To wonder why men work in gynecology?

[CustardC]

Genuine question, my sisters and I were discussing our most recent smear tests and sister 1 commented on how her nurse was male. I've always asked for a female when I book a smear or any type of gyne issues and it's always been respected, but it got me thinking...if there are any men here who work in that field, why?

I'm fully prepared for the backlash that ill probably get but honest question👍

Honestly this is exactly the kind of response I’d expect from a GP in the NHS. Rude, aggressive, world-weary and with the attitude, “if you don’t like it you can lump it”.

The OP was asking a genuine question. I’ve often wondered the same thing. Honestly this is the second thread in a 24 hour period where some healthcare worker thinks they have the right of moral authority over everyone else.

Why do people specialise in paediatrics if they don’t have children?

A few years ago I remember one Mum on the childrens ward I worked on telling us that she only wanted nurses who had children, looking after her child 🙄. Unfortunately for her, none of us did…

Why does anyone choose any profession?

what a question

just asking the question casts aspersions, which I think shows a depressing mindset

The OP suggested no such thing

I had a total hysterectomy due to severe endometriosis. I had a female surgeon a few years ago, who misdiagnosed me and was generally not great, and my hysterectomy with a brilliant male surgeon, a specialist in his field who was not only exceedingly professional but also reassuring and had a very good bedside manner. I very much doubt that he had any interest in my private parts other than professionally. When it came to having such a major op, the sex of the surgeon was the last thing on my mind.

@Emotionalsupportviper I meant this for you! I struggle with this app!

When my vulvodynia was particularly bad (which is an understatement for fucking horrendous) I was passed from pillar to post fobbed off along the way. The last doctor I saw (just a meeting not examination), was a bloke in gynecology, and could not have been more rude. Barely looked at me and actually shrugged his shoulders. So bad when I left I had a panic attack and a nurse had to take me to a side room.

So I saw a private consultant, also a bloke. Yes I was paying him but he came highly recommended and was the first person who actually looked like he gave a shit and wanted to help me. I had my husband with me (couldn't drive at the time) and always a female nurse for examinations. I never felt uncomfortable. Mind you I was in that much pain with it I'd have taken whatever help I could get! But he was fab.

The fertility consultant who also diagnosed and sorted out my endometriosis was a man. DD conceived a few months later. He was also fab.

I'm glad those men were there to help me. Not the first one, he was shit. However, I am firmly in the camp of patient choice and that you should always be able to request a female practitioner, and no justification or questions asked.

So were they better doctors because they were better doctors or better doctors because they were better men?

More recently I remember the lovely male obs. who came to visit dd after delivering her baby - it was a very difficult birth and the midwives had kept her in the midwife unit for far too long, when she could have just been taken downstairs to obstetrics and had help a lot sooner - saving her hours of pain and subsequent damage.

They knew it was going to be difficult - back to back - but didn’t tell dd.
Give me a male obs. any day, rather than evangelically- minded midwives who are determined to keep doctors out of it. 🤬

I have a friend who's an anaesthetist and she went into it because it was an interesting mix of physics/chemistry and medicine. I had a gynaecologist who said she was astounded that pregnancy actually worked sometimes because it's so complicated.
So a mixture of those I'd imagine: it includes the parts of medicine they are interested in.
I can also see the motivation to help bring new life into the world and on the more geeky (or money-spinning) side to be able to do both medicine and surgery.
And there are bound to be a few who want to do a load of TUBEs. Those ones would also pick e.g. GP, oncology etc.

I've never thought about it to be honest. Personally, if I had a male Dr for a smear or anything to do with that area I wouldn't be fussed at all. But I also understand why some women prefer female drs.

Smear tests aren't done by nurses who only specialise in gynaecology. Can be the same nurse who takes your blood or urine sample.

As for nurses and doctors who do specialise in gynaecology, i expect part of it is because it's something they're good at and is a good fit for them. There are all sorts of reasons why healthcare professionals choose any area - they just happen to be good with that topic, they thrive under that area's routine, hours, get on with the staff... Same as if they'd chosen working with the elderly or cardiology.

