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 studied medicine myself and most of us (the people I studied with and talked to) get into it for personal reasons.

Among the reasons people I knew got into their specialist areas was things like losing a parent to cervical cancer or having diabetes themselves or knowing they're a genetic carrier that could pass it on to their children etc... and wanting to 'fix' things for themselves and others.

I dont think I know anyone that became a 'bum' doctor though lol.

Long time reader but the OP is so absurd, I have finally signed up just to reply.
As a female GP, I am absolutely horrified that the OP could possibly think that we as a profession would get sexual gratification out of ANY body part that we are dealing with.
Of course there are always going to be isolated and shocking cases of unprofessional behaviour. But to suggest that male doctors would choose gynaecology for thrills is so disappointing. We are professionals and trust between us and our patients underpins absolutely everything that we do.
I would really like to know if the OP has any basis for the question, or whether they just fancied a pop.
We have a workforce crisis throughout the NHS. Want to put off make doctors? You can wait even longer for your outpatient appointment, operation or free birth your child without.

So only people who have the correspondingly same organs, should work in the same field?

Who here even said this? Wondering why someone chooses it isn’t the same as saying they shouldn’t.

@UncomfortableSofa well my 1st two female specialist dismissed my terrible period pains ect as me not able to cope aswell as am a naturally tired person. It took a male doctor to diagnose me with severe endometriosis and now adenomyosis. I actually made a complaint about the second female doctor as she was such a bitch. Not one caring bone in her body dunno how she is still in her profession. my male doctor has been nothing but kind and reassuring to me. Plus listens to me. To me its nothing to do with gender, you can be shite at your job regardless of your gender

They probably find it interesting. And it must be wonderful to deliver a baby!

One of the doctors who induced me was amazing, it didn't hurt at all. And the doctor who delivered my DS was the most competent doctor I have ever met.

I've always had a female nurse for my smears but I don't think I would might a man (I think all my modesty was removed having my DS!).

I'm a nurse and went to see a gyn about a small prolapse. he was about 7 foot tall and had the most enormous hands Ive ever seen. I'm very small.
It was not the finest experience of my life even with lots of lube.

I had a male doctor deliver DS and frankly I’d have accepted a MArtian or a Klingon if it meant a healthy baby

Hmm. I do get this question and I also prefer a female doc, although I did see a male OB when I had post partum issues.
My BIL is an OB-GYN, although mostly delivers babies. He is gay and has no interest in babies, and always says its his job to get them out but after that he had no idea or interest in the baby. For him I think, although I haven't asked him, he likes the adrenaline of a high risk procedure. He's extremely smart and a very good doctor and enjoys his job very much.

Years ago my friend dated a male gyn. We used to spend a lot of time together in groups going out on weekends socialising. One day whilst having some drinks we asked him the same question and he gave the same response due to the surgery and medicine components. He was very mature, passionate and professional answering questions about his line of work although a lot of our questions to him probably were not so mature.

Absolutely not an issue for me. The only rough treatment I ever had from any gynae/obstetrician was from a woman. Both my babies (difficult births) were delivered by male obs. and not only could I not have cared less who got them out safely, I was extremely grateful to them.

I was under the care of a male consultant when I had abnormal cells and needed LLETZ treatment. He was fantastic, felt really at ease and always had a female nurse in attendance during treatment. I have wondered this too though, but then wonder about what makes any consultant choose any particular field of medicine. Then I got to thinking, maybe it's to do with where and when they studied, there are probably grants and opportunities available to all different routes in the medical field and if you asked a male consultant how he ended up in this field I can imagine it being a combination of being generally interested in a certain field during study combined with a good vocational opportunity opening up during the course of their career that sent them down a particular path.

@Longdayathomeorwork Of course there are always going to be isolated and shocking cases of unprofessional behaviour. But to suggest that male doctors would choose gynaecology for thrills is so disappointing.

Well it happens doesn’t it. They’re not that isolated either so stop shaming women for discussing it. The idea we should not discuss it at all or even dare to not want a male doctor because of an NHS crisis is silly. If you’re so professional you should be more invested in making sure patients are always comfortable and not suggesting they should shut up when they’re not. Some women don’t want male doctors. That’s our right.

This isn't the first time that this question has been asked on here, but I remember on a previous thread that someone said if a male doctor was something of a hypochondriac, gynae was a good specialism because he would never be at risk of the problems he was treating, which made sense to me.

