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

[strawberrisc]

Just posting here for traffic.

Not a smear, but all my vaginal examinations in labour were done by a man.

It wouldn't bother me at all OP, but if you are concerned I am sure that you are entitled to request a female chaperone.

NicoAndTheNiners I DON’T know the sex of the nurse. I’m just being a wuss and to be honest I feel silly. If someone is preserving your life it really shouldn’t matter.

I wouldn't mind a male doctor for a mammogram. But after 9 years of BFing, I'm quite used to getting them out, and I don't see their primary function as sexual any more!

But I strongly prefer a female Dr for smear tests and intimate exams.

For a medical professional (male or female) looking at a vagina/breast is no different to them than looking at an arm or leg. It’s a non issue.

I don't think this is true. Becoming a doctor doesn't magically stop doctors being men! And some men are not respectful of women.

I used to not worry about it, I've changed on this point as I've aged.

I had a doctor for an intimate exam of something of concern on my labia (turned out to be nothing of any seriousness!) and I didn't like the way he fiddled with my bits. It felt for a brief moment like he was trying to stimulate me. He may well not have been, I'm not saying I'm accusing him of sexual assault. I'm not. But I think a woman would have understood what she was doing and not done that.

I did when I was younger but it would bother me now, i insist on a woman nurse/doctor and they are always happy to oblige and very understanding.

At the end of the day someone is touching your bits, and you have to be comfortable with the sex of the person doing that.

Had breast exams and internals from male doctors. My gynaecologist in Germany was a man (to get the pill over there I had to have a pelvic and a breast exam every 6 months), and also had men examining me in the UK when I had complications in pregnancy, and a breast exam by a male GP when I was worried about a lump.

limitedscreentime I wouldn’t be bothered at all if it was a lesbian nurse.

It’s not about sex at all. I doubt that any nurse would be aroused by my little bits! I know I am BU. I think I’ve just worked myself up!

I’m fuming at myself because it’s so ridiculous!

To those who questioned about the male midwife and my feelings about his ability to empathise, I should have said that I recognise that wasn't a rational thought (especially as some of my excellent midwives had not had children either) but it was, nonetheless, what I felt.

As an aside, a friend who is a GP has said to me that she did find herself having more empathy with her pregnant patients and those with young children after she had her own child. She didn't lack empathy before, but she did feel that there was a different dimension that was added by her own experiences.

I haven’t had either but I did have a doctor look at my bits at my 8 week pp check due to stitches, they automatically gave me a female companion from the office who was with me when the doctor checked. Makes me question it now though or maybe that’s how the surgery ran.

To be fair pre baby I would have asked for a female for any personal appointments despite having a male family doctor but since having a baby I’m more willing to go to anyone male or female.

I had a traumatic birth and the head consultant watched me give birth from my lower half, I was checked down below post birth by male and female nurses and consultant, and I’m pretty sure the person who did my manual removal of placenta and packed me to stem my bleeding as I was haemorrhaging (I was knocked out) was male but I really don’t like to dwell on that thought.

I would take any staff member, even the damn receptionist, over the last woman to take a smear from me.

I never care about who sees what for medical professionals - it's their job, and I will cheerfully whip my bits out for any of them, assuming they've seen it all before.

This woman though - she tore off a bit of paper, and handed it, mumbling something I couldn't here, then let me undress on the table. Then when she came in, she fluttered about because I hadn't put my 'skirt' of paper over my crotch... I mean, wtf?! I was sitting there legs splayed ready to be assaulted with a speculum. The presence of a small piece of tissue was hardly going to increase my dignity any.

She fluttered and fussed so much that I ended up tense. Then she scratched me inside (no discomfort at all previous times), and I bled for a few days.

Give me the male locum doctor who prodded and poked around down there to check for pregnancy or infection any day.

Have had male Drs for smears,most mammograms by female radiographers.A mixture for bag.ultasound and a very lovely male radiographer squirting dye up my tubes.He wore a red lead tabards as it was Valentine's day.There was a very young male nursing assistant who tried to hold my hand,he looked terrified.

