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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why men work in gynecology?

759 replies

CustardC · 18/10/2022 11:04

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👍

OP posts:
bananapyjamas · 18/10/2022 12:03

Regretsandregrets · 18/10/2022 12:00

Most breast surgeons are male. Most colo rectal surgeons are male. Actually, more male doctors choose surgical specialities than females whether it is eye or ENT surgery or Orthopedics ( bones and joints).
So what do you think about male colo rectal surgeons putting fingers up your backside??

Most surgeons are male. Most doctors are male. So of course that is going to be represented in all areas of medicine.

inappropriateraspberry · 18/10/2022 12:04

mavismorpoth · 18/10/2022 11:22

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.

That is irrelevant to them being a man, that's someone who was bad at their job. It could have happened with a woman as well.

luxxlisbon · 18/10/2022 12:04

A woman gynae will know what we mean by ovulation pain, shooting vagina pains, intense cramps etc. .

This just isn’t true though, the female experience is far from universal. Just because you experienced those things doesn’t make it a check list for being a woman.
I have never experienced ovulation pain, severe cramps or shooting vagina pains. I wouldn’t be any more or less informed than a male colleague of I was a woman gynae.

EarlGreywithLemon · 18/10/2022 12:04

I’ve been treated by several male obstetricians during my pregnancies, and they were lovely. I found them kinder and less judgmental than some of the women obstetricians. I was also looked after a very lovely and compassionate male midwife at a tricky time after my daughter’s birth, and I was so so grateful for his care.

shrunkenhead · 18/10/2022 12:04

Because not all men are perverts and genuinely want to help/ specialise in something. How do you think male doctors manage?! They honestly don't see the bodies they are treating in a "sexual" sense but as their job to examine and treat.
Do none of you have any male doctor friends?! Comments like this are just silly and sets feminism back 60 years.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 18/10/2022 12:04

Then I read Adam Kay and now I insist on a woman. If only one of the male doctors I've seen in the past think like he does about women and their bodies, then I'm out

^ This. It's not just about being afraid of potential sexual assault, it's the thought that the male gynae treating you may well consider you as one of the 'twats and brats' patients.

Toddlerteaplease · 18/10/2022 12:04

Maybe because they found that field of medicine interesting? I think as long as they know their stuff it doesn't matter and it's very unfair to question their motives for going into that branch of medicine.

Aussiegirl123456 · 18/10/2022 12:05

luxxlisbon · 18/10/2022 12:02

@Aussiegirl123456 that anecdote says just as much about your parents as it does the man, and it says nothing about other gyn consultants.

Right. And did I say otherwise?

gonutkin · 18/10/2022 12:05

I have wondered this too, although I don't think it's sinister I've been curious.

I had an experience with a male doctor when I was in labour and that was strange enough 😂 he was checking how many cms I was dilated and his fingers were so far up my vagina I almost choked on them. My partner didn't know where to look! I felt really uncomfortable but I mean he's a doctor and has a job to do so me being uncomfortable wasn't at the top of my priority list.

Totally get your point tho, I ask for a female when having a smear too

Aussiegirl123456 · 18/10/2022 12:05

inappropriateraspberry · 18/10/2022 12:04

That is irrelevant to them being a man, that's someone who was bad at their job. It could have happened with a woman as well.

Show quote history

It’s not irrelevant, because it WAS a male! FGS

Toddlerteaplease · 18/10/2022 12:06

I'm a paediatric nurse. I don't have children.

Meili04 · 18/10/2022 12:06

I'm very happy with my treatment today done by a male he was much more gentle than other females have been looking at my bits.

SirChenjins · 18/10/2022 12:06

I know where you're coming from OP, but providing there are chaperones and the option of a (biological as opposed to any other form) female gynaecologist for women who want/need them then that's the most important thing.

Wombat100 · 18/10/2022 12:07

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What a bizarre thing to say.

Rockingcloggs · 18/10/2022 12:07

The best gynaecologists I've had (and there have been many) were male. In fact, based on my experiences I'd prefer to have a male.

Iv never walked into a room, seen the consultant/medical person was male and asked if I could have a female one instead because I just want someone to treat me and I don't care if they have a cock or not.

SleeplessInEngland · 18/10/2022 12:07

Good to see the posters against male gynecologists are in the stark (and at times raving) minority.

inappropriateraspberry · 18/10/2022 12:07

CustardC · 18/10/2022 11:40

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 🤔

Most GPs won't have first hand experience of the illnesses they treat, or issues patients have. Does that mean you can only work in a field that you have direct experience in? We'd have no surgeons, anaesthetists etc.

GlassesWearer · 18/10/2022 12:08

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Waitingfordecember · 18/10/2022 12:09

My female friend is an andrology specialist nurse. She chose it because she finds it interesting, not because she’s a pervert who gets off on seeing her patients penis’ (as far as I know). I’m guessing it’s the same for many men?

containsnuts · 18/10/2022 12:09

Kendodd · 18/10/2022 11:27

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

This. It might just be about where the training and job opportunities were most suitable at the time. I don't think all nurses and doctors are necessarily passionate about the area in which they specialise.

SirChenjins · 18/10/2022 12:09

And good to see that the Adam Kay form of male gynaecologist are in the stark (and at times raving) minority.

Or are they?

Cece92 · 18/10/2022 12:10

I don't really see an issue with it. My midwife whilst pregnant was male and the only male midwife in Scotland at the time. The person who delivered my daughter was also male and stitched me up. My GP was male and he used to be a gynaecologist. He was the best doctor I have ever came across. He was amazing and I had no issues at my 6 week check up when he swabbed me. The care I got from him was out of this world. Never crossed my mind once they were all male xx

SleeplessInEngland · 18/10/2022 12:10

SirChenjins · 18/10/2022 12:09

And good to see that the Adam Kay form of male gynaecologist are in the stark (and at times raving) minority.

Or are they?

Going by the many testimonials on here, yes. Maybe that's disappointing to some, but hey-ho.

MichaelAndEagle · 18/10/2022 12:11

People who think this are the same people who wonder why a man would work in a nursery, primary school or be a scout leader.
In other words people with very low opinion of men in general.

Thegreenballoon · 18/10/2022 12:11

You could ask similar about male midwives - and yet the best help I had with breastfeeding was not from women, who’d got breasts and had babies and had personally had cracked nipples/pain etc, it was from a male midwife. Sometimes actually not having had the same experience/anatomy seems to be beneficial- he was far more focused on my experience and using his extensive theoretical knowledge rather than telling me anecdotes and trying to extrapolate from his own experience, which was what most female midwives tried to do.

I’m sure for others it’s different, and I think it’s entirely right that women should be able to request a female doctor or midwife, but honestly some of us are perfectly happy with a doctor or other health worker of any sex or gender. I’ve had male gynaecologists and obstetricians - they were perfectly good doctors, careful to be appropriately chaperoned where necessary and did the job.