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 agree.

OP, you can always request a female gynaecologist.

I completely agree! That's why so many women patients get dismissed for pain & gynae problems! They just don't get it.
Not to mention, any malpractice that occurs, oh yeah: MEN!
...and as for OP saying hers was fantastic! What does he do, give her lollipops fgs!?

Good god, grow up. If you're uncomfortable, ask to see a woman. Not everything that makes you a bit uncomfortable should be banned. There's no such thing as womens jobs and men's jobs. At least not since the 1950s.

We discussing limitations of gynos and it is important to have all perspectives. It is implicit in my post that ability and bandwidth of the clinican to be empathetic is going to directly affect the care they are able to give to the patient.

I find if I have an expectation to be heard I have to be prepared to listen to the opposite persons experience too.

My male gynae saved my life after seeing 5 other consultants, some women, who told me it was all in my head

I am so grateful for my OH's female urologist. She was brilliant and saved his kidney by operating twice through his penis.

Good to know that by your argument, she shouldn't be allowed to do that job!

I've had male and female gynaecologist and tbh, I couldn't give a crap what see they are - they were both competent and understanding. That all I needed.
...and the male was not 'weird' in any way.

I wouldn’t be bothered if it was a man or woman as long as they were competent. I think when you are younger you would feel uncomfortable. A few years ago I had a Haemorrhoidectomy (surgery to remove piles) and it was a male consultant who did the surgery. I had numerous male doctors examine me before my surgery but it didn’t bother me, I just wanted them to help me.

It's because it's a mix of medicine and surgery. No other specialty allows you to do both.

That's not true - off the top of my head cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, urology all offer a mix of both medicine and surgery

I'd still be fine with a male gynae though: both women and men are equally capable of being brilliant and terrible doctors

May the lord open what ?

I understand some of the arguments for and against.

Arguments like 'so only people who've had cancer can be oncologists?' are utterly stupid because 1. half of prospective medical students aren't cancer survivors and 2. oncology isn't specifically and exclusively an intimate practice.

I will say for my most recent gynaecological health scare I was treated almost exclusively by women in a Women's Hospital (excepting one surgeon and I was under GA for that anyway) and it wasn't until I experienced it that I realised what a safe and comforting environment it was. The option should be available for all women who want and need it.

I’m a nurse and I catheterise men on the daily, I am not a man but that doesn’t mean I can’t professionally care for a man..
The same way some people feel men can be dismissive of women, I’ve seen female doctors be just as dismissive. It depends on the doctor and I feels that’s nothing to do with their gender.
Doctors care for cardiac patients but have never had heart issues themselves, you don’t have to experience the issues to treat and care for them. Yes don’t get me wrong it’s a benefit when you’ve been through it yourself but not necessary.

The big Tesco on sundays after 4pm. It’s really the right thing to do in 2026.

I will add that the male OB who assisted with DS2's birth was awful compared to the female OB who attended DS1 and all the female midwives who treated me before during and after both:

-Laughed in my face at my final antenatal appointment (~39 weeks) when I told him I thought labour was imminent and described the ways my body felt different. I went into labour later that day.
-Refused to stop stitching up my perineum to top up the anaesthesia when I told him it had worn off and he was hurting me. 'Just one more stitch!' 'OK just one more!' 'One more!'. My feet were up in stirrups with a light shone at my vagina, I was shaking uncontrollably from the shock and pain.

Ugh, DS2 is 20 and I'm getting angry all over again just thinking about it.

Assault, basically. I’m sorry that happened.

Personally, I've had unpleasant, sexist, and painful experiences with male gynaes over the years and only one negative experience with the many female gynaes I've seen. I would much prefer a push to recruit many more female doctors into gynaecology services to ensure that female patients have a genuine choice when seeing a doctor.

I agree with this. I actually found the male ones listened more when I had explaining symptoms. The female one I saw was rude bordering on aggressive.

Last year I had to have some gynae investigations/treatment and I had a wonderful male gynaecologist. He was very caring, professional and took time to explain everything really clearly. Made sure I was giving informed consent at every step - which is more than I can say for the female obstetrician I had when I was pregnant who gave me a sweep without my consent! So I think you can have good and bad individuals in any profession, doesn't mean we should ban them because of their sex.

This has been my experience with male vs. female gynecologists. When my old doctor retired, I chose a new male doctor.

Also, I believe "banning" someone from doing a job based on their sex is what you would call a slippery slope...

I mean there aren’t that many around anymore, are there? Isn’t it one of the most female dominated specialisms? Where I live, OBGYNs are 85% female, I believe.

So just rebook with a woman. 🤷‍♀️

“a push to recruit”? Do you think there’s a shortage of female trainees in OBGYN? Are you joking?

Of course men shouldn't be banned from practicing certain types of medicine any more than women should be. Choose someone you're comfortable with and let others do the same.

Mammographers who do the public screenings are all women.

I'm a 67 year old female who has never had a gynae issue in my entire life, so how on earth would I have any more idea of what a woman was going through than a man would? Other than having the same "bits" I would have nothing in common with a patient.

I really can't be bothered with people who can't deal with a man doing a job, for which they are highly trained, simply because he is a man.

My easiest smear test was done by a male gynae. The female nurses I'd seen up to that point dismissed any concerns I had and didnt seem to know how to do the procedure properly at all. Having then been referred to the hospital for the smear, this guy immediately made me feel at ease and took the swab in about 30 seconds. Didn't feel a thing, in fact, I was very surprised when he said he'd done it. Given the choice, I'd have a male gynae every time.