You have access to nudity, vulnerable people, etc. in most areas of healthcare. Working in gynaecology doesn't make a great deal of difference, i don't think, if someone was out to abuse people. That's why all doctors need to go through DBS checks and so on.

Finally, most healthcare professionals become desensitised - by which I mean they don't feel embarrassed or even very aware of nudity and bodily functions, etc. Whilst you're sensitive to how the patient is feeling, it's just another Tuesday - whether you're looking at a fungal toenail or a rectum!

My friend asked that question of her male gynaecologist who said this - ' you ladies have to go through so much and I like to help'.
Also I had a male gynaecologist myself who was fantastic.

I imagine there are some that do it for not nice reasons. But I would also imagine that during their medical training they found a fascination for the medicine or that they were particularly good at it or preferred it to other things.
I had a male doctor during my pregnancy, he was one of the most respectful doctors I had and didn't once call me darling/sweetheart/lovey/my love like the women did, or try to pressure me, I'm not a person comfortable with intimacy so I much preferred him maintaining professional boundaries.

Pathetic.

Men have been working in gynae (and obstetrics) for hundreds of years. It's a fascinating area of medicine.

The worst obs and gynae consultants I've met have been women. To the point where I think I'd actively ask for a man now!

My friend is a specialist urology nurse, and spends her days confronted with men's parts. Nothing deviant there but she loves her job.

My first gynaecologist in Germany was male, there was always a nurse in the room during examinations.
Then went to a female gyn, who was lovely. My sister still uses this gyn who saw her through two pregnancies.

Had to have an examination last year followed by a hysteroscopy. Two male gyns. The first one was not very nice and didn't come across as very competent. The one who did the actual hysteroscopy was lovely, both before and after the surgery. He explained everything he would do and went over what he had seen after. Compassionate and kind.

That's interesting. This thread made me think what would be a good speciality and I decided on dermatology because of the 3 am emergency issue. There seems to be a real shortage of dermatologists, when I had a suspected skin cancer I waited ages for an appointment and when I got one it was at an ungodly hour on a Saturday when a doctor from another area was doing a long shift to try and clear some of the backlog. I bet he got paid well for the day.

Also I reckon there is money to be made in dermatology from private work. I say that as a mother who has had to pay privately for help for an acne covered child who wasn't getting help with the NHS, well it's not life threatening is it. Unless of course your child is very depressed because of the acne but that is a whole different thread.

So yes if I come back to another life I will certainly consider dermatology.

It's a kind of ultimate mansplaining at best and actually abusive at worst. I've known women who have experienced both. I don't care why they go into Tbh. They know some women will not want them there and for either practical reasons or shame reasons won't be able to argue it. It's abusive. Fuck em.

Do we also think a female urologists have made an odd career choice that needs justification! And should breast surgeons all be female too!

Because it's interesting? You know doctors have to learn stuff about bodies and understand the biology and how treatments work etc, it's not just poking about in vagines all day?

Like when my nama asked why nurses were male I answered this. We are in a society now where it should be equal that all sexes can be many roles. Like asking why are so many women doctors or why is there a male medical secretary. It's sexist as hell.

Medical care is not sexual as I told my nana. She wanted to know why handsome young men were cleaning up old ladies and changing their pads.

Roles are not just automatically directed towards one's gender. I thought as forward thinking women we should be encouraging this for both genders. I believe their should me midwives as men and rename it to something gender free. I work for a hospital and we see all genders doing all roles.

I for one applaud it.

I have endometriosis and recurrent miscarriages, I've had 1 female consultant and 2 male and the males have been the best in terms of really listening to me, offering the best care and treatments.

I've had so many internals I have lost count and most of them have been male, it doesn't bother me one bit, they are just professionals doing their job.

One of my sons is very interested in women's gynae care, particularly coupled with HIV/AIDs (he's doing biomed). I asked him when he went to a gynae placement - because we talk about everything! And he said it was for 2 reasons (1) he finds it really interesting because it is not "just medicine" it's creating life and (2) he thinks he has the right skills to look after people in vulnerable situations and has a great understanding of the HIV/AIDs side.