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👍

Most gynecologists do obvs and gynae. Delivering babies is rather rewarding for either sex. It’s only as they get further into their careers they start to think getting called at hours of the day is not great for work life balance and the end up doing more gynae stuff, more office hours.

"I WoUlD QuEsTiOn ThEiR mOtIvEs"
🤣🤣🤣

WHY?! How?!

You think that a male faced with a vagina must find it attractive? 🤣
Are vaginas that desirable that a male couldn't possibly even see one without having unpleasant ulterior motives?
Is that the same for male nurses having to wipe OAP's bums?
Do all female nurses and HCA's motives need to be questioned when they work on a urology ward? Or when they see male genitalia?

In my experience, when I have had male doctors/midwives/midwives, they have been so ridiculously gentle with me and very, very kind. The female midwives and doctors I had that had to examine me were brutal and made me bleed and nearly cry with pain.

I hOpE tHe MaLe DoCtOrS WeReN't TryInG tO SeDuCe mE!!

At no point did I say I didn’t notice who was in the room… everyone is entitled to an option and mine personally is I want the best care for both me and my baby whether that’s provided by a male or female.

is this seriously a question? I’ve had amazing make and females gynaecologists, it’s never even crossed my mind.

this is stereotyping.

next are going to check if a female gynaecologist is a lesbian just incase you wonder why she’s doing the job too? 🙄🙄

OK, sorry 27 pages - I'm not reading them but I have insight that is relevant (apologies if it's been covered though!).

When people start out in medicine it's general medicine. Everyone starts at the same spot, when a person starts to specialise it's usually down to a combination of factors - they happened to be really good at that part. They got a placement in a hospital and in that field they had a great mentor, and inspirational doctors working with them. I've known people go into medicine with a view that they want to be a surgeon - they've done a placement on the maternity ward and just loved it, maybe it's the atmosphere, maybe they had some great colleagues, maybe they found it easier to figure out, maybe they had some successes. Maybe a tutor at Uni said they thought it was a good idea, maybe the placement was in a location they wanted.

But by and large how a Consultant Doctor ends up where they are - is due to a combination of factors that doesn't always have anything to do with what they thought they wanted to do when they started. But it clicked together for them, so that was the area they settled on and then professional success came.

Men much more gentle for smears in my opinion. However my latest GP is unable to do them and the female GP nearly snapped the speculum.

Most of gyny is the reproductive system as a whole, womb, ovaries etc. The vagina is actually a relatively small part so can't imagine there is enough there to attract weirdos 😜 Plus, if you like vaginas, chances are seeing mostly 'problem' ones can't be very appealing! My gyno is male, he's been fantastic with my endometriosis. Nothing sexy about that 😂

@1HappyTraveller Actually I speak from experience as does the nurse above. It’s your ignorance that’s astounding and incredibly naive. How can you know all doctors motivation for what they do? Grow up.

@Lovelydogs24 But by and large how a Consultant Doctor ends up where they are - is due to a combination of factors that doesn't always have anything to do with what they thought they wanted to do when they started. But it clicked together for them, so that was the area they settled on and then professional success came.

We don’t want your logic here!!!
Its because they are perverts, okay?

Wow, the people who don’t care/ haven’t had bad experiences with male doctors/ don’t understand the relative risks are really snotty and condescending about it.

Newsflash: You’re not a better person because you don’t care who’s touching your fanny.

for me personally, Adam Kay alone is enough to put me off male gynae. How many others, even ones who aren’t actually predators like so many described in on this thread, are disgusting freakish misogynists like him?

Until we have mind-reading devices it's a bit of a pointless question, because we'll never know.

But as far as this thread goes I'm sure the vast majority of posters who don't care about the gender of their gynos still understand that some would prefer to be treated by a woman.

