If you're female AIBU to ask if you're ok with male health professionals at all times and in any scenario?

[DockerDre]

It's just that question really.

Personally yes, have had and feel comfortable with male HCPs doing various aspects of care, including internal exams/procedures that required me undressing etc

No. I’ve been put in positions where I’ve had Male HCPs perform many things like breast examinations and vaginal examinations on me from being a child and on 3 separate occasions I’ve felt extremely uncomfortable. I was left traumatised by an internal examination when I was only 9. My mother was not allowed to be present and I had one HCP holding my arms down while I screamed, another holding my legs open and another performing the procedure - all of them were middle aged men. It was terrifying.

Ironically all of my family except me are either nurses or doctors, including the men. I know Male HCPs are usually trustworthy but unfortunately I’ve also had too many negative experiences to take risks. I have regular Male HCPs that I see every year that I trust to examine me but sometimes if my instincts are screaming at me, I request a female HCP.

The last time I did this was when a Male HCP was going to carry out a lengthy procedure on my breasts (I have several cysts that need monitored). I made the right call because he was very audible going into the next room saying to another Male HCP, “ah mate I’m gutted, she wants a female. Have you SEEN her?” and the other said “haha yeah but anything more than a handful’s a waste in my opinion!” and they both laughed.

I had a male midwifery student when I had dd1. I was in a bit of a state trying to bf and he just arrived with a pretty scary senior midwife. She did check that it was ok for him to be there, but I didn't feel like I could say no without causing offence. I felt very uncomfortable and embarrassed. Ordinarily I have no issue with male drs or nurses or anything else, but in the postnatal situation I felt vulnerable and didn't want a man anywhere near me tbh.

Yes to my:
Dentist / GP for general practice stuff / Chiropodist
No to:
Radiologist whilst having a mammogram- had one on Wednesday, its someone touching & moving your boobs.
Having a smear
Midwife / Gynae stuff
Actual intimate care, eg washing/ touching

I'm not a prude, not arsed about being naked, have no body issues whatsoever. I have no religious or moral guidelines to adhere to and my DH isn't a controlling arse so y'know am not being scared into my opinions.
I don't want to be vulnerable. I want to have the right to choose who sees me, treats me and touches me because it is my body.

I'm comfortable to see male HCPs for anything.
I had laser treatment on my cervic at 19. Bit weird the guy asking me about Eastenders, but otherwise fine. And grateful for the free treatment.

Personally yes, I've had some excellent male doctors, my consultant during pregnancy was female and awful, I just see the profession not the gender to be honest. I did however used to work closely with victims of sexual abuse and have thankfully never been in their shoes, I think that would be the only scenario where I would want a female doctor/nurse , almost all of the medical professionals I worked with them were women, there were one or two men but they worked with male victims

I prefer to discuss period issues and have internal exams by a woman. I spent years being dismissed by male doctors regarding my horrendous PMT, which my (female) thinks is probably pmdd.

@EleanorOalike that’s horrendous and so nasty

No. It's ok for some things but not all.

I've never felt the need to request a woman but I've had my first mastectomy and was quite glad the radiographer was female as it goes. I won't request one though.

I had difficulty last year as I developed a crush on my gorgeous, thoughtful, sensitive, wonderful male GP. It was so disruptive I have booked with female GPs ever since.

No. I have worked with male junior doctors and heard the derogatory way in which they discuss female bodies.

Fine for me except smear tests where I would expect a woman to have a more empathetic hand. Especially when I had my first after birth. Not always though!

Truly shocked at that Eleanor.

I'd ask for a woman if the man was making me feel uncomfortable.

I had a male surgeon chirpily tell me "It's not so bad!" minutes before my hysterectomy. I acidically asked him if he was speaking from personal experience of having his womb removed. Prick.

I prefer to see a male doctor than a female one (although I probably wouldn't request one). Statistically women are ore dismissive of female related health problems than male doctors.

Having been at university with male medical students, I always request a female for any intimate medical procedures.

I would not want someone male who identifies as a woman either. I want an actual biologically female woman.

Just to add I fully support any woman's right to request female care, for whatever reason (which needn't be disclosed)

No I feel very uncomfortable with a male. I don't understand why some many gynaecologists are men 🤨

Personally I would prefer to see a woman for anything gynaecological. And I think patients should always have the right to request an HCP of the same sex.

Would depend really. No embarrassment when talking about anything but if it involved examining I'd prefer a woman. I had a male doctor examine me and break my waters during labour and that was fine as it was urgent and plenty of other people in the room, I wouldn't have liked a male midwife though.

Most of the time. But if it was gynae related I'd prefer a woman tbh

Not bothered if it is a male - even had a male midwife deliver DD1!

Yes. Having had a male registrar delivering one of my kids and stitching things up afterwards my only requirement is competence.

Medical professionals should be professional. Couldn't care less beyond that point.

Statistically women are ore dismissive of female related health problems than male doctors.

Is that true? Personally I’ve found the total opposite (only my experience though).

No, it demoends in what my health issue is. Anything where I’m fully clothed, male is fine. Anything where I need to talke clothes off, I only see female health care professionals.

I would refuse any male HCP (and that includes a trans women) permission to giving me a smear/breast/vagina examinations.