Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Male GP - Thoughts

32 replies

Tulipsi · 21/04/2021 21:57

What are your thoughts on male GP's?

My new surgery doesnt have a female GP and i am very uncomfortable speaking with a man about personal matters, womens health, also mental health.

I honestly want to change surgeries as i feel i cant be open

OP posts:
NiceGerbil · 21/04/2021 22:02

If that's how you feel then that's what you need to do.

For me there's been a mix of good and not so good male and female BUT that's nothing to do with comfort. If you will feel uncomfy being open about whatever issues you are having or come up, then it's not going to work.

What sort of this- our surgery there's always a nurse chat first (they've always been female so far), and they often have female locums in.

You could talk to the surgery and say preference for female and do they often have a locum who is a woman etc.

Round here you get who is available, you don't have your own doc except in theory, IME

Bumblebee1980a · 21/04/2021 22:07

I am exactly the same. It would be a real problem for me if my surgery didn't have a female GP.

Could you speak to a nurse (if they were specialised in that area).

Otherwise I would look at elsewhere as you have to feel comfortable about going.

purpleme12 · 21/04/2021 22:11

I can't believe they don't have a female one!
Do they not have a female one part time??
That shouldn't be allowed

NiceGerbil · 21/04/2021 22:19

GPs are self employed.

Some are very small practices- we used to have one with one doc locally.

Strawbfields · 21/04/2021 22:26

I'm an auxiliary nurse in an NHS hospital so I might be a bit biased. I honestly can't see an issue with this, personally I've had a copper IUD fitted and later removed by 2 separate male doctors. I've had a smear test carried out by a male consultant and I've also had many appointments with a male doctor regarding mental health support - all of these were scheduled appointments or referrals at my local GP surgery.

I have seen our part time female doctor on occasion but have never specifically requested a female doctor - even when I was 12 years old and had a very embarrassing cyst on my breast that required daily packing at my GP surgery treatment room!

We have 7 male doctors and 1 part time female doctor who is now on maternity leave at my practice. I think the issue maybe lies with how many females choose to study medicine and progress to become a GP. I have never felt embarrassed around a male doctor.

purpleme12 · 21/04/2021 22:31

That's fair enough but I personally think that people should always be able to have the option of choosing a same sex doctor if needed

PurpleDaisies · 21/04/2021 22:33

I’ve never come across a practice with no female GP. I’m really surprised by that since it’s really not uncommon for women to want a female gp.
It’s fine to move. I would consider moving too.

Trixie78 · 21/04/2021 22:36

I have seen a male GP for more intimate consultations but have always had a chaperone. Would you feel more comfortable with a female member of staff there?

If not you could speak with a female practice nurse otherwise you may need to change surgeries.

RachelRavenR0th · 21/04/2021 22:39

I think the issue maybe lies with how many females choose to study medicine and progress to become a GP.

Well, that cannot be the case as it is well known female GP’s outnumber males ones quite significantly in the UK.
on the GP register, women outnumber men with over 35 thousand female GPs for 27 thousand male GPs

Dizzy1234 · 21/04/2021 22:40

It wouldn't bother me, I had a telephone appointment with a male GP to discuss HRT, I didn't think of him as male just as a gp, he was actually very sympathetic.
On the other hand I wouldn't want a male gp looking at my lady garden 😉

timeisnotaline · 21/04/2021 22:41

I’d be fine with seeing one but if there were 3 or more gps would be filling in the patient feedback form that it was curious they didn’t have a female gp and in the interests of providing quality care to all they should.

TheMarzipanDildo · 21/04/2021 22:44

Strawbfields

I think I would personally be fine with a male doctor in most cases, but I do worry that not having a female doctor will stop some women who are abuse survives/ of certain religions/ generally nervous around men for whatever reason from going at all.

getyourfreakon · 21/04/2021 22:44

My GP surgery was taken over by a group running several practices a couple of years ago. I used to know exactly who the GPs were and who I could trust. Not any more. You're usually allocated at random and there's no guarantee you'll get a female GP because you have to select a particular GP by name if you want one but I don't know any of their names. It's ridiculous.