FWIW I've been seen by male and female gynaes and the nicest and most gentle was the male gynae I saw first, who was extremely gentle and dealt sensitively with the issues I was having. His (male) replacement when he retired was insensitive and rough.

Definitely the case where I live. All middle class women go private (not uk so you're still in public hospital) and all but 1 of the local OB's were men. I had no issue with them, but I do prefer women for smears etc

I mentioned to my absolutely lovely female gynae that I was glad more women worked in the field now and she said that her male colleagues went into it as it was a field where they would not see things that they would suffer from.

I thought that was interesting, although I will now only ever see female doctors for anything intimate as I've had a few weird/creepy experiences with male ones and fortunately can make that choice.

Having said that my first baby was delivered by a male obstetrician and he was great - very kind, clearly loved his job and was good at it.

Something that has always stuck with me is someone saying (on MN actually) that the majority of men will go into the field for the right reasons, and a small percentage will do it because they really, really hate women. And we know some men hate women. We know that.

A recent case in Queensland of an ob-gyn who was struck off for causing huge injuries to his patients springs to mind (I wouldn't advise googling it, it ruined my day).

So I don't take that risk. And I imagine that in future the field will become female dominated, and hopefully more diverse, that will lead to better outcomes for all women. And I'm happy about that.

I'm a nurse and went to see a gyn about a small prolapse. he was about 7 foot tall and had the most enormous hands Ive ever seen. I'm very small.
It was not the finest experience of my life even with lots of lube.

Another good point. Men have bigger hands. This is a biological difference I guess we aren’t allowed to mention anymore.

I actually think I've talked myself out of male gynaecologists, too! Now that we have good numbers of female med students- I'm not sure that we should have male gynaes/sexual health docs. I don't know how practical that is? In my 30s, early 40s I would have scoffed at what I'm now saying- but now that I'm a gnarly 50 year old, I see more clearly. I'm perfectly prepared to accept that men may also prefer male docs when it concerns their willy! but men do not have the same physical vulnerabilities that women have- but certainly from a dignity POV they should be given the same consideration.

Probably not, I imagine that centuries of fairly widespread sexual abuse of women by men versus the historically very small number of reported cases of sexual abuse of men by women has something to do with this, but have absolutely no data to back this up. Call it a hunch.

I was thinking the same thing a few months ago when I was having an uterine ablation.
Whilst it was being performed (by my male gynaecologist), the nurse asked me on a scale of 1-10 how painful it was. I gave my answer from which then the gynaecologist popped his head up and said ‘Mmmm, I wouldn’t call it a pain as such, more a slight discomfort’!
I wanted to snap back ‘Well that may have been YOUR experience whilst YOUR uterus was being burnt to an inch of its life but for me with the all too real, not imaginary womb, I beg to differ’!!
I have had lots of gynae issues and have seen various gynaecologist over the years and in all honesty, as great as some of the male ones are, professionally, it has been the female ones (especially age 40 onwards) who appear to have the most empathy. Just my experience.

Given how many posts I see about male GP’s who give poor medical treatment to women, you would think we would be thankful that some do actually care. DH is a nurse in A&E so they generally bear the brunt of peoples annoyance, he’s had some of the most awful shifts but I always remember the 2 occasions he came home absolutely thrilled that he got to deliver a baby unexpectedly because there was literally no time to get the poor ladies upstairs. He has seen the awful side to delivery as well but he said on both those occasions it just made him feel happy and he was over the moon to be able to help. Why do some women immediately go for pervy. We need more male doctors to take womens health issues seriously.

If you read my post properly, you would understand that I am not for a moment suggesting that women should not have a preference or a choice if they feel strongly.
The OP was suggesting that male doctors do obs and gynae for sexual thrills.
Two completely different issues.

Ha ha ha! @mam0918mam0918 I'm glad it's not just me! BTW, I've been under the care of two male proctologists in different cities and both have been a delight. I've only met nice bum HCPs so whilst we may ponder the 'why' it does seem to attract some thoroughly decent people. (I find this also true of my dealings with Audiology). Yes, this is only my experience being extrapolated outwards but I sometimes wonder about department cultures....

@Longdayathomeorwork If you read the OPs post properly you’d see she never suggested that! At all. She simply asked why? Go back and look at it.

to the poster who says how marvellous it must be for a man to deliver a baby

It's not about him!!

That's the complete opposite of my experiences in dealing with female and male Dr's & Gynecologists. I always found the women much more understanding and relatable.