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’m guessing you’ve never had a mammogram, @CrakdEgg.

It’s a really undignified procedure, whereby (in my case) my sagging breast is woman handled into a machine like a waffle iron, and generally pulled about while the machine is got into the right position to get a good scan.

It is really uncomfortable, almost painful, and profoundly undignified and almost humiliating.

Thwre is no way I want a man doing that. I had an older woman doing mine and at least there was a sense of solidarity as she’d obviously had them herself.

Hmm. I have always found with male dildocammers that they're unbelievably concerned about hurting you, because they don't know what it feels like, so they're much more gentle and considerate to the point where I've sometimes thought "do you think your wife hates every second of it when you shag her??" I sort of think they might be gentler with the boob-squishing too...

Wouldn't bother me as long as they were fully trained and chaperoned

It really reassured me that it was a women only site.
First time it was a building/section where only women worked.
Second time it was a trailer in a car park- very close quarters and quite isolated. Extra important it was female only. It worked like a one way system. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in any section with a bloke, knowing no one could interrupt.

It’s more intimate than having a speculum, much more hands on.

And you’d need a chaperone, so that’s extra staff needed. No gain, imo.

Wait, what? I had no idea that men didn’t carry out mammograms in the UK! I am currently in mainland Europe and have had a male mammographer on several occasions, no issues whatsoever and I actually prefer him to the female technician as he is very thorough and serious. I literally had no idea that this wasn’t the case everywhere, although I can understand that some women would prefer a female, I wonder if this is the case anywhere else or just the UK?

No way - absolutely not.

Wouldn’t bother me.

It would not bother me. Ive been examined everywhere by a male doctors and some were more respectful and gentle than some of the female ones!
i think if there’s a shortage and it helps bring the wait down then yes. It should be on the letter though that the apt may be carried out by a male so there’s no suprises.

No.

When I have had mammograms I have always been alone in the room with the radiographer. Surely men would have to have female assistants to chaperone the women? In which case, they are doubling up the staff needed. Seems very wasteful of NHS resources.

No, you're not unusual in thinking that.

I've recently had a hysteroscopy with a male gynae. I got through that. A mammogram with a man? Nope.

I've suffered a couple of male gynaes who were absolutely dreadful in that they seemed oblivious to the pain that they were inflicting. If had to suffer a male radiographer with such an attitude, I don't think that I could be responsible for my actions.

(There's not much you can do when you're trapped in the stirrups!)

That's what I said higher up. I've had vaginal examinations and internal ultrasounds conducted by both men and women, and I'd take the man doing it every time. Same with when I've had to have chest xrays etc. The male doctors were really concerned with trying to keep my dignity as much as possible, even fixing my gown midway because it had fallen open (had to be open for the procedure but not open, open..) the female ones couldn't give a flying fuck!

It's a NO from me. It's bad enough having it done by a woman, there's a lot of faffing about, a lot of moving and slight adjustments of your breast to get it in just the right spot. I appreciate my gynacologist is male but at least when he's examining me I can't see exactly what he's doing. You can with mammogram and I would prefer to know I am not going to be surprised by a man doing the mammogram.

I don’t think men should be allowed to perform intimate health exams on women without chaperones. Nor should they be alone with vulnerable patients without chaperones.

So now there would be two people in the room while I was topless when there only needs to be one. That doesn’t feel like patient centered care.

I want a woman doing my mammogram.

No, I'm not -- I mean presumably women can say they don't want a male gynaecologist? But that doesn't mean there can't be any male gynaecologists.

It wouldn’t bother me - but I am now old and confident enough to feel that I’d speak up if I felt something was amiss.

and also so what I I wouldn’t care - lots of women would.

so NO MEANS NO

It does feel different to gynae stuff. I’ve had various male doctors examining my nethers, and even had a prolapse repair done by a male surgeon, but I don’t want a male manhandling my boobs. It’s far more intimate for some reason.

It wouldn’t bother me, it’s a check that needs to be done. All non clinical staff are trained in chaperoning where I work, so there’s always someone available if requested.

I wonder if those saying they wouldn't mind have actually had a mammogram. I-m not negating their opinion but would be interested to know.

I've also had smears carried out by men when I was younger and less assertive but having had two mammograms I would not want a man doing mine.

I haven’t had one as not yet old enough.

I would probably be ok with it as an option - but realistically many women would not.

No thanks; and really they should always be chaperoned and so using double the people.

I had one male gynae who gave me an internal scan and attempted to remove polyps with no local anaesthetic. Horrendous experience. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was traumatised.

Absolutely not. I would be highly unlikely to attend a mammogram with a man. It’s bad enough without that.

Exactly. Some women are very very vocal about male midwives but that shouldn't stop there being male midwives.

My friend is a urinary/prostate nurse, now that's an embarrassing, intimate area for men. Nobody has every suggested that she shouldn't be doing it.

I would feel hugely uncomfortable if this were done by a man. As the previous poster says this is done at close quarters in a small room with just the two people in it at our local hospital. Any your boobs are being handled and it’s painful.
With gynaecology the person doing the procedure doesn’t have their face next to yours or their hands on your body. I would still prefer anything like that to be done by a female health professional.