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?

No it’s whether you consent or not. That’s it.

Well, yes and I have. If we all insisted on female only GPs we just wouldn't all get seen. If its really intimate or you feel uncomfortable you can ask for a chaperone or have someone with you, obviously.

I think YABU as they've seen it all before. That said, I'd be very flustered if I turned up to find the male doctor was young and hot 😳

After 4 children I feel like there's few people who haven't seen my under carriage 😂

A male registrar during my birth was lovely and I was fortunate there; he checked where baby's head was. He was actually more sympathetic, gentle and polite than the midwives ans female consultant, and had great communication, polite and actually let me know clearly what would be the next step, and how long we would wait.
On the other hand, I have also had an experience with a male gynaecologist, no examinations but an absolute horrendous consultation where he belittled me about my periods and labour like pains coming from endo. The female doctor was lovelj and extremely sympathetic. I also had experience with a vile female consultant who trampeded into my hospital room with a load of men, and the male consultant was extremely inappropriate with his comments too.

It very much depends on the person, not the sex. I do feel more comfortable with women, just because they know what it is to be one.

Yes, I have nearly always had much worse experiences with female doctors than male, I prefer them personally.

Its just personal choice there is no right or wrong answer and what others do is irrelevant

I wouldn't, but that's due to childhood abuse. I'm sure some of the sneery women on here will tell me how wrong and pathetic that is though.

Why would anyone sneer, it's all about choice unless it's an emergency or a life threatening situation

I have never heard of having a chaperone for a Dr in the UK.
As if the chaperone will know if the Dr is behaving inappropriately or not. Apart from if they start being obviously asking you to do something strange. Checking your boobs for an arm complaint etc. I suppose you have a witness.
If you do not trust a Dr do not see them. Pick one you do.

Plenty of women sneer, I've seen many a comment along the lines of "hes a qualified professional, what do you think hes going to do? Hes not interested in you, hes just doing his job".

I couldn't care less if my doctor was male or female. As long as they're competent and caring, that's what's important to me.
In fact, some of the best doctors I've ever had have been male.

Really? I'm in the UK and I've found it to be the norm lately.
You have someone in the room with you apart from the doctor who oversees everything.

Up to you, you have the right to ask. I saw the male GP in my early 20s with bowel disease. Had to have an exam by the gp and there was a chaperone present.
Was kind of irrelevant if I'd of had a female GP anyway as the majority of consultants in the field in my hospital are male.

Fondle?!
Interesting wording there!
Doctors don't fondle you.

I have never had any issue and can't see why on earth it would bother me.

All my gynaecologists were male except 2, and the male doctors were actually better anyway.

The worst and painful exams I had the misfortune to endure were made by women! Horribly dismissive and not a care for comfort or anything. The nurses who were horrible and had no respect for basic dignity and privacy in hospital were also female, while the (rarer sadly) male nurses were lovely and caring.

I still think it's down to individual, not sex, but to answer the question, I might question experience and qualifications if I have a choice in my care, but male or female? Don't care.

Personally I cannot stand having a chaperone in the room; the fewer people in there the better. I don't need spectators. Plus it's a waste of resources.

Even worse when there are medical students there but at least they are needed due to their training needs.

This is how I feel. If offered I will decline, why would I want another pair of eyes on me in that situation?!

At my GP the male doctors ask for their own female chaperone to the appointment (like a nurse)- to ensure that you don't accuse THEM of misconduct. (if they're viewing private bits). I think it's for the best really.

Most of my recent medical examinations: endoscopy, internal ultrasound and finger up the bum were males. All absolutely fine. In the fact the “chaperone” that the Gp called freaked me out more - she had grey hair in high pig tails and kept giggling and chatting to a colleague just out of sight in the corridor. 😒

Absolutely agree. Similar questions have often been discussed on MN, and there are ALWAYS women very keen to rush in to say how they don’t mind at all as long as the person is qualified/the whole world saw their fanny when they gave birth/the worst medical care they’ve had has been from female practitioners etc etc. The tone of the comments can feel very belittling or mocking to women who aren’t comfortable with male Drs.

Women are completely entitled to ask for a female Dr and should not be mocked, patronised or belittled about it. If one is not available in a timely fashion, then the patient gets to decide how urgent the problem is and whether they are willing to see a male Dr or whether they wait to see a female Dr.

And the patient does not have to have a ‘good’ reason for their request. I have not experienced sexual assault or trauma and yet I prefer to see female Drs for intimate examinations if one is available. That’s just my preference.

With the NHS being in the state it’s in I genuinely wouldn’t care because I wouldn’t want to wait for a female doctor.

I’ve never heard of a chaperone for this type of thing either. Does the doctor have the right to ask for one to be present as well? I think if I was a male GP I’d want to cover myself and make sure that someone was there but I can also see how the patient might not feel comfortable with someone else in the room. In an ideal world we’d have enough female doctors not to put anyone in this position, sadly I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

Not anymore if I can help it, no. I got really, really sick of male doctors and their shit, arrogant approach during my two pregnancies and now make it a point to request a woman if I'm able to. I probably wouldn't put off an important appointment just to see a woman but I usually end up needing to follow up again after being brushed off by male doctors anyway, so maybe just waiting in the first place is the better way to go.

There are ALWAYS women very keen to rush in to say how they don’t mind at all as long as the person is qualified/the whole world saw their fanny when they gave birth/the worst medical care they’ve had has been from female practitioners etc etc. The tone of the comments can feel very belittling or mocking to women who aren’t comfortable with male Drs

There's nothing wrong with being more comfortable with women, and it's always wrong for anyone to mock and sneer.
It's hardly fair to say people saying they don't care as long as they're qualified/they've had bad experiences with female practitioners being patronising or horrible is belittling your experiences though.
It is their experience (mine included) which they're entitled to voice.

It’s standard for GPs to ask for a chaperone - for their protection as much as yours. Last time I saw a male GP for a breast exam he called for one, she stayed the other side of the curtain so wasn’t watching what happened but obviously could hear what he was saying to me and my responses. It’s your right as a patient to request one. It’s also your right to request a female GP if one is available but obviously may mean you have to wait longer.
Your call, OP but if it’s bothering you enough to post on Mumsnet maybe you should rebook.