Slowsloegin

Sounds like you have some issues
If you honestly believe a doctor was “trying to stimulate you” during a medical examination then you need to see a police officer.
But Please don’t give fuel to the fire that men cant be controlled around women because they “are men” - it’s ridiculous and dangerous.

No but I had a male midwife with my second. Just as good as a woman

If someone is doing a medical examination on me that may well save my life , I don't care if they're male or female.

thecatsthecats. Jesus that’s awful! My last smear test was by a woman and she was down there for milliseconds. I was surprised and said “is that it?”

Lo and behold she didn’t get enough cells and I had to go back. I was so upset as I’ve had a colposcopy and it was just an extra wait.

My best friend had an intimate cancer and couldn’t praise the male doctors, nurses and portors enough.

Oddcat You are so right.

Yes a few days postpartum started having awful pains (2nd DC and was vastly different to the normal afterpains)
Midwife did the usual checks then said we'll just wait for the doctor to give you a check over to make sure. I'd assumed it would be a female doctor as I'd only seen women up until that point but a male doctor came in after a bit and did the examination.
Felt awkward to say no that time after waiting for the doctor to get there so went ahead but after that whenever examinations were mentioned and in DC3s labour I said near the start that I'd rather not have any men doing examinations if possible.

The most "comfortable" smear I ever had was my first and it was done by a male doctor. Similarly my male surgeon was the only Dr who ever took me seriously regarding severe period pain. I had a male consultant with my last pregnancy (including sweeps) -All fine.

No but a man delivered my DS.

The first time a male doctor had to examine me down there I was a bit uncomfortable, but now I don't care.

When I toured the birthing centre when pregnant we were told there was a male midwife and we could request a female if we preferred.
I think I wrote on my birth plan that I was happy to have a female or male midwife. I was initially with a female midwife during labour but when the shifts changed I got the man and he was lovely. It made no difference to me, he helped bring my son into the world and I like the idea of my son learning that he was delivered by a man in a typically female job role to show him that gender stereotypes shouldn't matter.

No but I've about about a million sweeps from male midwives or consultants they were all fine. It doesn't bother me a bit it's just their job.

I have had one smear done by a male doctor. It was 28 years ago, it was only my second smear. I was 21.

The doctor also asked me if I ever checked my breasts. When I said no he said he would check my breasts for me and gave them a thorough checking for lumps and bumps taking several minutes.

All the while a female nurse watched.

It was only when I reached my forties I realised why the doctor had done what he had done, and it wasn't out of concern for me having breast cancer.

Now I always request a female nurse or doctor if possible.

NB: During giving birth I didn't care, but it was all female except for the consultant who had to step in to assist with the birth as DD wasn't descending the birth canal.

I’ve had male and female for smears.

I had a rather serious miscarriage (all MC are but I mean this was physically life threatening for me) last year, and the a&e nurses, gyneas, the haematological team and the surgeons were all men! I had a brief moment of feeling like I wanted a woman when a gorgeous young man arrived in an Armani T-shirt and snazzy jeans plus belt, and had to get started in the business end, but he was an excellent Dr and I got over it pretty quick. The only two women I met in the course of that week were not as sympathetic as the men, who without exception were gentle, kind without patronising me and efficient.

Re the midwives - when I went to AN classes, it was painfully obvious that they were ‘reading from the sheet’ of what was ‘supposed ‘ to happen in birth etc rather than from experience - let alone BF.
Mind you, that’s probably not as bad as a MW who has given birth and treats every pregnant/ labouring woman as per her own experience. Have read plenty of horror stories of women being dismissed in those situations.

OP, for just a routine mammogram you are fortunate that you should be able to get the same job done with just a bit of a wait. When I had fibroids and it became obvious the NHS/GP had no interest, I resolved that if I had to pay I’ get the best in the business. This turned out to be a solo consultant with a skeleton staff who did all the dildocams himself: if I’d had qualms about that, I’d presumably not have been able to have the resulting op with him. (An op that incidentally also included him going up there - although I was at least not awake for that).