It is very hard for male students to even get the basic training when they are on OBGYN rotations. Patients often refuse them even coming into the room.
I mean part of this is our culture. If we didn’t have to fear men violating us so much we might be more open to allowing male doctors into our more intimate procedures.
I have had both male and female OBs. Both were great. But I am not surprised by this article.
when I was in labor, there was this male nursing student who’d been milling around most of the day because no one would let him in the room. I don’t blame any woman for having a preference, but he really was very attentive and gentle. Probably because I was his only patient. Lol. He also looked to be about 13 years old so I’m sure that didn’t help his case much.
Well, until men in America give women a reason to trust them, whatever. This is a situation they created. We had a male gynecologist in our community for FORTY years until he was charged with sexual assault, overprescribing narcotics (resulting in death), and insurance fraud.
As someone who has been raped and sexually abused, I don't need that kind of shit in my life, so I try to mitigate the likelihood of having a creep stare into my vagina by choosing an all female office.
I wouldn't object to having a male deliver my child, or being in the room or whatever, but I really do love going to an office and being surrounded by other women who have a female perspective on infertility, PCOS, sex, etc.
I have no problems with male OB/GYNs. I used to see one. It was fine. I switched when I started TTC because he was old as shit and I didn't want him retiring on me. I also wanted a bigger practice, but I think maybe he doesn't even deliver anymore so it was a moot point. I also wanted to deliver at a different hospital.
I had what felt like 5 million students in my c-section room and I think a few were men. I have no idea. I was focused on making sure they sewed me back up into 1 piece.
With all of this said, I don't feel bad for any of these men.
Curious, why the distinction that they must've studied at an HBCU? And do you mean for med school or residency or fellowship or all of them?
Oh I don't care just some amount of time at an HBCU. I need you familiar with things that disproportionately impact Black people.
Got it! I guess I'll still be friends with you though I applied to 2 HBCUs for med schools and got rejected by both. While I do think HBCUs are great, I think students and residents should go to/rank programs on a variety of issues. I don't think we should be picky in this particular issue, even though as I'm sure you're aware I'm sick of these white people in medicine in charge lol. The residency and fellowship process is already a nerve wracking/competitive process enough, it would not be good advice to only apply to and/or rank HBCUs. If that were the case I wouldn't be a practicing doctor and I don't think that's good for the Black community either! I've never studied at an HBCU and reproductive justice is my passion for my career, which clearly focuses on Black women. Therefore, while I certainly would've studied at an HBCU for med school if I were given the opportunity I don't think it's stopped me from my advocacy work and clinical practice/focus regarding issues amongst Black women.
My brother is a male nurse and had to do a rotation through L&D in his training. He said it was really difficult to meet his minimum requirement of assisting with one vaginal delivery and one c-section. He always looked for moms who were not first timers for the best chances of being allowed to stay in the room.
This is so true. I know for me, I was much more reserved the first time around. By kid 2, I was like "the more the merrier! Bring in whoever you want!"
Lol I actually said that and ended up with like 10 people crowded around my nether regions for kid 2. (Kid 3 came too fast or would have with him too. I aim to please with my stretched out bag)
I don't know if my issues with my gynecologist are related to the fact that he's male or just incompetent, but when I was briefly pregnant, I started looking for a female obgyn. I plan on switching before my next annual because he's honestly the worst. There's just no feeling of compassion or care. Plus he insists on annual paps despite the current recommendations. I've never had an abnormal pap and never tested positive for HPV and I'm over 30.
Also, after putting me through a few different exams to find the cause of 5 years of constant spotting, he asked if it was really that big of a deal. I was later diagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis and the spotting stopped after my laparoscopy.
"This prick is asking for someone here to bring him to task Somebody give me some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him I'll pull the trigger on it, someone load the gun and cock it While we were all watching, he got Washington in his pocket."
Post by aliciabella on Mar 8, 2018 10:33:02 GMT -5
I did find that after my first kid I really didn't give a shit who saw my cooch. I prefer women doctors for ob/gyn but preferred male mfms. That could have been just due to the practice and doctors personalities but didn't particularly care for the women. Though, the one female mfm I really didn't like, was on rounds when they finally had to deliver me- and fucking quickly- like 20 minutes- and was really happy with her.
I discriminate like a MOFO when I pick my Doctors. They better be Black and have studied at an HBCU. None of this bothers me.
I can't see the article, so I'm going off of the part that was quoted, but I think I'm here. This does not bother me.
Is the article saying that women are getting into the profession because of some sort of affirmative action in the schools? Or in hiring practices? Or are there just more women interested and barriers in the medical field have finally been broken doen so they have the opportunity? Are any of these men who are worried about men being dissuaded from the profession also concerned about women who are deterred from becoming cardiologists or something?
Boo hoo. Men will still have an advantage going into any field of medicine so I don't care if this particular one loses some men.
Story time- H's 2nd vasectomy was performed by a Dr. Oates. Ha.
