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

[strawberrisc]

Just posting here for traffic.

I lived in a houseshare with male medical students at one stage, and after overhearing them talk about trying to control their erections while doing breast examinations I decided not to believe the guff about 'it's just like any body part

Thanks for bringing some reality into the discussion, Somerville.

I can't say I'm at all surprised. "Doctors don't see it as a body part" is nonsense. Doctors are human FFS. It makes the whole thing easier if you decide your doctor has zero sex drive, can be totally dispassionate at work, and couldn't possibly be deviant in any way because they're a respected professional.

But these are just things we tell ourselves to make an uncomfortable situation easier. It's also how sexual predators in respected professions get away with abuse a lot of the time - as people assume they're above reproach. Elevating any kind of person like that comes with risks.

Doctors are only human. Many of them are men. Some men (and a minuscule number of woman) are sexual abusers.

At this rate men won’t be allowed in any job role as to not to offend the women offended and scared by their own shadows

You know what would be really, really nice? If men stopped sexually abusing women. 1 in 5 women in this country has been sexually abused since the age of 16. (If you add in abuse that happens to them as a minor, the figures go up).

Women do not do this to men (except very, very rarely).

It's not about being offended. Sex segregation (or the choice for it) where women are vulnerable (e.g. in a HCP-patient intimate exam) is about taking sensible precautions to protect women from the small minority of men who abuse.

Yes. I don't see the issue at all.

Are you lacking in imagination and empathy Frantically? You really cannot comprehend of a scenario where a woman might prefer to have intimate examinations by a HCP of the same sex?

I think you should go see a therapist. If you can find a female one, a straight female one of course

I don’t see the issue at all. At this rate men won’t be allowed in any job role as to not to offend the women offended and scared by their own shadows

Oh don't be ridiculous.

Some women prefer to see female medical staff and that's fine; some people genuinely have no preference and that's fine.

A couple of posters on here, including me, would actually prefer male doctors but don't say so and some would actively prefer male and that's fine too.

Good posts yearofthewoman

I always request female doctors and nurses for gynaecologist issues.

My personal choice. And no I would not want a trans woman again my personal
Choice

Why the need for 'straight female' Frantically? Non straight women are still women.

Bertram I made no assumptions, you're the one who keeps lumping all men together. But as I see from the 'cool wives' comment you're a fan of stereotyping. But congrats on being able to crowbar your favourite passive aggressive insult into the conversation.

How do you guys check if your female doctor isn't a lesbian who then obviously doesn't see your body parts as just parts? Because then it's exactly the same risk like with males...

I suppose I'm a 'handmaiden' too.

My best obgyn was male. He was amazing and much, MUCH, gentler than previous female doctors. Would happily go to a male doctor again.

"you're the one who keeps lumping all men together"
I'm not lumping all men together. I am pointing out that some women prefer a female HCP. Just as some men prefer a male one. I do not see what is so hard to understand about that.

I don't have smears or mammograms, but if I did, I would certainly chose a female doctor or nurse and refuse treatment rather than see a male medic.

If you believe that your genitals are just a body part like any other, you should spend some time with male student HCP. There is a reason why they keep a set of keys in their pockets.

Why do people always try to throw lesbians into this argument, comparing them to men? It's bloody rude. Lesbians are women. And lesbians are not responsible for 98% of all sexual violence.

"I suppose I'm a 'handmaiden' too."

No idea. Keep posting and I might be able to make a judgement.

If you don’t want a man carrying out your smear test/mammogram then you don’t have to have one do you. Other women aren’t bothered.

And for many women it is nothing to do with the possibility of sexual assault. It's to do with preferring to be naked and vulnerable in front of another woman.

Frantically What do you think about men who only want a vasectomy performed by a male surgeon?

Don't get me wrong yearofthewoman, I believe most male doctors with loads of experience won't be getting off on performing initmate examinations. Even those young med students, a few years on, were embarrassed by the attitudes they used to have. (Part of it was how very young they were. One of them, who'd seen breasts that day on placement, was a virgin who'd never had a girlfriend.) But it made me know that I was right to prioritise my own safety and dignity ahead of the feelings of others.

Oh you've already made your judgment.

I wouldn’t care if the person who performed my mammogram was male or female but I would want them to be a Radiigrapher

It's to do with preferring to be naked and vulnerable in front of another woman

I suppose where some of the lack of understanding is coming from is that posters who have no preference as to whether they see a man or a woman don't think that they are "naked and vulnerable"

That isn't how I would see it- I'm partially undressed for a medical procedure. That is not denying or denigrating the experiences of others, it simply isn't a description which resonates with me. But if someone does feel like that it makes no difference to me to let her see a female doctor or nurse.

Does there need to be a reason given? Surely for any process which involves examination of breasts and genitals the patient, absent emergency, should be able to choose?

As I said I don't express a preference but I don't like being in a state of undress in front of anyone. A female doctor might actually be less understanding of that than a male doctor.

How do you guys check if your female doctor isn't a lesbian who then obviously doesn't see your body parts as just parts? Because then it's exactly the same risk like with males.

Nope, not at all.

The issue is not about how often the HCPs are attracted to their patients. It's how likely they are to abuse their trust in a sexual manner.

Lesbians are not generally well known for being sexual predators or for sexually abusing women as sexual abuse is a male crime (see image).

Very few male doctors abuse their position of trust, thankfully. But a male doctor is much, much more likely than a female doctor to abuse that trust in a sexual manner.

Oh lord

You need to dial it the fuck down @Bertrand

Stop pushing your own “men are all evil, they only want to abuse and repress women” rhetoric down everyone’s else’s throats.

Contrary to what you clearly believe, men are not the enemy. They are not lying in wait at your nearest Doctors surgery so they can get their evil man hands on your boobies. No, actually most of them are just there, yknow, doing their job, trying to HELP YOU.

Lass-I personally have no particualr preference, although I don't think I would have liked a male midwife. But I know that a lot of women do feel that way, and I find the way many on this thread are dismissive of their feelings deeply depressing.