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.

In emergency I would not care but I book a female dr/nurse for smears (my named gp is female) and at the hospital gynae dept they only have female drs (when I attended last year, it was on the letter). Routine female care I prefer a woman

How the hell is it going "off topic" when the OP was do you mind male hcps seeing to you?
People answered yes or no.
I'm for people being able to choose, and definitely not for sex segregation like some seem to be.
Somebody said upthread - what's wrong with being able to choose? The viewpoints should be able to stand side by side.
You do you.
Just don't tell other women that the choice should be taken away. Which Bertrand would rather - that some things should just be kept between women. No.

Yes. I've seen loads of HCPs both male and female and have had brilliant ones and crap ones of both sexes.

Interestingly while I have never requested a female HCP for anythimy intimate. I have, on a couple of occasions, had a male Dr. ask if it was ok for a woman to come and sit in while he carried out an exam. That didn't bother me either.

The only Dr I have specifically requested not to see was female - nothing to do with her being female and everything to do with her condescending, dismissive attitude. She was terrible (and I'm clearly a bit of a cow as I had no issues with asking for "anyone except Dr X" and wouldn't consider there was anything wrong with that )

Yes, I'm absolutely fine with a male HCP in any circumstance. However, I fully support the right for a woman to choose a female HCP if she chooses.

Yes- “socially constructed ideas about privacy’.- is the most dangerous and worrying thing posted on this thread. I suppose it brought the discourse around periods into my mind because I think we need to distinguish between shame motivated “don’t let the men see” secrecy and a perfectly natural and acceptable reticence and desire for dignity.

I have dropped in and out of this thread, so apologies I haven't read every post.
But a couple of things:
To answer the OP - no I'm not happy with a male HCP in all circumstances. No, I am not saying that men are all perverts, just that in some circumstances I want to see a female HCP. And no, I am not going to justify that choice by telling you my personal history.

There are a lot of posters who seem to be very lacking in empathy- just because you are happy with something, doesn't mean everyone else has to be.
My neighbours like tripe - good wholesome food. I hate it- should I be forced to eat it?

There is an underlying push to erode women and girls rights to privacy and bodily autonomy. Apparently we have to give these up in the cause of "inclusivity " and to avoid causing hurt feelings.

Stuff that. I get to say who sees or touches my body, no one else.

“Just don't tell other women that the choice should be taken away. Which Bertrand would rather - that some things should just be kept between women. No.“
Oh for goodness sake.

No, not when it involves exposing my breasts or genitals. I’ve had too many bad experiences and I’d feel very uncomfortable.

Imo yes and no.
If there is an emergency life threatening situation I don’t believe the nhs should be found in and way to be failing if a male medic is present even if it has been explicitly stated it is against the wishes of the patient.
I say this as my mil was a midwife for 35 years. In her last 6 months she had to go to court as the tryst was sued by a pregnant lady who had it clearly written on her notes no males in the room or involved in care.
The lady and her baby went downhill v fast baby was stuck both were dying female consultant on call male consultant in the ward stepped in. Saved both with emergency c-section under general anaesthetic.
The woman was awarded £50,000 for her distress at having her trust broken. 🤬

Bertrand - you literally said it should be kept between women. Those words. Previous posts suggested as much too so was consistent with your general view before you outright said it.
So not sure what you're goodness saking at
Would you rather women were only able to have female hcps?

BertrandRussell

You might say "oh for goodness sake" but that was exactly what you posted - that some things should be kept solely between women. We haven't misinterpreted what you said. It was literally what you said.

I would like the world to be basically gender neutral
I would HATE to live in a world with no understanding of the different life experiences of men and women. I would hate for there to be no recognition that that goes beyond the physical and into social and well, everything.

I have no problem and in all intimate situations they have always had a female chaperone.

“You might say "oh for goodness sake" but that was exactly what you posted - that some things should be kept solely between women. We haven't misinterpreted what you said. It was literally what you said.”

So you are refusing to allow me to correct myself?

“Would you rather women were only able to have female hcps?”

No.

I'd want a woman to do my smear. But other than that I'm fine with either

And I didn’t say that even before I corrected myself!

So you are refusing to allow me to correct myself?

How can anyone refuse to allow you to correct yourself?

Do I believe your correction? No I don't because you expressed the sentiment over several posts. It wasn't just a mis type or just one sentence that you sought to correct.

No one can stop you from trying to correct yourself. Equally you can't make me believe that you didn't mean what you initially posted.

Surely it’s a massive waste of money if male HCPs need to have a female chaperone. Allowing choice will also have a monetary impact because it will save money by not needing those female chaperones.

In fact, needing a chaperone there as all (especially when they’re there as a matter of course) says everything that needs to be said about the OP's question.

@Captain Yes yes yes! Absolutely perfect post.

I chose a female surgeon for my hysterectomy because I think another female could relate to the description of my symptoms better than a male.

I imagine if I was a bloke it is easier for a male doctor to get what I meant by "you know when you get that awful pain, that draggy one, it's near my left testicle" that a woman.

Other than gynae/pmt type issues, I don't mind. I've found it can be down to the individual - I see one specific GP at my surgery because I feel comfortable talking about my mental health with him, but the other guy has been great with some other issues.

OK. This is obviously a waste of time. But I pointed out my caveat a couple of times before I realised that it conflicted with my other sentence so I corrected that. But hey ho believe what you want. Out of interest though, what do you think my motive would be if I did want to make women only ever consult women HCP?

Really don’t mind apart from gynae/ intimate stuff.

Yes I'm happy with male doctors nurses etc. I believe they get the same training either way.

I think there's some confusion of sex and gender here. A gender neutral world would be brilliant. A sex neutral world isn't possible given the dynamics of reality, and possibly isn't even desirable either - maybe thousands of years from now, who knows.