Allow Male Workers to perform mammograms and breast screening

[CrakdEgg]

OK, so the Society & College of Radiographers have their annual delegates conference, where members bring forward motions for the union to lobby on.
In the past they have passed motions to 'remove gendered language' from health communications for inclusivity - you know, 'pregnant people' and the like. They then lobby behind the scenes to the Government to follow these requests.

This year we have this motion -

Allow Male Workers to Perform Mammograms

Workforce shortages: there are 15 posts for mammographers on NHS jobs. In the UK.

But are we bothered? Do we not want males in this space, or does it not matter because we have male gynaecologists? Or will it dissuade women from attending?

I am interested to hear other people's opinions. My instincts say 'no way Jose', but I am interested in keeping males out of female spaces, so I accept my bias.

Thoughts?

I don't fancy being scanned by a man, awkwardness increased hugely

No thank you. It’s weird enough when a woman in her 20’s is squishing my middle aged chest, I don’t want a man doing it

I wouldn’t want a man doing it.

Huge no from me.
This is something a woman needs to do.

No way. I'd refuse.

I mean I'm too young to have ever had a mammogram and they sound awful, but so many men have stuck a speculum/dildocam up my cooch that I can't imagine it being more embarrassing having a man squish my boob between two plates?? It's pretty inconsistent to say men can peer up your vag but not examine your tits.

No from me. Someone grabbing my boob and clamping it in a vice is bad enough without it being a man doing it. There’s a lot of manipulation at very close quarters. I get there are male gynaecologists but I’ve always felt mammogram to be more uncomfortable and embarrassing than gynae exams. I may be unusual thinking that…

Surely it would significantly discourage a percentage of women from attending to have their breasts scanned, making it an unacceptable risk?

Like, I would personally really hate it, but I’d still make myself go. But I’m sure some women would feel unable to go at all.

I would not like this. Would it be worth employing a male mammographer if many women would therefore miss the test? Would they need a chaperone?

It wouldn’t bother me as long as they were respectful professional obviously. I have had a smear test done by a man and a male doctor delivered my eldest daughter, all fine.

I understand that that’s me though and I can’t speak for all women so absolutely think women should have the right to request female only care when they’re going to be in a vulnerable position.

And this is what the consensus was the last time this was mooted, in around 2019. So the subject was dropped. But it seems it has, like Lazarus, arisen once more.

It's not much fun stripping off in front of another woman. The radiographer has had to use her hands to position my boobs previously. I wouldn't want a man doing that. I'm afraid I find it quite a ordeal anyway so the extra uncomfortableness of a man doing it would be too much for me.

It’s hard to explain, but it’s quite intimate in a different way. I always find myself struck by how nuanced the balance of physical and verbal guidance has to be by the person doing the scanning, to get the best possible image and minimise discomfort.

I've had the dildocam from a male..THAT was a weird experience.

if I had a lump in my breast I would not give a flying f**k what gender the person doing my mammogram is. This is taking it too far people. I didn’t even know men couldn’t do this. Sure we have male gynaecologists.

I couldn't get upset about this, as long as people were given the option, as they are with any medical appointment to choose to have a woman perform the procedure (albeit, with a wait).

But as per a PP, I've had 3 babies, delivered vaginally by male consultants, I had a male midwife, I've had several ECGs and chest ultrasounds and CT scans, all carried out by males. It would be a bit weird if I were now to get upset over a male performing a mammogram. I've actually found the male doctors more gentle and more respectful.

Personally, it doesn't matter to me if the person is treating me is male or female but I understand that others might like the choice, and as long as that is upheld, it's all good with me.

Agreed. It's a no from me.

It's a nope for me. Just had my first mammogram and would not want a man to do that at all. Absolutely hell no.

No thank you

In a clinical setting with chaperones etc this is just awkward and potentially embarrassing surely?

Women perform prostate and testicular exams on men. Should these be banned too?

It is classed as an intimate procedure, so yes, anyone would be entitled to ask for a chaperone - which as I understand it, do not exist just hanging around in services awaiting to accompany male mammographers.

So would they have to be employed, just in case? Or taken from clinic areas for those who requested, leaving the clinic short?

So is the plan: male mammographers - buy one member of staff, get one for free?!

You may well change your mind once you have had one.
You’re kind of criticising women for having boundaries when it comes to what they will and won’t accept being done to their bodies.

It's a no from me.

With a mammogram you walk into the unit - possibly a caravan in a supermarket car park - there's a receptionist, and in a small room there's a radiographer. No support person allowed in the room. I had to strip around the corner from the radiographer but walk into the room naked from the waist up. No gown provided. Then she manhandled one breast into the machine while I stood in a daft position with the other breast uncovered. I could not imagine doing any of that in front of a man - even if there was a chaperone, even if there was a space for a chaperone in the room.

I've got an appointment at the breast clinic for a suspicious lump. The letter said I might be seen by male or female staff, depending on staff shortages.
I'm perfectly happy to be seen by male staff for this type of thing. Though I suppose if I could choose then I'd rather they be female. Ultimately I just want them to be fully proficient at their job.
I had a male trainee observing me getting a gynae exam before. Obviously I consented to that. So to me it wouldn't really bother me as a patient.
I guess if it stops women from entering medicine then that's a bad thing of course.