Putting it simply, Why shouldn't they work in gynea? When I had a retained placenta, it was a male consultant who performed a manual removal. He'd initially popped in to check prior to getting me moved to theatre to have it surgically removed (been waiting 2 hours in absolute agony for an anaesthetist to be available)
I didn't give a fig about his gender, I just needed someone who knew what they were doing.
My m-i-l is a retired doctor. When she began her career in the 60's she faced similar issues - people asked for a different doctor because of her gender. They saw a "woman" and refused to acknowledge that she had the same training as any male doctor. She retired as an oncology doctor. She had to face patients with testicular and prostate cancer, who still demanded a different doctor because of her gender. Can we still not see past gender to the knowledge and skill set of a trained professional?

Have you read the thread, because that’s really not what’s coming through. Though probably you are right that the majority are reasonable, and the obnoxious ones are just more noticeable.

😂😂lol.

Oh yep. That. All raving perverts in gynae.

I went to school with a bloke who's now a gynae. He's minted 👌

*Wow, the people who don’t care/ haven’t had bad experiences with male doctors/ don’t understand the relative risks are really snotty and condescending about it.

Newsflash: You’re not a better person because you don’t care who’s touching your fanny.*

I don't think that's what the vast majority of posters are saying. Pretty much without exception, everyone has supported the right for women to be treated by a female gynae. Every woman should have that choice.

Those of us that have shared positive experiences of male gynaes were responding to the original question about understanding why men go into gynaecology. Because they feel they can make a difference and treat their female patients with compassion and stories have been shared to back that up.

In answer to your particular point, I do care who's touching my fanny. As I mentioned earlier, I've found gynae exams very traumatic after a female nurse made an internal tear after being too rough with the speculum (apparently mine is very small anatomically...). My number one priority is that it's as painless as possible, and completely anecdotally, that's been the case for the three male gynaes I've seen. Completely different experience altogether.

I'm appalled by people who've been mistreated by male gynaecologists (and female). It's unacceptable and of course I can understand why they want to be treated by female doctors only. Sharing my willingness to be seen by a male gynae doesn't negate theirs.

Case in point re obnoxiousness.

A lot of women on this thread have described experiences with perverts in this profession; why do you think “lol 😂 😂” is an appropriate response?

There are many others on the thread just as bad as this person, I’m picking them as an example because they’re the most recent.

For me, it's not a clear gender-specific issue, as I've also had awful experiences with a female gynae consultant and midwives.
I don't deny that Adam Kay though comes across as a terribly misogynistic person and if he was allocated as my gynae, I'd have to request another based on his well publicised views. But should we really let one male be the standard that we hold all others too?

All of those comments are funny? Really? Many of the comments on this thread are from women who have been sexually abused by men who find having a man penetrating their vagina retraumatising. What in god’s name are you finding to laugh at?

Because I was laughing at the poster who made a funny joke about me presenting a logical reason about why men go into gynae.

I was replying to one person who made a joke about what I'd specifically written.

Do remember that the thread began with- why do males go into gynae? And my first post said - I haven't read the whole thread but I have insight and explained how people generally end up specialising where they do.

Several women here have explained that they request a female doctor due to past trauma, including having been sexually assaulted by male doctors. It’s great that you don’t give a give a fig about the sex of a given doctor, genuinely, but many women do for cultural and religious reasons and due to previous traumatic events. I’m not saying that men shouldn’t work in the field, but that those requests should be understood and honoured.

My post clearly isn’t about people who have experienced trauma so don’t put words in my mouth. Apologies I have not had chance to read the 1000’s of comments on this thread so by the word ‘‘all’’ I meant the comments I had read about presuming men in this field are in it for the wrong reasons and to me that is ‘laughable’.

Well, why not? Women doctors treat male patients for sexual health issues as well. Surely it’s a good thing.

My mum told me to book my first smear with a man. Because he’s more gentle!

based on specific experiences at our doctors surgery

there was another lady present to chaperone.

I was 21 & open minded.

I don’t get why it’s an issue?

if you’re suggesting sexy motivations I think you’ve clearly missed the point about professionalism !!

& so many people are so openly gay/bi is that even a realistic concern? I also refer again to professionalism!

remember they’re looking after your health no giving you a sexual experience. I’d like to think there’s nice things to turn you on than a different terrified dry fanny every 10 minutes 😂

Totally agree with this and plus it's not just about vaginas!