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?

Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem with a male mammographer. I would view him as a medical professional like any other. It’s no different to a male gynaecologist. Or a male cosmetic surgeon doing boob jobs.

BUT I don’t think it should happen because it would deter many women, and particularly those from conservative religious communities, from being scanned.

The 'well, I'm not bothered' arguments are exactly the same ones used about males in female spaces during the trans debate. Men doing mammograms would have zero benefit to women and could only have a negative outcome, namely fewer women being screened and a more intrusive or distressing experience for those women who are bothered by it.

They have problems getting women to turn up for cancer screenings. This would make that worse.

And I keep circling back to this point because I can't see how this solves the workforce crisis.
By allowing males into mammography the NHS will need to increase the number of chaperones in the breast clinics.

How is this solving any workforce crisis? You're INCREASING the number of needed staff. Or is there something that I am missing?

NO. I will only have a woman doing my mammogram. No question.

No. I had an ultrasound when I found a lump, is it very different?

Absolutely ok with me. I have had many mammograms one of which showed breast cancer and resulted in a mastectomy aged 50.
I understand concerns of being in a female space, however as with any profession with the right training and knowledge there is no reason for a man not to carry out mammograms.
After all it was a male surgeon whom carried out my mastectomy and had a good feel and look prior to my surgery.
Also the I was lucky enough through. the NHS ro have one of the top breast cancer surgeon in the UK.
Feminism for me is about equity. It’s like saying a female nurse/surgeon cannot carrying out treatment/ surgery on a prostate patient .

just because a woman carries out a mammogram, doesn’t mean you get better care. Yea it feels uncomfortable and awkward for both you the patient and the health clinicians. And in any case the NHS would have a female chaperone in clinic with you. To protect both parties

Think on this kind of thinking is a step back in my mind .

Hmm I just watched some videos of mammograms being performed and I genuinely can’t understand the argument that it’s more intimate than someone putting their hands up your vagina. It literally looks like just having an x ray, albeit potentially uncomfortable but I don’t get the intimate part when someone is saying they are happy for a man to put his fingers up their vagina or examine their entire breast with his hands but they feel that a man adjusting their breasts on a plate for an x ray is on a different level and should never be able to be performed by a man.

It's a no thank you from me too, I can't think of any positive reason why a male practitioner might target a job that would normally be done by a woman and in which predominantly involves handling women's breasts. It's entirely different from a GP of either sex being expected to be able to examine both men and women competently and respectfully when they present with a breast or genital symptom.

Interesting thread. I'm booked in for my first mammogram next month.

it would bother me for a smear. Dont think it would for a mammogram, I’ll see

If there is a shortage then I can’t see there being a problem training up men to do it. The women who aren’t bothered should use those men to free up the women who do want a female.it should be informed choice. I agree no one who is not bothered should speak to those who are.

No, she “mustn’t”

everyone has a choice. It is completely her choice not to attend, and no one should be forced into medical examinations or procedures they don’t want.

same with the exact topic we’re discussing here. If you don’t want a male practitioner, you absolutely can say no. No one should be saying “you can’t say no, it could cost you your life”. They can say no, their life, their choice.

consent is still important.

All we can do is ensure people are fully informed regarding the risks of refusing. If they still refuse it is their choice and their acceptance of the risks.

it’s called informed consent. You are allowed to not consent, even in a situation where your life may be at risk.

there is no “must” about it.

Really?? I'm obv. much older than you but have only ever had women doing my smear and I certainly wouldn't have a man doing that. My friends have also had only women. Where did you have all these men doing smears?

It is a whole other world.

I’ve never had a man do a smear but I’m pretty sure (though I’ve erased much of this hellish experience from my mind) than at least one male doctor was involved when I had my uterus x-rayed. And there was definitely a bloke around during my epic labour.

My boobs are quite big Is the plate big enough and is it likely to hurt

Were you born a very long time ago because medicine has not been practiced wholly by men for a very long time?

I’ve had a male doctor do it several times when I have had issues I needed looking at. I have never had a routine smear done by a female. I’d be very surprised if male nurses were ever booked for that.

No

No. It was quite challenging to have a male radiographer putting wires and tattoos around my breast. I also found it challenging having a male surgeon. But obviously u was grateful to be treated quickly.

mammograms are painful

mri’s always seem to be women. But they have to tape a cod liver oil capsule to your nipple; again, not keen on a male!

I've had the dildocam from a male technician. I've also had a heart and general chest ultrasound from a male technician- top and bra fully removed. Its a medical functional procedure. There is no problem with male professional technicians. If that were the case then there should be no male gynaecologists, and no male breast reconstruction surgeons. No male obstetricians either...

Not that poster, but my male gp (as it’s a one gps office, rural) has done my smears and the gynaecologist I’ve seen several times is male so had to do the speculum etc

I’ve just been totting up in my head and I must have had 20 mammograms in total since I had my very first one when I was 50 and I can honestly say that I have never once found it to be an undignified or humiliating experience, and I think to portray it as that is irresponsible and could well help to put women off being screened. The only intimate procedure I’ve ever found remotely undignified was having a breast MRI scan when I was first diagnosed with cancer, and had to lie on my front with my boobs dangling through two holes on the bed. The health care assistant who got me into position was really sweet and he was very kind, but I did feel like a cow getting ready to be milked. I got told off once I was in the scanner because I got a fit of the giggles thinking about the position I was in and couldn’t keep still enough.

So there are 2 people in the room with you then. A male mammographer and a female chaperone. That'd be two people being paid instead of just 1 female mammographer.

What video were you watching? It’s nothing like having an x-ray.

The best way to describe it ( if you’re comparing it to having a gynae exam) is that the person carrying it out would be pressed up against you with their body and squeezing and manipulating your parts open and onto the speculum with their hands.

I had no idea that males didn't perform mammograms. I have had an annual one for the last 10 years. I do find them uncomfortable and degrading anyway. Being performed by a man would probably add to this, though I have had males perform breast exams (and exams when giving birth) so it does seem surprising that they are "not permitted" to carry out mammograms.