Doc wouldn't examine me - is this odd?

[fifitot]

I have been having problems since giving birth and have a prolapse. Have been to GP twice to discuss and on neither occasion has he wanted to examine me.

I really don't mind a male GP examining me but he must have an issue himself! There are plenty of nurses in his practice so he could have had a chaperone.

He has asked me to return to see the female locum.

Isn't this a bit strange?

He might have had patients in the past who've accused him of impropriety, I suppose.
(Or - shudder - he might not be allowed to examine women for some reason?)
I bet it's just that he's unsure of what he needs to check, and doesn't want to put you through an exam unnecessarily. I had a gp friend who said he did this with pregnant women, as he felt he knew bugger all in comparison to his colleagues.

Yes, I can't imagine why he wouldn't. Unless he's out of practise because so few women see male doctors about that kind of thing.

My GP surgery were astounded that I booked my ante-natal appointments with my regular, male GP. They kept offering me the female one, but with much longer waiting times. I think it's normal now for women to ask for female doctors.

But he should have been trained the same way, and he should know what to look for.

Also, I know female doctors who ask for a chaperone when doing intimate examinations, so I don't think it's even a case of just avoiding this.

My GPs surgery will only examine female patients if there is a female nurse present. No idea if this applies to the female GPs too!

I mean, gyn examine, not looking at your elbow or ears lol.

After having 2 kids I really don't care who checks out my bits tbh! Just want this problem sorted!

Hopefully will get further advice with the female doc.

Thanks for your replies!

My GP sent me to the female GP.

When I lived abroad, the rule was that obgyns could only examine you, if there was at least another (female) nurse present. Sometimes there was a full congregation witnessing my smear test.

perhaos he didn't fancy looking at your prolapse

Yes well he's a frigging doctor - I am sure he has seen worse!

Quite a lot of male GPs do this nowadays (I speak as a female locum GP). It is difficult for them to call a nurse through to chaperone as nurses are busy as well. Female drs should really ask for a chaperone as well, but loads don't - I don't!

We don't have the staff to have someone standing by to chaperone, so most male GPs I've come across do ask women to return to see the female GP. This has now been going on for so long that I think a lot of my male GP colleagues feel a bit deskilled in gynae examination - and for that reason alone, it's probably best to go along with his suggestion - I'd much rather be examined by someone who did it all the time.

"My GPs surgery will only examine female patients if there is a female nurse present. No idea if this applies to the female GPs too!"

Our surgery has this rule. This was also the case with our surgery when we lived in Leeds. I think this is becoming increasingly common because of a number of high profile cases where male doctors have been accused of abusing/assaulting female patients.

It's madness I think! Surely as suggested they need to keep their practise current and will lose the skill in this area.

I did see an out of hours doc when initially had problems and he examined me no probs. Also some of the obs I saw when pg were men. Must just be GPs then.

The worlds' gorn mad!