To think men should not be allowed to be gynaecologists

[CaragianettE]

Just that, really. Saw one last week. He was trying to be helpful, but I really really really don’t want to discuss ‘do you get clots’ ‘do you experience flooding’ ‘do you find intercourse painful’ with a strange man. Yes it would be awkward with a strange woman too, but at least I know she likely has some lived experience of what we are talking about. TBH I also question men’s motives for choosing this job, not just the licence to look at strange women’s vaginas, but I think there’s something deep in the male psyche that just loves laying down the law to women about their reproductive systems. It’s a job for a woman, and while I know men were allowed to train for it in the past, I think they should now be phased out.

I had a very creepy male gynecologist. He compared the tightness of my vagina to women from other parts of the country implying that they might be more promiscuous than me. He made a joke about when I last had sex and was very clearly turned on by the conversation. I was revolted by the whole situation.

I was so relieved that I was only treated by women when I was pregnant and giving birth. They weren't all as friendly or enthusiastic about their work, but I would take that 1000 times of a man enjoying

I know a male surgeon who has a fetish about the condition he treats. I am sure his patients adore his warmth and interest in them.

Men prove over and over again that many of them are driven by sex. They lose their wives, homes, money and children for it. Some high profile ones lose their jobs. There is a booming sex industry catering for them. 95% of sex crimes are committed by men. Guess what the most common crime for male prisoners over 50 is?

Yet women think that because these men are a professional role, they can simply switch it off. And anyone expressing concerns is talking 'nonsense'. I think it is more likely that a lot of male gynecologists choose that specialism because they have an unprofessional interest.

Having said all that, a lot of women do have crushes on their doctors (some of them are on this thread) and may not mind. There is a whole genre of romance fiction on the subject.

I have wondered the same thing about why a man gets into that role after I had a male surgeon do a colposcopy. and he was perfectly fine, and I was wondering in general how medical people decide what part of the body is for them 😂. But I had no issues with him being “down there”.

I hope you reported that gynaecologist.

Blanket ban on men being gynaecologists - is totally ridiculous.

Personal preference for you to want to see a female gynaecologist - absolutely reasonable.

Really, please post the stats.

I was initially only responding to someone who said all consultation breast surgeons were men, and that just isn't true. My following posts were just being polite to someone who had responded to my post. I didn't particularly want to go down this route either!

People aren’t handmaids just because they don’t agree with you, don’t be so rude.

I take it you also think women shouldn’t be involved in matters such as urology/prostate issues that only affect males? Do you think these women are motivated by only wanting to see cocks and arseholes?

i used to be cynical and think why do men want to Specialise in gynaecology or breast cancer etc. However, some of the best care I had for both issues was under male doctors. They were incredibly direct, to the point and practical and this is what you need in these times.

I had the most incredible doctor when I found some lumps in my boobs I had mammograms and ultrasounds and had to have a biopsy. He didn’t think it was anything sinister but had to be sure. Before I could even say anything, he really reassured me as he said ‘I know you will go home and worry about this.’ Then when I came back for my results (the lump was benign) he then proceeded to tell me in great detail what the lump was and then went on to show me a paper his friend had written on these lumps and shared with him and he’d be reading the night before.

What I realised was WOW these people genuinely are so interested in the science behind it all - nothing sinister! They want to help people, they’ve specialised and they spend every spare second and moment thinking about their job and wanting to find out more to help people. And how lucky was I to be treated by them.

My dm used to have a have a male gynaecologist. He wasn’t very good in her opinion. His bedside manner was very aloof. Kept repeating the same rubbish to my mum and fobbing her off. She had a prolapse and the ring (can’t remember what it’s called) was stuck and causing my mum to bleed. She had problems for about 2 years. She met a heart consultant at another hospital whilst waiting for heart bypass and he knew a colleague that could sort her out. Next day, mum was put under anaesthetic and it was taken out. By a female gynaecologist!

@Shoolatjaf doesn’t sound right. I hope they were reported.

