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 really don't feel comfortable judging people according to their sex. Some men will make great gynaecologists, and some women will; likewise some won't (of either sex). It will depend a lot on their ability to empathise and listen rather than what sex they are.

I had an abortion many years ago, and I had a male medical student with me throughout the whole journey (as my reasoning was how else would he learn). He made the whole experience so much better as he just kept talking to me and listening and not judging, ever. Which was down to him as a human being, and not what sex he was I think.

I consider myself to be a robust person who is able to move on from bad experiences however I really envy posters on this thread who seem not to have had negative experiences with men to the extent that they feel vigilant and slightly suspicious around trusting strange ones with intimate care. Bring able to trust a random men and random women equally in intimate healthcare situations is not something many people I know, based on discussions I’ve had, are able to do.

Agree.

I challenge these women to take a browse of any of the health care tribunal websites, GMC, NMC, HCPC and filter by 'struck off' andv start clicking on male names.

I'm a HCP, i am currently involved with an ongoing case (sacked, but pending professional tribunal), this man has been allowed near vulnerable women for close to 2 decades.

I have many wonderful male colleagues who i would absolutely trust with my life, and crucially my DDs life, but others i would not let near her. When i go to gynae i take pot luck with an unknown male every time, I've yet to see the females consultant I'm under, maybe these men are fine, but maybe they are like the predator I had the misfortune to work with who has thankfully now been sacked, but not before at least one young women had to suffer (including a PTSD diagnosis) at his hands.

My brother in law is a gynaecologist oncologist consultant. I don’t think he spent years training just to get a look at women’s vaginas. Ohh he is also married to my brother.

you can reverse it

How can I trust someone with intimate care, just because she's a woman? How can I trust that she won't hurt or even injure me?

I don't trust someone more (or less) because they are male or female. I am not more comfortable with a man or woman. It's completely irrelevant.

Doctors or other HCP aren't some special godly angelic breed of men, they represent the rest of society where a significant minority of men presents a real and present danger to women, particularly with regards to sexual assault, than other women do, and where some of these men will make a great deal of effort to get themselves into positions of authority and isolation with women.

98% of all offenders prosecuted for sexual offences are men.

I'm really sorry but I don't quite understand how someone can reach adulthood and not know that men pose a significantly higher risk. Even if you have no life experience of this, it isn't as if it is under reported.

Sorry, not read the whole thread but yes - men should not be gynecologists. t's a bit icky. I always insist on same-sex care for intimate stuff.