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?

Well the thread is about GP appointments @dontforgetofeedthecat. Or have we now moved on to A&E? I would expect that most people needing A&E are happy to be seen by anybody.

Error

I think its quite easy to explain your unease. For the sake of safety we learn deep down that being naked in front of men makes us vulnerable.
The brain has to do a fair bit of heavy lifting to get over that.

I bet it wasn’t part of his training to mention the attractiveness of his patients.

My gynecologist is male and he's great. I also recently had a colonoscopy done by a male gastroenterologist.

You really are BU.

it was a general comment,
but it stands, if people are fussy, it can't be such a bad medical issue

I do prefer to see a female gp if it’s something to do with women’s health and especially if I might need some sort of examination. For general stuff I’m ok seeing a male gp.

But in a situation like yours where there could be a long wait I would accept the appointment with the male gp, have a chaperone present and keep reminding myself that to them, it’s just part of the job and they will have seen hundreds of the same thing before. It’s not like they’re going compare one patients body part with another after. They literally don’t care, they just want to get us the right diagnosis/treatment. Thinking about that And trying to detach myself from the whole thing does help me get through it, even with a female gp to be honest because it’s a bit embarrassing regardless.

so female nurses can see a male patient et mention (privately, obvioulsy) he's hot
but when a male noticed that a woman is good looking, suddenly it's a problem?

interesting double standards

I had really bad bum issues a few years ago and ended up seeing a Consultant as at the time my husband had work medical insurance. The first time he looked and had to examine was a bit .... but after that I honestly didn't think twice as I just need it sorted! I'm pretty sure there was always a HCA chaperone. Honestly you need your bum sorted- just do it ( if you can)

Does trauma count as fussiness, in your view?

What on earth? Why do you keep putting words in my mouth? 😂 Of course female (or male) nurses shouldn’t talk about the attractiveness of their patients. It’s unprofessional and inappropriate.

but they do? SOME do, I am not saying ALL the nurses in the world DO, just, a lot.

I never see any uproar or comment about it. That's the point. It's funny the double standards.
Men should be blind, women not so much (and they aren't😂)

My GP and gynaecologist are both men and so was the consultant when I had breast surgery last year. I've honestly just never given this a second thought.

It's understandable that some women would prefer to see a female doctor, but I've never cared either way.

It’s not just accusations though, women have been sexually assaulted by doctors
i was assaulted by a massage therapist. My mum was assaulted age 8 by a male dentist. That’s why chaperones are needed not just for accusations but to protect women

I don’t have double standards. I commented on a post in which someone said their male Dr friend talked about a patient’s attractiveness. Nobody posted about a female nurse doing the same thing so I was not able to demonstrate my lack of double-standards 😂 So now you somehow think I’ve got double standards because I didn’t comment on nurses discussing their patients’ attractiveness.

But I’ve now said it so you know I don’t have double standards and therefore you can stop
being cross with me about my imagined faux pas.

I have a couple of nurse friends. They don’t talk about their patients at all to me. (Because they are professionals).

I get feeling a bit weird about it - you can't help that! - but I'd rather be seen than not, if you get me.

A male Dr can decline to examine you intimately without a female chaperone for his own safety . Many insist due to fear of accusations.
You can request a female DR or if go with the male DR. It depends on how you feel about it .

You'll be fine, I've seen male and female doctors and nurses for my IBD and endoscopes, they've seen more body parts than you've had hot dinners, don't worry about it. Trust me, have a couple of kids and bowel disease and it's like the whole world has seen everything you've got!!

It was my personal view; why get so uppity? Am I not allowed my own opinion?

I don't care about their sex if they're e.g. examining me but I think it can come into play in terms of what sympathy they give you and how much they'll do for you. In my experience, older male GPs will shy away from gynae for example. Older female GPs less so, but younger male and female GPs are more likely to refer. This means there's both age as well as eex to consider. Of course there are individual differences but the sad fact is if you're a woman you will sometimes not get much consideration from doctors, and more often than not they are male doctors acting this way.

I remember being admitted one night when I had loss of feeling in my genital area (prolapsed discs so this is a red flag) a male doctor had to do a rectal examination. It wasn't an issue to be honest.

I have had several male docs, including the one who did my hysterectomy, rectacele, cystocele, another two who did the testing and surgery for anal prolapse and redo rectocele and one who did my ureter stent--putting in and taking it out. Add it to the OB-GYNs, one that did my fibroid surgery, another who had to fix their botched episiotomy and yet another who had to do some cauterizing of my cervix....I've had a lot of male docs and it doesn't bother me any more than having a female doc.

During exams like the above, I usually just let my mind wander; though it's too little to be out alone.

It’s not appropriate for any healthcare professionals to make comments like this.

Of course you are entitled to an opinion but do you understand why it's neccessary to have a chaperone?

Probably because it’s weird having a man who is a stranger poke about at your genitals

Disagree. That can be fun in the right setting.