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 not saying you’re disregarding them and it’s easy to miss posts but I don’t honestly think that until you’ve had a mammogram (I’ve only had one, having my second tomorrow) you can know what an absolutely undignified, humiliating experience it is, and having a man do it would just be the icing on the cake.

And I worry that those with no experience could drown out those with experience and a bad decision be made.

A mammogram is already awkward enough. I have to force myself to go. If the mammographer were male, I wouldn’t have it done.

I was assaulted by a male GP. I didn’t complain so it’s not on my records. My pregnancies were managed and my babies were delivered by female midwives. No male doctor will be coming near me when I’m naked again unless it is an absolute emergency. There’s no way I’d be happy with this. I’d leave.

@CrakdEgg had no idea men were not allowed to do it. Mammogram? Fine. Smear test? No thanks.

Absolutely no issue with a male professional doing my mammogram. I'll just be grateful to get one and be screened. My mum's had breast cancer, what difference does it make if someone with a penis does the scan? If they have the training and expertise that's all I'm bothered about.

I'd rather be seen by a man than by a man pretending to be a woman. And I think people should be able to opt for a woman to do the scan if they would prefer that.

When you've had one yourself you'll have a greater understanding of what it's like. I would not accept a man doing it

Where I live smear tests are carried out by female doctors or nurses only. The whole point of having female-only cancer screening is that it makes women far more likely to book an appointment. Males carrying out these procedures will lead to reduced survival rates for women.

If anything it would be more productive for the medical profession to investigate ways of making cancer screening less invasive to increase the uptake.

My most recent appt was at a clinic in a trailer on the park and ride car park. 3rd time at this location. Only time it has been a bad experience. I was roughly positioned and couldn't hold the pose. The practitioner told me off. It was like being treated like a child. I didn't complain but it was unpleasant behaviour on her part. I doubt a man would have felt he could do that.

Presumably because you’re in the room on your own with a lot of boob holding and being pressed up against for quite a while as the radiologist manipulates your breasts - and many women don’t want that to be carried out by a man. The community screening units usually only have one radiologist, so the logistics of giving women the option of a male of female radiologist on the day would be v difficult to organise.

In nearly 40 years of having a smear I’ve never had a male doing it - it’s always been a female.

No, I wouldn't be happy with this. And I gave birth to twins with male staff in the room and didn't mind a bit. Having someone shoving your boobs about is much more intimate and it absolutely should be done by a woman. I like the fact that it's a women only space.

I do find this whole topic difficult to navigate. Male gynaecologists were once the only choice, were they not, because medicine was wholly practiced by males? We never had the choice, and we've sort of 'got used to it'.

If women had the choice of male or female doctors from the start, which choice would we have made?

I have had males perform a variety of intimate medical procedures including checking my breasts for lumps and I haven’t had any issues (obviously with a chaperone)

but i do not want a man doing my mammogram

In all honesty after reading this thread, I'm very likely not to attend a mammogram as I had absolutely no idea what it involved.

I’ve had a male obstetrician who was superb, mammogram’s feel more intimate. I hate mammograms at the best of times, if I could turn up and be faced with a male doing them I wouldn’t go.

For very personal reasons I would refuse a male, even with a chaperone.

It would put me off going. I'd mentioned this to a friend who doesn't know my reasons. She said I was stupid and cutting off my nose for spiting my face.

While I can understand why anyone would think this on a rational level, my past won't allow rational thinking when it comes to men in my personal spaces.

ETA: Even without my history I wouldn't like a male radiographer performing my mammogram. I think the vast majority of women would only be comfortable with a female but once again, I believe the women have been guilted into "being kind" to males who probably don't deserve it.

My DF died of prostate cancer less than seven months ago. I wouldnt dream of using him as emotional blackmail if a man posted on here saying he would prefer his prostate exam to be done by a man though

Exactly you would absolutely need a woman in the room so you are paying for 2 staff when you would only need one. Seems very inefficient financially.

personally my preference would be female for a routine one but if it was urgent and potentially diagnostic I’m not sure I’d care at that point. What I do think is that there should be choice and no one can make the decision for someone else or forced to have someone touch them they don’t consent to to get medical care

You must attend. Not attending could cost you your life.

I've given birth with both a male and a female obstetrician, I've had smears and transvaginal ultrasounds. I've had a male consultant checking my breast. I've had several mammograms. I agree with most people here, I feel more exposed with a mammogram, probably because you have your top completely bare, and there's a lot of manipulation. I had, abroad, a transvaginal ultrasounds where I wasn't given a drape to cover myself: that felt similar to a mammogram, in term of vulnerability.

I don’t care to be honest ! The best medical professionals I had were male , I worry about how good they are at what they do , not their gender !

I have yearly mammograms. I would not like these to be done by a man.

I've had gynecology investigations from men. I'm not sure what the difference is. I'm actually surprised men can't do mammograms, seems stupid when they can do gynecology.

ETA I just remembered having a lump in my breast investigated by a male consultant. I had to take the top half off and lie there whilst he looked at them and touched them. So odd that they can do this but not a mammogram

I’ve had many gynae, ultrasound, and breast examinations completed by male doctors but never without a chaperone in the room. I had a mammogram a couple of weeks ago. It’s a completely different level of up close and personal (and uncomfortable!) that I would always want a female chaperone.

You've never had a mammogram have you.