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.

There are a lot of male gps too that you have to get through before seeing a specialist, should only women gps see women patients with gynae problems?

All I care about is that medical professionals are competent and have a good bedside manner. And I would want a chaperone whether male or female.

One of the best ultrasounds I ever had was a lovely man, who was very gentle and had an excellent bedside manner. I have to say I’ve had mixed experiences with medical staff and their sex hasn’t come into it.

When I was giving birth I had an awful midwife who told me to stop being a wuss and I didn’t need an epidural. When the male Dr came into the room I said in desperation to him please can I have an epidural while this midwife roller her eyes and he sorted it for me. Honestly the epidural was amazing and enabled me to relax enough to give birth without any further intervention. Once I had given birth the female midwife started having a go at me. She has to be the absolute worst medical professional I’ve ever encountered. My experience with that woman doesn’t put me off women, I also had some lovely female midwives she was just a bad egg.

Do you know that more women doctors want to move in to obstetrics & gynaecology and can’t?

otherwise you may end up funnelling women in to a speciality they don’t actually want to do.

Whilst I do sympathise, OP; can I just say, I got nowhere with any female gyne. It wasn’t until I saw a male that any of my issues were taken seriously and I eventually was listened to.

They typically chose obstetrics and gynaecology because they get a mix of medical and surgical work. That’s pretty much it.

You said they should be in the minority - that means deliberate capping or preventing potential good male doctors from entering the field in favour of women so of course that will reduce the pool- how could it not?

The study doesn't support a 60-70% female trainee target. Most women in the study had no preference regarding their gynaecologist's gender. So why should trainee selection be based on sex rather than merit? If the majority of patients don't care, and both male and female gynaecologists can provide excellent care, I'm not seeing any evidence that preferentially selecting trainees by sex would improve outcomes for women.

The NHS isn't drowning in surplus gynaecologists and wondering how to fine tune the gender balance. It's struggling to recruit and retain enough staff across multiple specialties. In that environment, turning away or disadvantaging capable applicants because they're male seems like an utterly bizarre and frankly, dangerous priority when patients are facing waiting lists, delayed diagnoses and overstretched services.

Evidence here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/gynaecology-waiting-lists-rise-despite-overall-nhs-backlog-falling-warns-rcog/?

Having had seven hysteroscopies, five without anaesthetic and a hysterectomy, I would say that men are just as sensitive and empathetic. The man who did my hysterectomy was lovely.

You do know your vagina is just another body part. Your gynaecologist will only be interested in finding out what is wrong and not secretly saving the image for a wank later!!!!

Well, I do know that gynaecology has very high rates of sexual harassment, which can't encourage female gynaes to continue in it.

As this article says: "The report found 84% of all respondents said there was sexism in the medical profession, and 61% of women felt they were discouraged to work in a particular specialty because of their gender."

I saw a male gynaecologist 20 years ago for my endometriosis and subsequent laparotomy to remove it and some of my ovary. He was wonderful and I never thought anything of him being male and felt completely comfortable with him.

I think we are more cynical now about men's behaviour and motivations....

I'm afraid not. I was young, in my first term at university and wanted to move on as quickly as possible. It was also the 90s when reporting people didn't happen so much.

Afterwards, I did think that it was so obvious that men like this would be attracted to the job so I vowed to myself that I would never have a male gynaecologist again. It is the only way to guarantee that you won't get a creep.

It was a female surgeon who did my husband’s vasectomy. Should she be banned also OP.
When I had possible ovarian cancer it was a male gynaecologist/ surgeon who potentially saved my life. He was so compassionate.
You are not being unreasonable in wanting a female gynaecologist if that’s your preference, but you then can’t complain if you have to wait longer.

I completely 100% agree op
But it's equal opportunities these days
So yours won't be a popular opinion
Even if we just had a choice of a male or female one ,that would massively help

I actually agree with you. Absolutely no need for a man to be a gynae. The potential for abuse - including abuse of power - is too high.

In my line of work I’ve seen far too many examples
of how perverted and devious all
kinds of men can be. There’s almost nothing a sexual predator will stop at to gain access to vulnerable potential victims. Including studying medicine.

Of course not every sexual health doctor, youth worker, teacher, nursery worker, sports coach, member of the clergy, etc is a predator. But for men that are, those are the professions they are more likely to be drawn to. Positions of trust, power and access to victims.

I’m just far too wary.

I also wouldn’t really get it if a woman dedicated her life’s work to penis and testicle health. But even then the male patients would never be at risk in the same way as female patients might be.

I think the OP is the type who is aghast if her sanitary products are not wrapped in a brown paper bag when she purchases, because "everyone will see" 🙄

You don't need to change/control the whole world to fit your own needs. Just ask for a female gynaecologist if that's what you prefer and let everyone else get on with their lives.

I'm not talking about instituting policy, I'm just talking about the best ideal ratio. If there's no preference for most and a quarter prefer women, then it just makes sense to have more women.

Although perhaps the sexism and sexual harassment in the medical profession as I noted in another comment, is part of what's discouraging (female) medics.

And what if she was ?
And ..
Some of us don't feel the need to broadcast everything

I'm not sure that having a man you don't know come into intimate and invasive contact with your vagina is quite the same as having people know you've bought a pack of tampons 🤔

It’s 2026

You mean people are disagreeing with you,

I don't think this is true. We have far more doctors qualifying than the specialism training places available for them. There would probably be more than enough female applicants.

I often wonder what motivates. a man to become a gynaecologist.

Why can't women complain about longer waits, if they need to see a female gynae? They may have trauma (thanks to male sexual violence), and be unable to tolerate a male gynae.

Are they not allowed to be upset that male-inflicted trauma, and male gynaes, mean that they have to wait longer for treatment?

But it doesn’t make sense.

It makes sense to ensure that there are sufficient females to ensure every woman with a preference is able to see one. Behind that what matters is ensuring theat there are enough gynaecologists in total.

Restricting the total to increase the ratio of females means all women having to wait longer for treatment and more women who want a female having to see a male instead because of having too few available overall.

The concept of an "ideal ratio" doesnt follow from the data though and that was my original point. The study measures patient preferences. It doesn't tell us what proportion of gynaecologists should be male or female. If the majority of patients genuinely have no preference, then competence and availability are more important than trying to achieve a particular gender balance and the article I posted above demonstrates how dangerous it would be for to start imposing limits on male gynaecologists. Women's health would be at risk.

Evidence of sexism and harassment in medicine is an important argument for tackling sexism in medicine. Sexism should be tackled in all work places.

It isn't evidence that male gynecologists are unsuitable, nor is it evidence that trainee selection should be based on sex rather than merit.

Also- I am not sure why you arent acknowledging that chaperones are available if a woman prefers that. The male gynaecologist I saw who was lovely always had a female nurse present for all of my examinations. You are talking as if women are being forced into a dark room with some dodgy doctor.