now I would definitely prefer to have a female if possible.

I understand the need for regular smear tests etc, but I feel more ready to decline to have a pointless internal examination if its sole purpose is to 'see' if I have still have the incurable condition that I have had since puberty. It's a bit like a doctor checking to keep seeing if I have the same number of toes.

No, but after 3 kids and, years of gyne appointments and a hysterectomy, I've had plenty of males access my foof, in a professional capacity, of course, and it didn't bother me at all.

As it would appear that a female chaperone is always present when a male does a smear test, why is this?

Maybe NHS but in the private fertility clinics I've been at, whilst there's always the option to ask for a chaperone (the signs are very clear and you can quite easily ask for a female HCP to be present) - they're not present by default. I never bothered - but I totally understand if someone else wanted to request one.

At the NHS colposcopy clinic there was a female nurse present, but not sure if she was there purely as a chaperone or if she was assisting the consultant.

A male GP friend of mine said he always gets a female chaperone in for any intimate examination, for his own protection as much as anything, so there is a witness at all times.

As pp stated, only female radiographers are able to do mammograms under the breast screening service. So if you are called to go for a breast screening appointment then your momographer will be female.

I would hate to have a male midwife. I don't want a random man massaging my back, giving me a hug, sitting watching my naked self in the birthing pool while I'm in labour. It's entirely different to a male obstetrician coming in at the last minute for forceps or whatever. A good midwife is about so much more. Nor do I want one telling me what to do with my swollen boobs, or fixing the baby when I'm learning to breast feed. Sorry. I knew one whose argument about wearing long sleeved shirts (and therefore not being able to properly wash his hands) was that he never touched his patients so he didn't need to. So no adequate post natal breast or perineal examination from him then. Or demonstration of baby care etc. I don't believe for one moment that he was a one off.

I can't really understand why a man would want to be a gynecologist.

I can answer that. I'm old, so my DF is really old. He's a retired GP. And, back in the day, GPs could deliver babies if they had the relevant obstetric qualification. When he got his it was mostly home births, very "Call the Midwife". Later it was in hospital.

He made a point of going in whenever one of "his" mums was admitted. I remember many a time waking up when he came home to ask him if the baby had been a boy or a girl.

He says that seeing their GP, who in those days had done all their antenatal care, turn up definitely helped lots of patients, especially anxious first time mums. Because hospital staff, however lovely, are strangers.

But he also loved doing it for the same reason anyone loves obstetrics: the joy of seeing a new life arrive, the inspiring courage and resourcefulness of labouring women.

My DF is outspoken in his admiration for women. He says we're the better sex. He helped make me a feminist with his message that I could do absolutely anything with my life. When the world said different, I already knew better.

I like to think id be fine with a male midwife.. perhaps I would as id know they had trained as a midwife and seem many women giving birth etc.... I gave birth just over a week a go to my daughter and the male anaesthetist was in the room when I was close to pushing (his epidural had not worked because I was close to crowning but they hadnt realised) and he tried to join in with the midwife in the most patronising manner.... he said my full name like a teacher or something 'haribosmarties you have to try and breathe thru each contraction' in this sort of bored voice.... its lucky I was in so much horrific pain at that point that I couldnt speak because in my head I was screaming 'GET TO FUCK YOU OBLIVIOUS DICKHEAD LIKE YOU HAVE THE FAINTEST CONCEPTION OF WHAT IM EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW!!!'

also in my defence he did imply that the epidural was actually working and I just had a 'very low tolerance to pain' (his exact words)

It wasnt working... the babies head was almost popping out of me and I pushed it out in the next minute... I went from 4cm to 10cm in under an hour THAT WAS WHY I WAS IN PAIN

I've had coil fitted by male nurse, smear by male gynaecologist and a colposcopy with a male Dr and two other male Dr's present. All was fine, felt relaxed and comfortable.

As it would appear that a female chaperone is always present when a male does a smear test, why is this?

A female chaperone is often present, but it's not compulsory. As I said upthread, I have a lovely male GP and feel no need for one, though I'd prefer a woman doctor if I had to see a stranger.

However I've heard male doctors often insist on a chaperone to protect themselves. The effects on their career of a complaint are catastrophic, even if it's not upheld. People get crushes on their doctors all the time.

The trust between me and my GP must be mutual, as he's putting his professional life on the line by examining me without a chaperone. I'd never thought of it before.

Aw Prawn. Your lovely Dad. I have known some GP's like that and it's sad it's pretty much a thing of the past.

Also re. Chaperones - there to protect the staff as much as the patient as you said. Pretty much always used nowadays.

I've had male Dr's for all sorts of things no problem, I just think midwife is the wrong job for a man. Muscling into women's spaces again. Not sure how they can do postnatal home visits, check perineal healing in the woman's bedroom etc without a chaperone. So I think they just ask and don't look. Which isn't the same thing.

I find smears VERY painful My last one was due last November and i still havent been. Im not sexually active so am fairly low risk. Ive always had them done by women. And i would continue to request a woman if the choice was presented to me.

I dont want a male doctor attempting to hide his revulsion because i dont shave or trim my pubic area. And a lot of them dont take womens pain seriously and think you are overreacting.

When i was eleven a male dentist had to give me a root canal Yes i was given an injection beforehand but still felt a lot of pain and started making a noise ...............and he told me to shut up I was only a kid FFS.

male Nurses are no different form male doctors and male paramedics

Prawn your dad sounds awesome.