Musicaltheatremum · 22/04/2021 08:20

We are an all female GP practice so it's difficult for the men to see a male GP. We do have a weekly locum who is male but he is only in one day a week. Re "it shouldn't be allowed" if no female doctors apply for the job you can't do much. There is a terrible shortage of GPs of either sex these days. We cannot get cover for holidays and end up having to work on days we are not scheduled to work or come back in in our holidays (ok with lockdown as we are all at home but that will change) General practice is in severe crisis so getting a GP of your male /female preference is the least of your worries.

10 years ago we advertised a post and had 60 applications. 3 years ago we had 3. Many surgeries get no applications.
I'm retiring in 2 years.

FrancesFlute · 22/04/2021 08:28

Surprising. There are a lot more female GPs than male. When my DH started at his practice four years ago he was the only male GP, with about six females.

Could you ask to chat with a female nurse first? If any examinations are needed they will always bring a chaperone in.

PinkDaffodil2 · 22/04/2021 08:40

I would suggest finding a new practice, as even if they have a nurse who can do contraception, smears, some examinations, it’s tricky that you wouldn’t want to speak to any of the doctors about mental health or about personal matters.
You would of course have a chaperone if a male doctor ever needed to do an examination, but I don’t suppose that would work so well for mental health discussions etc.

Newgirls · 22/04/2021 08:42

I had a very supportive young male GP when talking about meno and peri. He was more up to date than the older female GP I saw a while ago.

Sexnotgender · 22/04/2021 08:45

I have absolutely no problem with a male GP in theory HOWEVER, there should be an option to see a female one and I fully understand why many women might be uncomfortable with a male.

WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld · 22/04/2021 08:46

I would want the choice to ask for a female GP. I have done this week for my dd who has been a victim of sexual abuse and needs an intimate examination

gamerchick · 22/04/2021 08:52

It's pot luck at ours. Our doctors are part time and do other practises.

Not that I can get in atm anyway. It's still covid emergency and could I visit the pharmacist instead message or go to A&E for more urgent stuff so doesnt matter anyroad.

SingingWaffleDoggy · 22/04/2021 08:54

I work very closely with GP’s and as a health care professional can honestly say that I would see any GP if needed. However, I appreciate some people wouldn’t want to do that for various reasons so before moving it may be worth asking if they have a female nurse practitioner who can do most prescribing/ gynae investigations, or consult with a GP if needed. Many Nurse practitioners I have worked with a very competent and knowledgable and in some cases I’d value their expertise over the GP (but I’m a bit biased)!

youcancallmequeene · 22/04/2021 08:55

We have a mix of gps at our surgery too. I don't think YABU to want to change. It doesn't bother me either way and I've sent many male professionals for gynaecology. However just because I don't mind it doesn't mean that another woman shouldn't mind either.

If you feel uncomfortable why not call the surgery and ask if there are plans for a female gp to join? Maybe they're recruiting or waiting for a new gp. If not, you then have the information you need to change to a different practice.

overwork · 22/04/2021 12:01

In answer to your question, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest.
But it doesn't really matter how I feel about it, it's how you feel about your GP which counts. If you aren't comfortable with it, maybe there will be another practice close by which has more female doctors employed.

PurplePumpkinDream · 22/04/2021 13:06

As they say once you’ve had a baby you don’t care who sees what! I would hate it having a chaperone as well, even more of an audience! But that’s me if you really want to see a female GP you’ll have to change practice and even then you’ll have to see if you are able to request any particular doctor.

Sexnotgender · 22/04/2021 13:10

As they say once you’ve had a baby you don’t care who sees what!

I’m afraid you don’t speak for all women.

I literally had a baby last week and I will choose who I do and do not feel comfortable getting undressed with or discussing personal matters.

I’m always baffled by people who seem unable to comprehend others may feel differently to them.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread