Would you see a male GP for a personal health issue?

[rhaenyraT]

Ive always asked for female doctors when being seen for this long standing issue before (to do with my arse basically - likely to need to get my pants off and possible have a digital exam). However this time I can only see a male GP or I have to wait ages. I’ve gone ahead and booked the appointment and keep telling myself that it’s just a body part to them but I still feel weird about seeing a male for a personal issue like this. Am I being ridiculous?

If your gp has to examine you intimately they will have a chaperone.
Also, you cannot imagine the things they see/smell/do on a daily basis, so your bum will be nothing to them.
You'll be fine x

I figured they had the same training so yes I have

Ask at reception for a chaperone

Yes. I have seen male and female specialists for my fibroids and honestly the best experience was with a male doctor.

Of course I would - and have. They are a qualified medical professional, so I don't see any issue with it.

If you go to A+E (like I did) with GI bleeding (makes stool black), you will have whichever doctor is available sticking things up every fundament, and often a gaggle of trainees aswell looking on, all sexes.

I have a private GP (not in UK) and he has seen bits of me that I can't see myself without a mirror and contortions. LOL. 😊

I wouldn’t like that. Id ask if there was another health hub they could get me into with a female doctor. If no then I would accept the male GP with a female chaperone present.

She isn’t in A&E with a GI bleed she is seeing her GP and has the right to request a female physician or chaperone.

My consultant gynaecologist is male. I want whoever is best qualified for the job to be honest. My cervical screening is always a female nurse and I can’t say I feel any more comfortable or happy about it. It’s just one of those less than pleasant health procedures that is in my interests to do so I don’t really care if it’s male or female.

I don’t doubt their capabilities or training of course. I’ve seen loads of GPs, some amazing some not so good and it’s never been anything to do with their sex. I just feel a bit more comfortable with a female
i guess. I don’t need a chaperone either, that would make me feel even more awkward! And logically I know they’ve seen arses and balls and vaginas of all shapes and sizes but it just makes me feel a bit weird for reasons I can’t quite articulate.

Cool the jets. It was an experience of mine, a doc is a doc surely? And I went on to mention my own GP (male) who has done intimate exams. I've no issue with him doing them.

If a person is not comfortable with that, ask for a female or a chaperone.

Is that OK for you now?

That said I do think you should have the right to choose and a chaperone should always be offered to safeguard both sides.

Probably because it’s weird having a man who is a stranger poke about at your genitals. It’s not weird to feel that way it’s very common.

I wouldn't see a male GP myself, due to a history of sexual violence. I don't think it's unreasonable to feel uncomfortable with it, although with the health system the way it is, it's obviously beneficial if you're not too bothered. As long as there's a chaperone, I'm sure it should be fine.

If you would let a one night stand see your arse you can let a GP

Can safely safe never shown my arsehole off to any one night stand. Let alone allowed digital exploration.

Of course, in fact I prefer male doctors, who seem far more sympathetic.
I have a very old schoolfriend, who is a doctor and he says it is all part of the training - which came out when he was telling me about having to treat a Bartholin's cyst on a stunningly beautiful 20-something.

I don’t mind if they’re male or female. I voted YANBU as there will be patients with all sorts of valid reasons why they would feel uncomfortable.

No, I won’t see any male medical professional unless it’s life threatening

Female would be my first preference, but I'd rather have a male practitioner than no procedure at all, or a long wait if I was worried. I appreciate this is not the case for everyone.

You should be offered a chaperone though, even if you decide you don't want one. I complained to PALS about this once as I had an intimate procedure performed by a man alone and wasn't notified beforehand that this would be the case. They have changed their procedures and the info sent to patients now.

Only the gay one - he is the only empathetic man at my practice.

Yea personally I don’t give a fuck
ive seen male breast consultants and gynaecologists do not much difference in my eye. You can ask for a female but it’ll increase wait times
The GP normally has a chaperone for anything intimate

It’s not weird to feel weird about it at all.

i used to do the same with only seeing a female doc, but like yourself had the situation where it was either a male doc (with a chaperone offered) or a long wait. Went for the male doc and he was actually really really good.

I really wouldn't care.

I don't care about the sex of my doctor/HCP as long as they do a good job. The worst GP I ever had was a woman. The best midwife I ever had was a man.

However, I'm aware that many other women have had experiences which leave them feeling very vulnerable, and it's valid to feel that way. So YANBU from that point of view.

Ask for a chaperone.