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?

Bums are not genitals?

And many of us in reality life are far more likely to have let blokes " fiddle" with our genitals than other women

You're not being ridiculous if that is how you feel. However if it is a debilitating condition then I think I'd probably get on with it in the hope that they'd help with whatever is wrong. One of those things where its not ideal but personally, I'd get on with it - but that doesn't mean you have to!

I had a wonderful youngish male gp when I went in for my initial menopause discussion and he was so knowledgeable it knocked me sideways. He’d done his research and even explained his own mother was having similar experiences so he’d been looking into more and more recently. The follow up was with him again and I honestly felt so listened to!

He described a patient as stunningly beautiful? You see that makes me feel deeply uncomfortable.

I always ask for a female GP after years of being dismissed by male GPs. For me, it’s worth the wait.

Tbh ive found the male GPs listen more than the female ones. I found the female GP so judgy and dismissive. I had a breast lump scare and the female GP basically laughed me out the door 😑 whereas I went to a male GP shortly after and they sent me to get it screened within a week or 2

I think that story somewhat supports the OP’s point: your school friend sounds like a creep. Both in objectifying his patients and discussing her with his friend. Grim.

A chaperone is there for the patient and doctors safety, doctors can be falsely accused of assault, a nurse can just be there for the actual exam.

I much prefer to see a male gynaecologist. They don’t project their own experiences. I also don’t much like another woman touching my bits

If I was bad enough to need to see a GP I wouldn't care if they were male of female.

I would find both equally mortifying so either would be fine!

Yes and have. Why, well I was woefully treated by a dysfunctional female gynecologist and luckily transfered to a superb male one. It's the quality of the doctor not their sex that makes the difference.

I've had four male gynaes. Including digital exams (when checking my post prolapse surgery stitches).

Meh I don't care as long as they know what they are looking at.

What I HATE is nurses who try to chat with me at the same time. Please be quiet and let me concentrate on the conversation. Or grip the bed.

Probably difficult to access without getting your flaps/balls out as well though

Yes, it doesn't bother me. I have had three kids though with a lot of intervention and had male consultants each time so no choice but to get on board with it!

Yes, we had a one GP practice and it was a male. He examined me and sent me to the hospital for further tests. I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer. I’ve seen a lot of male doctors over the years for related issues. They are medical professionals.

I've always found men more gentle than women as well, which adds to it.

I have only ever had male gps until very recently. Never had an issue

Yes. Had mirena dislodged and male GP removed it as nurse wasn’t able to.
Male obstetricians assisted with delivery of my kids.
Spoke to male GP about menopause
I don’t find sex of GP matters to me.

Your saying you would want a random guy to fondle your vagina?

My late OH was a GP - you are just a piece of meat to him - he saw more arses than I have had hot dinners!

Ask for a chaperone if you are happier with that.

It wouldn't/ doesn't bother me in the slightest. They're medically trained professionals and not in the least interested in what your body looks like.

They’re not meant to be eliciting sexual feelings when examining you hence why a woman is often preferred because it clearly separates what’s happening from any sexual involvement.

And she said personal health which to me means vagina not anus. Either way they are rather close to one another.

Well the colorectal surgeon I saw to confirm piles not anything sinister was male and my adult son, who has ulcerative colitis has a female gastro consultant. He has regular consultations with her where he has to discuss his toilet habits in great detail and a yearly colonoscopy where he has no control as to whether the people present are male or female. I say just get on with it tbh.

I saw a male GP and he wanted to do an examination, he went to get the receptionist lady to stand in without even asking me. I was more embarrassed by that than him examining me

It does bother me, and I have to psych myself up, but it's never as bad as I feared.

I wouldn't mind.

You know the options - wait and be seen my a woman or feel a bit awkward for a few minutes and be seen sooner by a man.

Depends what the medical issue is I suppose.