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👍

A woman I once worked with, who lived in a very naice area with consultant neighbours told me that men go into gynaecology as there’s a lot to be made from private work.

not sure if that’s true or not.

I don't think that's a fair comment at all.
I personally have no problem with men working in that field. As a female you always get an option to not have a male treat you. It's there in black and white. You don't have to let anyone treat you if you don't want to.

No one is forcing anyone to be seen by a male. You have options.

It was a male who noticed my DS in fetal distress in labour and I'll forever be thankful to him for what he done.

You can't tarnish people with the same brush.

Because they're filthy perverts.

I mean, that's what you want to hear, right OP? 🙄

Isn't at least part of it that they got a space to train in that specialism? From young doctors I know they don't always get first choice.

I had a smear once, a male doctor, I said it was hurting he said 'it's supposed to' and I stang down there for a week after. I never let a man do it again.

Exactly this. Spot on. Goady thread.

Would you prefer it if no men specialised in women's health because it's about 'women's issues' therefore not worth their notice?

There are enough men who don't take any notice of female health- I don't want to scare off those who do- I'd rather they were there advocating for women in what is still a patriarchal society that listens to men more than women. Until that changes I'm glad to have men AND women on our side.

I feel sorry for you that you automatically assume the worst. I had lots of male gynecologists' during my three pregnancies/births. All were excellent, the worst experiences I have had were from women.
I begged a monstrous male dr to do a sweep on me on my first as overdue and going mad, he was reluctant as said all it would do would hurt me, make me bleed and was going to be very unpleasant. Certainly not getting his rocks off and more concerned about my welfare.

The underlying hint seems to be they do it so they can look at/stick their hands up fannies all day.
I suspect there's no argument that will persuade people that think like that otherwise.
So, just exercise your right to choose a female practitioner.

It's an odd one, isn't it. It feels a bit like something you can't say out loud because it's 2022 and anyone can be anything they want, all this woke'ism' but I felt similarly. My consultant during my first pregnancy was a man, I felt uncomfortable until he mentioned his husband (probably shouldn't say that either, but it's true it did settle me a bit). But to be honest I just found at times he didn't get it. I have a woman this pregnancy and it's much nicer imo.

I knew a male gynaecologist in America, I asked him why gynaecology, he said there was more money in it than most other fields.

Definitely.

a lot of people jumping down my throat here... shocking.

Its a genuine question coming out of pure curiosity. I wonder the same about female andrologists.

Calm down, folks. It's not an attack on men 🙄

Id only be comfortable with a woman myself.

Probably because it's a good career and pays well.
Are vets interested in sheep fanny? 🙄

But that’s for the same reason, most nurses are female. And nurses don’t only do smear tests (or certainly not at my GP surgery) so the male nurse in question almost certainly didn’t opt to specialise in smear tests.

I've also wondered about this.

By creating this thread you are saying that men should have mens jobs and women should have women's jobs.
Do you question female decorators or plumbers or male nanny's or nurses or female football referees?

Personally, I’ve no idea why anyone, of either sex, would want to dedicate their career to inserting their hands and gazing into the orifices of anyone of either sex, even if it’s people of the same sex to themselves. As I sit here at my comfortable desk in my nice warm office manipulating spreadsheets, it remains a complete mystery to me. But I assume people of either sex who do choose to do it have an interest in the interesting intricacies of the area of medicine or surgery itself, rather than a base interest in dealing with the genitalia of people of the same or opposite sex.

Agreed. It comes with joy as well as sadness and covers surgery as well as consultant care.

My male OB was fantastic. We built up a strong rapport through my visits and when the shit hit the fan for different reasons in both labours I had complete trust in him.

It's considered a "prestigious" specialty and it is highly competitive to secure a place.

Like many have said, it involves surgery and medicine. There is also good potential for private work.

No doubt there are some, but I really don't think all find performing hysterectomies or endo ablations on post-meno women a massive turn on.

I once asked a male gynaecologist this very question. This was back in the early 90’s. And not in the U.K.

His reply was that generally he wasn’t working with sick people. Mostly he was helping people to have babies. Also he preferred dealing with female patients.
So a more positive experience than working in an accident & emergency dept for example.

Is it a genuine question though?
Why do people specialise in paediatrics if they don’t have children?
Or cancer if they haven’t had it?
Or become midwives if they haven’t given birth themselves?

Surely you realise how ridiculous your question is? I fail to see how you are posting in good faith at all.

You could say the same of doctors who specialise in bowel and rectum issues. But what if no one did it?