Any GPs or consultants on here?

[MagicalMystical]

I am about to go to a gynae appt. I have been out for a walk and I live in a semi-rural community so I’m wearing joggers, jumper, walking boots, padded coat, scarf.

I am on my way home to quickly change into something smart - maybe skirt, tights, long boots, smart top, jacket.

This will mean no time to eat lunch.

Will the consultant treat my physical symptoms equally, irrespective of what I’m wearing or will they make a subconscious judgement and treat me differently based on how I look?

I think it’s the latter but I thought I’d put it out there.

YABU - They will not treat you differently based on how you present as they’re simply there to resolve your physical ailments

YANBU - they will absolutely treat you differently even though they shouldn’t and are not aware of doing so.

Just wear something comfortable and easy to remove/put back on.

I think the only judgement they'd pass would be if it took you ages to get undressed and then dressed again.

Other than that, they won't even remember your face a few minutes after you've left, let alone your fashion choices.

They probably won’t even see your clothes. It’s a gynae appointment so you will have to take half of them off. Eat lunch instead as you may have a long wait.

I fully believe I get treated differently when I wear smart clothes and look well groomed.

Also had a lot of gynae appts in recent years and I would go with your latter option.

I think that sub consciously doctors judge mental state/level of education/competence etc by the way you present.

I've never thought to dress for a job interview or board meeting when I need a doctor to look/touch my genitalia. Or any part of my body?

I'd just shower as close to appointment as possible and wear clothes that can easily and quickly be removed.

The only thing someone might find unpleasant might be odour. But then again ill people often smell bad as a symptom even if clean so they're used to all kinds of smells and bodily secretions.

They are professionals, they would just prefer you to be clean and wearing clothes that give easy/swift access to the affected area. I think it’s bizarre to think that they will care what you look like, they will be far more concerned with getting to the bottom (no pun intended) of the issue/examination.

As a consultant I absolutely don't care what you are wearing. If I need to examine you I'd prefer you weren't wearing clothing that takes ages to get on and off so joggers is ideal.

Honestly we've seen it all.

Thanks all. Interesting to see the majority of votes are to not think about what I’m wearing to the GP and specialists as it doesn’t matter.

I doubt they give a crap do you not think drs wear joggers on there day off aslong as you are clean I doubt they will even notice. I've never thought to dress up for a medical appointment

Not GP but dentist. I never really notice what patients wear but if they’ve just eaten or their oral hygiene is not up to scratch I’m more likely to judge them if they are immaculately turned out. I really can’t understand people who spend a fortune on nails, makeup and clothes but can’t clean their teeth. I’m not talking about cleaning before an appointment but more longterm lack of care. If you can spend two hours applying makeup you can find 10mins to clean your teeth.

Equally if someone turned up to a gyni appointment looking like they’ve walked off a catwalk but they obviously hadn’t showered for a week they would probably raise eyebrows.

HCPs are not trained to judge the outward veneer but to treat/diagnose the disease. If someone is obviously unkempt then it would raise red flags but not in a judgemental way but more in a clinical way.

One of the most common phrases patients use is “ please excuse my appearance/state, I’ve come straight from work” working in a semi rural practice, that includes farmers, vets, builders etc. I don’t judge but we may use the air freshener after they leave. They usually have time to clean their teeth before leaving for the appointment and it is appreciated the rest is optional in my field.

Sometimes we see elderly patients whose presentation has changed, we may ask a few legitimate questions re health and contact their GP if we feel the need. It’s all part of the care process.

My pet peeve is perfume, but that may be because we get closer to patients than most. There is one particular perfume used by some of my older patients that really makes me gag. It’s distracting but as a professional it’s my problem not the patients.

Do not put tights on for a gynae appointment. What is they need to examine you?

DD has had lots of gynae appointment. Joggers or leggings, t-shirt you can pull up for examination.

Imagine the time taken to put tights and long boots on or off. Appointment times would double. In and out as quick as you can.

YABU, I've been to gynae appointments and they're not bothered about what you wear. Surely joggers are easier?

I’m a doctor on my day off post nights. I’m in similar clothes and if I had a medical appointment I’d remain in them. Comfy (clean obviously) and easy to remove if required is what I’d think of.

I’m so relieved to read these comments, they’re very refreshing.

OP I’m curious about why you have asked this question. Have you had a bad experience because no way on 2026 is this normally true. Maybe in 1950…..

I’m thinking I’m perhaps a bit old fashioned in wanting to look smart to be taken seriously.

Cross post @Hiptothisjive 😆

I think you're being very old-fashioned, yes. Doctors, certainly in this day and age, don't give a toss what you wear. If you turned up visibly filthy and smelly, with matted hair, then they would notice and would probably have concerns about you because it could indicate mental health issues or that you were so ill that you weren't able to care for yourself. Other than that, they're not bothered.

Also, no doctor wants you to skip a meal just for the sake of changing into smart clothes.

You might also want to remember that doctors are, themselves, perfectly ordinary human beings with a whole range of lifestyles and preferences around clothes. They're just normal people.

I'm not a doctor, but I encounter them and work with them a lot in my job. Plenty of doctors and their families would have the joggers, walking boots and jumper look as their own default setting for clothes.

Well I am a retired consultant and I go to most of my own medical appointments in clothes similar to those you describe. Medical staff might raise an eyebrow if a patient came to an appointment wearing something really unusual but joggers and a jumper is a pretty conventional outfit for someone who isn't working that day. I think you are worrying about nothing.

Given it’s a gynaecologist you are seeing, I’m assuming they will be more interested in your reproductive system than your fashion choices.

I can also assume you that some wear the casual clothes you are concerned about in their free time. Would you judge them for that? I bet you wouldn’t.

I think it’s an interesting question - I had a consultant appointment today and I did change out of my school run clothes into something smarter. I think I’m also influenced by the fact that I see a consultant psychiatrist and I know (because we discuss it) the way in which he assesses what I’m wearing and what it might suggest about my mental state.

You will be judged on your behaviour and the way you speak to them not what you wear.

Thing is smart means different things to different people. It's also different across Britain.

Back when I qualified we used to see elderly people who had dressed up for the doctor. Unfortunately this generally meant them wearing lots and lots of layers which was a pain when you only have a 10 minute appointment to take a history, get them undressed, examined, dressed again, explain the plan and write your notes.

The main way to get yourself taken seriously is to have a clear issue you want to discuss and be able to explain it succinctly. Every doctor has heard 'the little white tablets', 'ooh I can walk a fair way' along with many others. Or the long rambling story which doesn't actually mention the thing you are worried about.