Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My doctor doesn't "do female problems"

277 replies

Polkadotbikinininii · 05/03/2025 08:13

Phoned to book a Dr's appointment for my daughter about her periods. After going through triage with the receptionist (for literally 10mins) I was told that the Dr who is on this week "doesn't do female problems" and I need to phone back next week to make an appointment with a different doctor. I can't book that appointment today though.

Can you imagine a female dr deciding she doesn't want to deal with problems potentially affecting half the population?!

On the other hand, at least he won't be dismissive or try to mansplain

OP posts:
Bringmeahigherlove · 05/03/2025 10:45

SnoozingFox · 05/03/2025 08:44

I would also take a slightly different view on this - GPs are general practitioners. They cannot be specialised in everything, and in a practice with more than one GP it makes total sense to refer patients to the person who has the most expertise. Dr Brown sees the diabetes patients, Dr White deals with the pregnant women, Dr Green does the asthma care.

Lots of women have horror stories about being fobbed off or given really bad advice by a GP who is poorly informed about women's health issues. It's a waste of time as you then have to make another appointment with someone who does know what they're talking about. The receptionist was being honest and stopping you from wasting your time.

Well this is part of the problem isn’t it. Women’s health shouldn’t be a speciality, it’s half of the population and almost all of us will be affected by something, in one way or another, throughout our life. It’s different to having diabetes or asthma.

It needs reframed when they are training to being of upmost importance, not something you specialise in.

TimeForATerf · 05/03/2025 10:47

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 05/03/2025 09:00

A lot of confected outrage about nothing. Again, on Mumsnet.

It's sensible for doctors in GP practices to be responsible for specific areas of practice, and to keep up more intensively with the latest practice in that area. It's ALWAYS been like this.

Totally agree. I have steroid injections in my hands, only one GP is trained to do it at my surgery. I would rather wait for him then have a jack of all conditions sticking a needle in my joint or wait for a hospital appointment.

Surely a GP that sees more female specific conditions is more experienced in the same and therefore will be the best doctor for the job.

sweetpickle2 · 05/03/2025 10:47

I would definitely complain.

Although having spent several hours of my life in the GP offices of male doctors who have no clue at all what they're on about, at least he's upfront so you don't waste your time!

Digdongdoo · 05/03/2025 10:48

TimeForATerf · 05/03/2025 10:47

Totally agree. I have steroid injections in my hands, only one GP is trained to do it at my surgery. I would rather wait for him then have a jack of all conditions sticking a needle in my joint or wait for a hospital appointment.

Surely a GP that sees more female specific conditions is more experienced in the same and therefore will be the best doctor for the job.

Show quote history

But presumably that was explained to you? Rather than you being told, "don't do hands. Try again next week"

Bringmeahigherlove · 05/03/2025 10:49

TimeForATerf · 05/03/2025 10:47

Totally agree. I have steroid injections in my hands, only one GP is trained to do it at my surgery. I would rather wait for him then have a jack of all conditions sticking a needle in my joint or wait for a hospital appointment.

Surely a GP that sees more female specific conditions is more experienced in the same and therefore will be the best doctor for the job.

Show quote history

With respect, this isn’t the same. Half the population will have periods and therefore period related issues. It is every GP’s responsibility to be knowledgable on this.

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 05/03/2025 10:53

One of the most common complaints from young women re: periods is about flow/pain (according to our GP).

IME they don't do a vaginal exam, and the first port of call is usually pharmaceutically based.

A male GP should be able to handle this, even if he needs to check thr NICE guidelines and the BNF.

If it were anything more involved then you should have been able to make an appointment without having to call back.

How irritated I'd be would be influenced by when DDs next period was due, and whether she'd manage to see someone beforehand.

I would be writing to the practice manager.

DollydaydreamTheThird · 05/03/2025 10:54

Polkadotbikinininii · 05/03/2025 08:33

I would complain but then I worry that he'll be made to see patients and will not help them.

Women already get dismissed so I wonder whether having a dr openly say he doesn't want to deal with this is better?

I think I'm going to have to advocate strongly for my daughter as it is.

I'm not being funny OP but if he didn't want to deal with them he shouldn't have become a frigging doctor! You don't get to pick and choose. Complain or remain part of the problem.

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 05/03/2025 10:55

Ask your daughter. I think she’d rather wait.

TimeForATerf · 05/03/2025 10:58

With respect, I don't agree. Whilst this may be considered a "period problem" by the OP at the outset, it could be end up being a more complex Gynaecological
issue that needs a greater depth of knowledge and diagnosis by someone with additional training and skills.

I would be happy to wait.

TimeForATerf · 05/03/2025 10:59

Digdongdoo · 05/03/2025 10:48

But presumably that was explained to you? Rather than you being told, "don't do hands. Try again next week"

Show quote history

Say what? The OP tried to make an appointment, was told that the best doctor wasn't available until next week.

I rang for my osteoarthritis, I was told you need Dr X, I can give you an appointment in two weeks.

And the difference is .....?

rubberduck68 · 05/03/2025 11:02

Just a thought, have you been on the practice website, see if they outline who does what? Maybe there is a nurse practitioner who deals with smears, contraception etc. "female" stuff, and you are going to get referred to them?

ElsieMc · 05/03/2025 11:06

I tried numerous times to get a gynae appointment with my gp practice. I needed a face to face but found the receptionists reluctant to allow appointments. When I finally got one, it was cancelled on my jouney in and I was not offered another appointment. I had waited 3 weeks.

I had to go through the rigmarole again and yes it was cancelled on the morning again.

I spoke to the rude, unsympathetic manager who felt it was my fault for not being indepth enough about symptoms. She said I would have to wait again, I had waited six weeks by now. She then offered me an appointment with a non binary gp. I took it. They were great. Told me my appointment could never be done over the phone and referred me to hospital.

How have things got to this.

JeanPaulGagtier · 05/03/2025 11:07

It sounds terrible BUT I actually kind of respect the fact they are aware of it. Too often I've gone in and a man has dismissed my issues as depression and they've been far more serious.

Digdongdoo · 05/03/2025 11:08

TimeForATerf · 05/03/2025 10:59

Say what? The OP tried to make an appointment, was told that the best doctor wasn't available until next week.

I rang for my osteoarthritis, I was told you need Dr X, I can give you an appointment in two weeks.

And the difference is .....?

Show quote history

Did you read the OP to see what she was actually told? She wasn't given an appointment, nor was she told the other GP is a specialist in this. She was simply told the gp "doesn't do female problems" and to call back next week.
Can you not see the difference?
So many people trying to explain this away... baffling.

JeanPaulGagtier · 05/03/2025 11:08

Just like to add i think we should embrace gender based medicine and have women's clinics set up with specialists all under one roof. Ring fencing half of the NHS spending for females would be great! Imagine the changes we could make with that much £ on specified funding of research!

Digdongdoo · 05/03/2025 11:09

JeanPaulGagtier · 05/03/2025 11:08

Just like to add i think we should embrace gender based medicine and have women's clinics set up with specialists all under one roof. Ring fencing half of the NHS spending for females would be great! Imagine the changes we could make with that much £ on specified funding of research!

*sex based

AngelicKaty · 05/03/2025 11:11

ladymammalade · 05/03/2025 08:34

I suspect the receptionist was clumsily saying it's not his speciality, rather than it's not something he's prepared to treat. We have a couple of doctors at our surgery who are specialists in female health so people tend to go to them with period/hormonal issues.

GPs are GENERAL Practitioners - the clue's in the name. Yes, there are some GP's who have developed a specialism (like minor surgery) but they will take on specialist appointments in addition to their general appointment work, not instead of. It's outrageous that this GP thinks he can refuse to treat half the population if their issue relates specifically to their sex, and I would definitely be making a formal complaint about him.

rubberduck68 · 05/03/2025 11:11

ElsieMc · 05/03/2025 11:06

I tried numerous times to get a gynae appointment with my gp practice. I needed a face to face but found the receptionists reluctant to allow appointments. When I finally got one, it was cancelled on my jouney in and I was not offered another appointment. I had waited 3 weeks.

I had to go through the rigmarole again and yes it was cancelled on the morning again.

I spoke to the rude, unsympathetic manager who felt it was my fault for not being indepth enough about symptoms. She said I would have to wait again, I had waited six weeks by now. She then offered me an appointment with a non binary gp. I took it. They were great. Told me my appointment could never be done over the phone and referred me to hospital.

How have things got to this.

I heard the other day that it takes a man one appointment to score viagra for impotence, and on average nine years for a woman to get an endometriosis diagnosis after complaining about pain during sex. Yep. Maybe as an experiment OP should call and say her son has a problem with his dick, and see how fast they get an appointment?

LadeedahYadaYada · 05/03/2025 11:12

Open to interpretation. Our GP is also a dermatologist - so for any skin issues, she is the one that will see you (in addition to obvs other issues). Maybe the receptionist didn't word it that well. Ring back and ask for clarification

ItGhoul · 05/03/2025 11:16

My guess is that the receptionist is the problem here rather than the doctor. Lots of practices have GPs who specialise - eg at my practice one GP has a particular interest in musculoskeletal stuff and another takes most of the mental health appointments. I suspect what the receptionist should have said was ‘As this isn’t a matter of urgency and it’s related to periods, I’m going to suggest we wait until next week when Dr Jones is back, as they specialise in women’s health and it would be better for your daughter to see them.’

5foot5 · 05/03/2025 11:16

I need to phone back next week to make an appointment with a different doctor. I can't book that appointment today though.

I know this isn't the main point of the thread, but this sort of thing drives me mad. Why can't you book the appointment today? What sort of crappy systems do they have that can't make an appointment a week ahead, or do they just not know how you use them.

I remember when my old dentist retired and his practice got taken over by a new, modern outfit. The old surgery was just a little shabby place really but he was an excellent dentist. After each checkup I would ask to make an appointment for 6 months hence and they just got out the big diary and wrote it in. No problem.

New dentist moved to flash new surgery with fancy reception, flat screen TV on the wall and a computerised appointment system. When I asked to make an appointment for my next check up in 6 months I was told it wasn't possible, the system would only allow appointments up to one month ahead so I had to ring back in five months time to do it!. Progress!

Branleuse · 05/03/2025 11:20

He shouldn't be able to opt out of 'womens issues '
Id be wondering if it was the receptionist knew that he was shit.
I personally would ONLY want a female doctor for gynae issues And i think its probably going to be better for your daughter to have that too, but its pretty crap that the only available doctor this week can't do this.
Id consider changing surgery or making a complaint

faithspikebuffy · 05/03/2025 11:20

I had a male GP refuse to examine me when my coil felt wrong
Ended up in a&e for hours later that night as my coil was half expelled
Waste of time and money when he could have checked and even referred me or sent me to someone else in the surgery to remove it

JHound · 05/03/2025 11:22

Totallymessed · 05/03/2025 10:23

Are you confused about the meaning of the word "general"?

Show quote history

Nope. Have you never heard of GPs having areas of interest / focus?

JHound · 05/03/2025 11:23

ItGhoul · 05/03/2025 11:16

My guess is that the receptionist is the problem here rather than the doctor. Lots of practices have GPs who specialise - eg at my practice one GP has a particular interest in musculoskeletal stuff and another takes most of the mental health appointments. I suspect what the receptionist should have said was ‘As this isn’t a matter of urgency and it’s related to periods, I’m going to suggest we wait until next week when Dr Jones is back, as they specialise in women’s health and it would be better for your daughter to see them.’

I am sure this is exactly what she was saying.