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?

it's the pulling and pushing of the boob that made it very painful for me - I have small boobs! I wouldn't want a man to do that. I've had zero issues with a man performing internal scans and delivering my baby. But manhandling my boobs - no thanks.

I think as long as there as an opt out (before you get into the room, I always find the question about men/chaperones/student drs, awkward when I’m literally in the room) I’s be fine with it.

For my lump I had to have a male gp and then a male consultant feel which was much more awkward than the mammogram (even if it had been a man for me personally)
but I think an easy opt out that’s not literally when you’re in the room is really important as it puts the pressure on for people to say yes.

I don’t know. But on recent experience I would rather be treated by any male GP/doc as long as they were professional rather than abused as I recently was at the breast clinic by a female clinician where I ended up needing treatment for a collarbone injury and left incredibly bruised and humiliated.

I agree. It's v. intimate, they are right next to your face while arranging each breast.
When I go for a smear I can wear a loose skirt and sort of 'detatch'. Though really I'd like a woman for that too.

No thanks. But I did have a nasty experience with a male gp when I was a teenager.

I wouldn’t object to a male mammographer - the last time I went and had lumps in my breasts checked and dealt with, everyone except the mammographer was a man. There was a woman in with the doctor as a chaperone but I hadn’t requested one. Just a nice extra.

I do think if you are someone who does mind, then being able to request female care would help. I don’t know if I would have been able to choose a woman to do the initial exam and the ultra sound after the mammogram. I don’t know if it would have delayed anything.

Wouldn’t bother me, had a vaginal exam from a male consultant to check something cervix/y

plus like 17 medics when I had a crash section. Naked and screaming!

didnt bother me

I also wouldn’t accept a male midwife.
Its entirely different to male gynaecologists.

@FannyCann Genuinely interested why you view the two differently?

Absolutely not. I find it quite an undignified procedure, and to have a man do it would mean a further loss of dignity (for me).

For those of you saying you don’t mind, which is obviously your right, you might want to think about medical outcomes-

‘It found that those treated by a female surgeon were less likely to experience death, hospital readmission or major medical complications at 90 days or 12 months after surgery. These findings were maintained when accounting for patient, procedure, surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital characteristics.21 Dec 2023’

This is taken from the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons. Women medical staff are more empathetic, thorough and pay more attention to detail, I know who I’d rather have carrying out my mammogram and checking it afterwards and it isn’t a man.

As a mammographer in a previous work life, I've carried out hundreds of mammograms, but never had one myself.

When I do, I really don't think I'd feel comfortable with a male doing it. It's a lot of breast handling, the radiographer's face is also inches away from the patient's while positioning, making it a very intimate examination. Also I got better images if I could help the patient relax, I might not be able to relax with a male radiographer.

I think the reasoning was that in breast screening, the uptake needs to be high to justify the cost of a screening programme. Having male radiographers may see a reduction in screening uptake. Women could refuse a male radiographer or ask for a chaperone, which would take up precious screening clinic time (we got 5mins per patient!)

There are male breast radiologists, I wouldn't mind that at all. During biopsies/ultrasounds there was always more than 1 clinician/radiographer/assistant in the room and more time allocated for the procedure.

How many lesbian doctors or nurses have sexually assaulted their patients? Seriously? Please provide six examples. I can offer you at least 20 examples of male HCPs who've committed assaults in the past 12 months.

Why do you think that female patterns of attraction and sexuality are anything like male ones? Do you think that if lesbians thought they could get away with it, we'd be sexually assaulting women at the rate men do?

I hate the homophobia here on MN.

It’s a no from me. I’ve had a few mammograms and the close contact would definitely deter me.

I also been to see a male gynae consultant - his general attitude towards hysteroscopies put me off. I was ready to get a little firey but am sure he would have just referred to being post menopausal and belittled that uncomfort too.

I would much prefer to be seen by a female in both situations.

Why are you telling women what boundaries they can and can’t have. I’ve had a mammogram, and I’ve had my nethers poked and prodded around by a brace of doctors, male and female, over the years.

I absolutely would not want a man doing my mammogram and I totally question the motives of men who’d sign up to do this.

Even in 2025 we can’t have woman-centred healthcare.

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest as being done for my health, and I would go with ever had the quickest availability.
A mammogram is not dignified but nor was it when my Mum died of terminal cancer.

Could t care less which gender. Wouldn’t refuse a male doctor, midwife, gynaecologist either.

I’d prefer a female.

My first mammogram is in two weeks time. I really would prefer that it wasnt done by a man

The take up rate is below target, and im not sure the chance of having a man to perform the examination is going to increase the numbers.

This. Many men go into Gynae because it's considered an interesting and varied area of medicine. Fair enough. All my gynae consultants were male when I spent some unplanned weeks on a gynae ward. My gastro consultant is also male, I have no issue with this.

However, I'd be suspicious of a man wanting to be involved in mammograms. It is a very intimate procedure. Just because some see no issue with men in this role , nobody has the right to decide for the rest of us. Men don't have to be involved in everything. It's a no from me.

As a rule I’m fine with male medical health workers, but I have issue with women not being given a choice.

I’d be happy selecting ok with a man performing my mammogram after all most of my gps have been men, my obstetrician I paid privately for was a man, I’ve had multiple intimate surgeries and procedures performed by men. So if I’m ok with a man doing my appointment, at the back of my mind I’m hoping it’s freeing up a woman to help someone else who dose care.

The bigger issue I see is why are they so short of women for the roles? Shouldn’t the focus be on recruitment and training rather than shipping men in and giving women less choice?

Personally wouldn't bother me particularly (yes ive had two of them) but as @CoffeeandWalnuts said, the likelihood of self exclusion, requests for another clinic date with a female mammographer and the need for chaperones is unlikely to improve efficiency.

Fine for other systems and cultures to use them but that doesn't mean they're right for the UK.

It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest having a man carrying out my mammograms. I had a man for my recent breast ultrasound and didn’t think anything of it.

At the breast clinic at Charing Cross hospital in London this month I had a female HCP for the mammogram, but a male doctor for the ultrasound (with a female chaperone). I was a bit surprised but it was my first check so wasn’t Sue if that’s normal or not.

The clinic was good overall though.

The fantastic Margaret McCartney has written extensively about mammograms:

https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1824/rr-1