Appointment with male doctor for gynae issues

[Wheresthesandman]

Looking for some guidance with regards to the appointment and whether or not this sounds like anything sinister. Ideally from doctors or nurses but any helpful advice welcome!

I have a doctors appointment the week after next to discuss some spotting I’ve been having before my period. It started a couple of years ago (I came off the pill about 4 years ago) and initially I would have a little bit of brown or pink discharge in the day or two before my period was due, but I’ve realised that it’s gradually getting a little bit further away from the start of my period (for example I might get spotting on day 22, 23 and 25 then start on day 27) so I thought I had better get it checked out. I would have done it sooner but it’s been so gradual I haven’t really noticed. It’s not enough to need a liner or a pad, although this current cycle I had a little bit of light bleeding a full week before my period started plus a little bit of bleeding after sex. However that was day 25 (normally have 25-27 day cycles) so it might just have been a coincidence. I’m 95% certain that everything is fine, I had a smear test exactly 2 years ago which was clear, and I had the HPV vaccine before I become sexually active so chances of it being sinister are statistically very low. I have also been told by a doctor that I have a ‘sensitive’ cervix, but I think this is probably hormonal.

When it came to booking an appointment they only had male doctors available for the next couple of weeks. I wasn’t hugely happy about this but I’m sure I’ll manage as I want to get it out of the way. I guess my question is, given the information I’ve given you is he likely to want to examine me/do another smear test? I wouldn’t refuse if he did need to, but if it’s a likely outcome I’d rather be ‘prepared’. It probably sounds stupid to be bothered as it is just a body part, but I don’t think I have ever seen a male doctor before and I am a bit nervous! Any advice on would be much appreciated

If he does examine you a female chaperone would come in and supervise.

Probably depends on other issues such as your age. I was referred for an ultrasound scan which was helpful (and the letter expected how to prepare).

I think it’s very possible he’d need to examine you and as pp said, you’d have a chaperone. Obviously if you’re not comfortable you can request a female but you may have to wait for another appointment.

Hope you get it sorted. Good luck

Thank you for the advice. I’m 26, so the smear I had 2 years ago was the first one. I booked it as soon as I received the letter through, so I had it done before I turned 25.

I know a huge percentage of cases of cervical cancer (which, as a massive hypochondriac is obviously what I’m worried about) are caused by HPV, so I’m trying to not let it worry me too much.

Are you on the pill? If so, could be an ectropian (nothing to worry about but can cause some bleeding) - in fact you can get them if not on the pill, but more likely if you are

I think it is likely the GP will want to do an internal exam and possibly some swabs too. I have endometriosis and before that was diagnosed I had so many internal exams I lost count - I was a teenager then and it was almost always male doctors, one of whom was my friend’s dad which was quite mortifying. You get used to it!

It’s very very unlikely to be anything sinister but definitely right to get it checked out.

I’m not on the pill, no. It could be that, but I got told I must just have a ‘sensitive’ cervix when I had used a pessary for thrush twice (the joys!) and had light bleeding both times. I’m pretty certain the doctor examined me then and decided I had a healthy but delicate cervix, so I’d assume she’d have noticed it then?

I am sorry that you had to get used to it! Thank you for the advice

You probably should be examined. He would likely either get a female chaperone in or potentially book you back in with a female for the examination if you’d prefer. I was quite happy to be examined by a male GP but he booked me in with a female anyway! Would have rather got it over with!

You should definitely be offered a female chaperone and she should be inside the curtained area with you. Hopefully it will nothing and the can sort you out quickly. Good luck

I did think he might reschedule it, they run a special women’s health clinic that the routine smear tests are done through. I need it sorted during half term though really!

They may have actually meant that you had an ectropian visible when they said it was “delicate” - they don’t usually do anything about them unless they’re causing regular trouble.

@SinkGirl Ah I see, thank you. It wasn’t mentioned when I had the smear, but if they’re not always visible that might explain a lot. I’m pretty certain delicate was the word she used, not the most scientific admittedly...

Unfortunately lots of HCPs think you don’t need all the details, I’ve come across this many times sadly! Did you bleed after your smear test?

I have always had ectropians / erosions but have never needed treatment as they’re not too troublesome and the person doing it rarely mentions it unless I ask specifically. Euphemisms like “delicate” have been used - one time I asked for clarification and they said “well you have the more sensitive cells usually above the cervix growing on your cervix and these bleed”, so I said “you mean it’s a cervical erosion?” and they looked quite surprised and said yes! I guess it’s a scary term for something benign - ectropian is slightly better I guess!

He will probably do an internal scan with a chaperone. Sounds like you have cervical ectropion or possibly polyps / fibroids. Both v common.

I didn’t (or if I did it was such a tiny amount I’ve forgotten about it), but the nurse said I might as I’d bled after the pessaries before. I found the whole experience surprisingly uneventful, which was good!

Do you know if a cervical ectropian is likely to only cause bleeding/spotting in the week leading up to a period? That’s the only time it happens, I’d have been more concerned if it just happened at random.

Possibly, since the height of your cervix changes throughout your cycle so it’s possible that those cyclical changes could impact this I suppose. Abnormal bleeding always needs to be checked out however, but I would try not to panic - given that your smear was relatively recent and you’ve had the HPV jab, other options are much more likely. Fingers crossed you get it sorted soon.

Thank you

I had a male gynae for my appointment a few years ago and a female chaperone was present for the exam. It’s standard for any kind of exam pretty much. I had a heart exam and a chaperone was requested because he had to listen to my chest.

It’s not actually the lack of female chaperone that’s worrying me if I’m honest. I will take one if offered as I completely understand why it’s a sensible precaution (for me and the doctor) but I don’t think having her there will make me much less uncomfortable! Thank you all for the advice.

I might be in the minority but I feel less embarrassed bearing my bits to a man than another woman. I've only had one appointment with my male gynae consultant and he did an internal exam (just the speculum and a quick light up my nether regions) and he got a female nurse in to stand at the head end, but then my female GP offers that too. If you're u dear investugation for something you just get used to everyone having a poke around down there!

I've had various bits checked out with a male doctor and honestly they're used to it. Bum is the worst. It'll be over before you know it

I avoided my male doctor regarding a sensitive issue until one day he was the only option. He was a million times better than all the female doctors and I wished I'd seen him sooner.

@Wheresthesandman
Its unlikely he will be able to determine the issue without examining you internally. It sounds like you have cervical motion tenderness, which he will pick up during a bimanuel examination. He probably wont do a smear test because you arent due one for 12 months, but i would expect a speculum exam too.

So I’ve had the appointment, after all that he didn’t examine me, other than feeling my stomach! He wants me to have some blood tests done to make sure I’m not anaemic (which I was surprised by, but there you go) and he’s made a referral for me to have an ultrasound done to investigate and to have a look at everything. He asked about family history etc, but one of the things he mentioned was endometriosis which I am 99.9% certain I don’t have...

So things are potentially less clear now than when I went in. Still, thank you for all your advice!