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👍

I’ve had overall better experiences with male gynaecologists than female (though bad experiences with both too). I guess the men had more genuine intellectual interest about the female body and were less dismissive than the female doctors who were more likely to project their own experiences on to mine. It’s also, as others have said, a challenging specialism which can combine with surgery, and it’s also “happier” than other specialisms in that you’re not always dealing with sick people, often you are dealing with happy pregnancies. And much money to be made in private practice too, so lots of reasons.

It was an older male doctor who finally diagnosed and treated my endometriosis, which had been dismissed by various doctors for a decade. He was a true expert which is what matters most, though for a routine smear test I would feel more comfortable with a woman.

WTAF? What a ridiculous question to ask @CustardC ...Why should men NOT go into gynaecology ???!

Also, I can't get my head around some of the comments on here. Basically saying men who go into gynaecology, do it because they're perverts who want to look at vulvas, and up vaginas all day, so they can get a cheap thrill.

What a hideous, grim, goady, and thoroughly unpleasant thread. And some of the comments on it, say WAY more about those posters, than the hardworking and intelligent MEN who go into gynaecology.

Balance of medical and surgical which many specialties don't have, it's an interesting field with varied work, it's run-through training so only have to apply to speciality training once rather than twice like some other specialties. Because someone has to, and it would be peculiarly regressive to nudge more women toward gynae (away from other specialties they might prefer) because you think it's weird that men do it.

Do you think women working in andrology are weird, too? Because frankly if you think someone does a decade of training and works the absolutely ridiculous hours of ob/gyn just to look at someone's genitals I think you might need professional help.

One of my best friends is an ob-gyn and she says she went into because you get surgical and medical together, obstetrics is the only speciality where patients are there for good reasons, and you also have the potential to make a lot of money in private practice. Obviously she’s female but it’s not difficult to imagine a chap might have the same motivations.

I don't know why anyone male or female would choose it! 🤣 In my experience female doctors have been so dismissive of my gynae issues, until I gave up with them, went to a male doctor and had to have surgery! And a male doctor giving me a sweep in pregnancy was MUCH more gentle than the female one!!! Never thought about those things until now actually...

Under normal circumstances, such as a smear, I always ask for a female. When I had bleeding during pregnancy the only gynae was male at the EPU and I really didn't care as long as I was seen.

My sister is a GP. She sees everyone from tiny babies to 90 year olds, men and women. She has touched them all - to check pulses, take blood pressure, listen to rattly chests, look in noses and ears and down throats, to do gynae checks and prostate exams, to look at rashes on penises, and infected ulcers, and check suspicious moles. She does not find it titillating I assure you. For every hot young 20-something who is stripping off his shirt to have a mole check, there are a dozen overweight middle aged hairy men or a chap old enough to be her grandfather who she has to do a prostate check on. She's described it as her hands have to go in a lot of unpleasant, moist places.

By the time a doctor qualifies and specialises, the vast majority of the time they will have seen and touched enough bodies to get over any frisson of excitement from interacting with a stranger's genitals in a clinical setting.

Quite!

I'm howling at some of the replies "Do vet's like sheep fanny?" - I ducking* *hope not!

"Should women not be plumbers? Builders?" This has nothing to do with stereotypical job roles and is a genuine curiosity, because the biological males in this profession dont have vaginas, overies, or any gynaecological issues and never will, so I'm wondering what made them choose that very specific topic.

if some people can't grasp that then maybe they should take a look internally 🤔

Because it is a challenging & interesting surgical discipline, just like any other. Some of these anti-male comments are awful. As a female, I have been treated by male gynaecologists and they were great - they are just people!

It can also be because of the quality of teaching in that particular field. A good teacher can generate enthusiasm and interest in a topic that you may not otherwise have thought of. It might be an area that people like to specialise in because of its variety and generally more positive outcomes, and also, no matter what area of medicine you go into you’re likely to see arses and fanjos and tits. It’s all just meat and bones at the end of the day.

Tbh if a male gynaecologist is professional, good at his job, caring and helpful at work then I honestly don't care if he masturbates to it in private, it doesn't affect me and how would I even find out? As long as he's a good doctor / surgeon at work why would I care.

I’ve had very skilled male gynaecologists examining me by hysteroscopy. No anaesthetic. I found them gentle and considerate. Perhaps more inclined to suggest hysterectomy than female gynaecologists!

Of course you had considered female andrologists, just hadn't thought to start a thread about it. Silly us.

I guess I’m sexually depraved then as I spend my days changing catheters in mostly elderly patients penises 🙄

@WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat I don't have a penis, neither do my sisters, so weirdly enough we weren't discussing our recent trips to see an andrologists 🤯

PPs have made good points about the overall proportion of male vs female doctors, the surgical/medical split and the ability for private practice. I wonder what proportion of working hours are unsocial hours - is it more likely to be daytime clinics with a bit of on-call? How does it compare to, say, emergency medicine in terms of work/life balance? Some specialisms only really exist within an NHS context (eg. emergency), whereas others have good prospects for private practice, so there are more options there.

It's the same in obstetrics, so many male consultants in the maternity hospital, a few male midwives too . I requested female only last year, which did get a few looks but I was told that in would be respected . Obviously in an emergency I would have accepted a male .

I've got to say, I work with a lot of male OBGYNs, and they are for the most part extremely dedicated to and passionate about improving women's health.

I also work with several female andrologists, who are just as dedicated to their field.

My DD was interested in Medicine and a GP we know recommended dermatology because you won't be called out at 3am for an emergency and there were issues with her intended field for a woman of childbearing age.
Men may be more open-minded because they don't have any personal experience to cloud their judgement about whether periods are heavy or light, or how mothers should expect pregnancy to change their bodies.

Is that you OP

Were some of them done by a male practice nurse, rather than a male nurse who chose to make a career out of gynaecology?So it's just a small part of the job, amongst many other clinics they run? I think I'd be more pee'd off if male doctors showed no interest in gynaecology and dismissed it as "women's issues".

And if a female one has mentioned her wife...?

I can think of loads of reasons men would choose Obs and Gy - broad range of patients, generally happy and well patients (what other branch of medicine are you dealing with well people?!), mix of medicine and surgery, interesting clinically.

You could suggest women wanting to get into the field are all pervs wanting to get off on lady bits. Personally I can't understand anyone wanting to be a midwife knowing you'll have your fingers up vag's all day but there you go.

I am very uncomfortable with a male. I always try to request female. It's such a vulnerable position