Adam Kay is a vile prick who treats women as a joke and massive inconvenience not to be taken seriously when they are at their most vulnerable. I refused to watch the show after reading the book.

Have you read the book after giving birth yourself?

I’ve seen a few in my time and the most brusque, uncaring one who tried to stick something through my cervix without pain relief and then made me feel like a wimp when it was too painful was a woman - another doctor in the room had to ask her to stop. The two male gynaes I’ve seen were much more gentle and respectful. Absolutely your choice to request a woman though.

And also, just to put into balance. You will get bad male and female doctors. I had the most awful young, female doctor who ignored my crippling period pains and refused to check my
lumpy breast as I should have booked a double appointment - I complained and was given another doctor who check my breasts and examined me and referred me to a specialist clinic for further diagnosis of my PP.

I absolutely agree! My initial response was to a post which said all consultant breast surgeons were men which is definitely not the case. My subsequent posts were in response to someone else commenting on my initial post, and I was just being polite.

Well, I've had both, and TBH the male ones were better and didn't cause me as much pain. Some doctors are better than others whatever their sex.

I had plenty of male gynaecologists looking up my foof when we were endeavouring to have a child. All were very kind and I wouldn’t think twice about seeing one now.

In the UK, most of the very best gynae surgeons are male and that mattered far more to me.

I developed a very good relationship with one of them & asked why he became a gynae. Apparently it’s one of the few specialities that is both physician and surgery work from the outset. When you add in the unsocial hours of the compulsory obstetrics years that’s why so many men rise to the top of the profession.

Having had considerable interaction with a male and female gynaecologist, the male was infinitely better than the female. Better communication, interaction, approach... and care!!

Unfortunately not. I was young and at university living in London for the first time and had been dealing with worse things (leading to the need to see a gynaecologist). In the 90s, complaining about men like this didn't' seem worth it.

For those interested, in 2018, one study found that:

• 58 - 71% of women did not express a preference for their gynaecologist's gender (58-71%)
• ~25% preferred female gynaecologists.
• ~14% preferred male gynaecologists
• If asked to choose between female and male physicians based solely on the aspect of trust, 69% will choose female gynaecologists

Going off that, male gynaes are still needed, but should ideally be a minority as most women either have no preference or prefer females.

(@Pinkchickenwine here are some stats)

You’re not getting the responses you wanted so we’re all handmaidens ? You’re being ridiculous and entitled. But then you know that.

This is actually quite rich coming from someone who clearly expects all the good little women to clutch their pearls and freak out about male gynaecologist @CaragianettE

Get a grip!

My MALE gynaecologist was amazing, he listened and actually heard me when 3 previous FEMALE ones dismissed me because I was young and wasn't thinking yet about kids so the fact I was doubled over unable to breathe never mind walk every time I had a period was to be just accepted as part of the female condition.

You are being ridiculous and highly insulting.

Utterly puerile attitude. I have a great male gynaecologist, he’s even given me trans vaginal scans - the deviant 🙄

I complained because he took 12 years to diagnose me with endometriosis (finally diagnosed at 51) this was despite me seeing him every year for all of those 12 years. All I got back was the typical 'sorry we will make sure this doesn't happen again' response.

I'm now on the endo team at the same hospital and my endo gynae is no better, a very arrogant man.

Although I'm not knocking all male gynaecologists, there is a fantastic male gynae there who everyone loves but sadly his waiting list is really long.

The study does not support that conclusion being drawn. It found that most women (58–71%) had no preference regarding their gynecologist's gender. Of those who did express a preference, more preferred female gynecologists than male gynecologists.

That is all the data shows. Jumping from "some women prefer female gynecologists" to "male gynecologists should ideally be a minority" is not a conclusion supported by the study at all.

In fact, the largest group in the study explicitly stated that gender was not important to them. The large "don't care" group means there is no strong demand signal for a particular ratio.

Back in the late sixties, the Bond era,, in Zambia, my mum and her friends all had the same male gynaecologist.

Goldfinger they nicknamed him 😁 I'm guessing they were satisfied with him.