I let a newer nurse attempt to put in my foley while on bedrest. Worst pain of my life. It's a teaching hospital though and I let anyone in, but only let certain people do certain things. No newbie stitching up my csection. I also laugh when people tell me they want an attending doing their epidural. Um. No you don't. They probably do a handful a year. You want a resident or fellow who do them all day long. And don't have your baby July 2nd.
Post by imojoebunny on Mar 8, 2018 10:41:41 GMT -5
I have seen both male and female, and had good and bad experience with both sexes. I currently see a male because he is like minded to me, and I feel lucky to have found him. He is not judgy, and offers me all the options with the benefits and draw backs, doesn't just say, "we are doing this".
That said, I want my daughter to see a female when she starts going in a couple of years because I think it would be easier for her to speak up for herself with a women, until she gets more confident in managing her health care. I have a lovely, young female doctor with impeccable manners who is new to the practice I go to in mind. I don't want DD to start with the brusk personality of some of the doctors I have seen, male and female.
This made me think about a conversation I had with my husband recently. My husband is an endocrinology fellow at a large university hospital and people come from all over the Midwest to this hospital. They had a world class PCOS specialist who ran a clinic there (a female doctor). She was recruited to a hospital in New York and a couple of her fellows followed her there.
At the time the hospital wasn’t planning to replace her, so I asked what my husband what the hospital was going to do for women with PCOS and he said they would just see the regular endocrinologists, like him. I flew into a RAGE (mind you this was around the first time they were about to kill Obamacare and women’s healthcare in particular was on the chopping block). I told him that women suffering from PCOS don’t want to see a MAN like him or any old endocrinologist, they wanted to see HER or a PCOS specialist and the hospital was just cutting women’s healthcare and not even making an effort to find a new specialist or train new PCOS fellows.
P.S. one of the endocrine fellows who wasn’t specifically specializing in PCOS but had spent a lot of time rotating through the clinic took over the clinic until the hospital agreed to look for a replacement doctor.
At the same time, I really appreciate the perspective of the student who says that all doctors should be encouraged to study women’s healthcare.
And I have a male OBGYN at the same university hospital and he’s great. And I had no problem with having a male medical student in the room during delivery, I think he may have even done my stitches, but I know a lot of people who were aghast when I told them that.
Post by CheeringCharm on Mar 8, 2018 10:48:18 GMT -5
I prefer female doctors too. Actually, not that I have a ton of experience in this matter, but my best visits have been with female nurse practioners. Their bedside manner is so much more personable and it makes me feel more comfortable with them.
I had what felt like 5 million students in my c-section room and I think a few were men. I have no idea. I was focused on making sure they sewed me back up into 1 piece
Lol, this is what I was thinking. I don't think there were students, but I know the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist were male. To be honest, I have no idea if there were other men in the room or not. That nurse anesthetist was the best thing to happen to me in 27 hours of labor and I couldn't have cared less what his sex was.
I have always preferred female doctors for this specialty and my OB/GYN's office is 100% female (5 doctors, 1 NP, all support staff). I don't really care so much as I've gotten older and don't care if men are present during exams and what not, but I won't seek out a male doctor.
I can't get it up for anyone who is concerned about this being a female-dominated field. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why people choose their doctors and men are doing just fine in this world.
I just want them to be qualified and good at their job and don't give a damn about their sex. A male ob/gyn saved my life after I went into early labor.
I had what felt like 5 million students in my c-section room and I think a few were men. I have no idea. I was focused on making sure they sewed me back up into 1 piece
Lol, this is what I was thinking. I don't think there were students, but I know the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist were male. To be honest, I have no idea if there were other men in the room or not. That nurse anesthetist was the best thing to happen to me in 27 hours of labor and I couldn't have cared less what his sex was.
I have always preferred female doctors for this specialty and my OB/GYN's office is 100% female (5 doctors, 1 NP, all support staff). I don't really care so much as I've gotten older and don't care if men are present during exams and what not, but I won't seek out a male doctor.
I can't get it up for anyone who is concerned about this being a female-dominated field. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why people choose their doctors and men are doing just fine in this world.
My male anesthesiologist was one of the biggest douche bags I have ever met. He took a personal phone call during surgery. I was so livid and I made it known when the hospital called with a survey. I complained of shoulder pain during surgery and that I could feel them right before they made the first cut and he responded with "Oh, we have a complainer on our hands". I feel rage just thinking of him.
My current practice is all women, but I didn't necessarily search that out. The other practice I considered has a male, but he's my friend's dad and that was a "hell no" for me. I've heard from a friends though that he's an excellent doctor. I just can't get past him being my friend's dad.
Lol, this is what I was thinking. I don't think there were students, but I know the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist were male. To be honest, I have no idea if there were other men in the room or not. That nurse anesthetist was the best thing to happen to me in 27 hours of labor and I couldn't have cared less what his sex was.
I have always preferred female doctors for this specialty and my OB/GYN's office is 100% female (5 doctors, 1 NP, all support staff). I don't really care so much as I've gotten older and don't care if men are present during exams and what not, but I won't seek out a male doctor.
I can't get it up for anyone who is concerned about this being a female-dominated field. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why people choose their doctors and men are doing just fine in this world.
My male anesthesiologist was one of the biggest douche bags I have ever met. He took a personal phone call during surgery. I was so livid and I made it known when the hospital called with a survey. I complained of shoulder pain during surgery and that I could feel them right before they made the first cut and he responded with "Oh, we have a complainer on our hands". I feel rage just thinking of him.
My current practice is all women, but I didn't necessarily search that out. The other practice I considered has a male, but he's my friend's dad and that was a "hell no" for me. I've heard from a friends though that he's an excellent doctor. I just can't get past him being my friend's dad.
I think anesthesiologists have that reputation, and for good reason judging by your experience. But both the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist were fantastic for me. When the survey call came after my first delivery, I sung the nurse's praises and the woman who called said I was the third person that day who had raved about him. That sucks that you had such a shitty experience.
And I would definitely be a hell no to my friend's dad being my OB. Hell no.
So for a related field, reproductive endocrinology, I think the trend is more female residents and students as well. In that case, it's hard to say if practitioners are first attracted to the endocrinology aspect or the fertility aspects. Perhaps it used to be the former, but is trending to the latter? Plus, my experience is anecdotal, but in my current practice, there are 5 doctors, and only one is a woman. But literally every student they've brought through when I'm there has been a woman, as well as the entire staff of nurses and ultrasound techs (more commonly woman-dominated fields, though).
Post by seeyalater52 on Mar 8, 2018 11:07:42 GMT -5
*TW sexual assault*
I usually prefer female doctors (trauma history) but I saw a really amazing male GYN when I was a teenager and young adult. It was always super easy to get an appointment with him because no one wanted to see him, and he was always so kind and patient. I actually switched to him after the initial appointment I had with another female GYN in the practice where she minimized my statement about having been raped and being cautious of the internal exam. When I cried because she was not being gentle at all and wouldn't stop when I asked her to, she told me I was being dramatic and I needed to get over it because my health was more important than my fears. It was horrible.
I did choose our RE practice because all 3 doctors there are women, but my favorite nurse by far is the (one) male one, who is much more gentle with his twanding than the other nurses. I fucking hate that thing and while I get that sometimes it requires some maneuvering to get a good ovary image, I prefer to have a heads up before the shoving begins and most of the nurses are not very kind or gentle about it.
I definitely don't fault anyone for preferring women for this stuff. To me I think the individual doctor and their bedside manner matters more than their gender at this point.
I have had some great male OB/GYNs and both of my children were delivered by men. I think it would be a shame if I missed out on good experiences with these doctors because they were discouraged from becoming OBs. I understand why some women are reluctant to see male doctors though.
This might be weird but I actually have a stronger preference for a female in other specialties. I’d rather see a woman psychiatrist, GP, etc, but I really don’t care for a gynecologist. I feel like they are less likely to “woman stuff,” “hormones,” “well you had a baby...” and so on unlike some of the male doctors I’ve seen in other specialties.
Yeah, I'm at a bitch eating crackers point with my GP and I think 50% of the reason is that he's an older white man, lol. That comes with a lot of baggage, like the fact that every time I'm there most of my complaints are dismissed or chalked up to the fact that I'm fat, even if I just lost weight and I'm now LESS fat, okay? Maybe I just need a younger doctor. But I think a woman would help, too.
It is super interesting to think about how RE's are mostly men even though most OB/GYN's are women. I didn't even really put 2 and 2 together until now. I went to a HUGE fertility clinic (I think they have like 10 doctors) and they are all men with the exception of 1. I went to the first I could get an appointment with which was shockingly the only woman doctor. They still do plenty of vaginal exams, surgeries and transfers as RE's.
Weirdly I don't think I'd care at all about male students in the room, but I do prefer females when touching is involved. I did have a male doc do a couple procedures during my last pregnancy, though, and it was ok, just not my preference.
My OB practice is mixed and I noticed that the receptionists make a point to say the male doctors' obviously male first names when making appointments or reminder calls, eg "you have an appointment with Dr Roger Smith at 10." They don't ask if it's ok to schedule with a man but this way patients aren't surprised.
My oncology gyn is a black man whom i adore. My reg gynecologist was a white female who pushed for all this to get started and speaking on anesthesiologists, most are dicks..but I had the most amazing one and we still talk.
I’ve had super douchey residents who thought they knew everything as well. Male and female. So maybe it’s the hospital or office/area? I was in nyc on upper east side.
Oh, and I was recently looking for a urogyn and was frustrated that every name on the list was male, with the exception of a couple at the University hospital (which is super far away from me). The treatments would require very hands on and intrusive procedures so that was pretty disappointing. I've decided to start with a Women's Health PT which luckily leans more female.
I love my gynecologist. I want to be her friend, but I figure, once someone has seen your cervix and cut you open, it's really hard to go out and have drinks and gossip. But she is a really talented doctor. I probably would not feel as connected to a male docotor.