# Women: a poll regarding male gynecologists and male medical students **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166 "2010-06-22T21:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Kamilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c57346/32.png) [@Kamilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamilla)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/101 "2013-05-12T22:11:19Z")
I only see females for ‘female’ issues. Back in the old days, female doctors and NP’s were not very available. In the 21st Century, there is an abundance of female doctors and we have the choice to see either a male or a female. My choice is to see a female with no students if it is for my normal check-up. If I am having a gyn problem, I see no reason to exclude a female student. I have no problem with them learning. I guess I am biased, but I don’t want other men looking at what I have reserved for my husband (sorry, old fashioned). That is for him and him alone. Other women can do what they want. I also would recommend for those ladies who want to be seen by a female doc - be assertive and go find one. They are out there. One word of caution - make sure you know who their assistants are. I had a female doc for a while and every thing was fine - until I had a problem that required surgery. Only then did she tell me that she had a male assistant for surgery. I about had a cow! So, I dropped her and found a surgeon with that used hospital staff and made sure I had it in writing. Ask questions. What is the purpose of going to a female doctor for private matters is she brings in a male student/assistant??? ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/102 "2013-05-12T23:20:11Z")
I strongly prefer female caregivers of all kinds (except dentists, for some reason). I don’t think I’ve ever encountered the med-student dilemma, but if one were to arise I’d probably say sure, why not as long as he pretends not to be there. No comments or snickering, if you please, and we’re all good. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/103 "2013-05-13T01:34:20Z")
My current gyno is a woman but I wouldn’t mind a male student. I wouldn’t be THRILLED with him being in there but I wouldn’t say no because hey, he’s gotta learn. I’ve also had male gynos as well. ---
**Author:** ![Enocavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e480ec/32.png) [@Enocavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enocavy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/104 "2013-05-13T03:13:47Z")
I prefer to see female gynecologists and I would refuse to have a med student of either gender present during an exam, as long as I had a choice. Some women don’t mind the presence of a third party. The med students can practice on them. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/105 "2013-05-13T03:55:34Z")
I prefer male doctors for all med things. The doctor who delivered my last baby and who is handling my current pregnancy is a male. The doctor who handled my first pregnancy was a male. The last time I took my pants off in a clinical setting (ER, cervix check for a threatened miscarriage) I was seeing a male doctor with a male med student. My last therapist was male, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/106 "2013-05-13T04:09:44Z")
Wait, that wasn’t the last time I took my pants off. Last time it was the same ER doc with a different male student. I had an abcess on my thigh that was severe enough that they almost thought they’d have to call in an actual surgeon but, in the end, the med student wound up being the one to cut and I was totally okay with it. A nursing student (female) observed. I didn’t give a shit who was in there at that point as long as they fixed it. No pain meds because I’m pregnant so that was possibly a once in a school career teaching opportunity for both of those students (I was told they usually sedate for that procedure). Worst experience ever for me but the student was really good. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/107 "2013-05-13T05:24:53Z")
I have some pretty severe issues regarding men, so there’s no way in hell I’d see a male gynecologist. Hell, I hate seeing a male doctor. I didn’t even go see a gynecologist for the first time until I was pregnant at 29 because before then no female gynecologist would take the insurance I had. So a big fat NO on men any where near my hoohah. Doctor or not. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/108 "2013-05-13T14:38:25Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > You can get your standard normal pap smear experience from standardized patients, thank you ever so much. My school didn’t provide anyone to practice doing a pap smear. Actually, a minor quibble about terminology: As my school used the term, standardized patients were actors - most of them actual stage actors by profession - who would come in to your fake clinic and pretend to have certain symptoms so you could practice your (non-invasive) physical exam and history skills. They were also used for workshops on patient counseling, error disclosure, breaking bad news, etc. There was a different group used for teaching pelvic, breast, testicular, and prostate exams. They used some euphemism like “non-academic clinical teaching assistant”. We had no interaction with them other than those invasive exams, which were all done under the supervision of actual physicians. As I understand it, they are paid a lot more than the standardized patients. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/109 "2013-05-13T14:46:22Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I have some pretty severe issues regarding men, so there’s no way in hell I’d see a male gynecologist. Hell, I hate seeing a male doctor. I didn’t even go see a gynecologist for the first time until I was pregnant at 29 because before then no female gynecologist would take the insurance I had. So a big fat NO on men any where near my hoohah. Doctor or not. So, how did you get pregnant? 😃 I’ve always had pelvic exams done by a male physician and have never had a bad experience, besides of course the embarrassment factor. It’s really no big deal. My current doctor is quite handsome, and more than once, women have said, “He could do my breast exam any day of the week!” 😛 Oh, trust me, it’s no different. I have a friend who will only go to male gynecologists, because she had several really bad experiences with women. I have also heard way more horror stories about female OB/GYNs than male ones. YMMV, of course. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/110 "2013-05-13T14:49:43Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Which brings up an interesting point - are there any non-teaching hospitals left? I know there are dozens of hospitals here in Chicago, but I can’t think of a one that I or someone I know hasn’t done Clinicals at. Where do you go if you absolutely don’t want to be disturbed by students during your stay? You probably won’t see students or residents at a Critical Access (\<25 beds) hospital. Those are the little small-town hospitals that usually look like an elementary school, KWIM? A Rural Access (25 to 99 beds) hospital may if it’s part of a larger system. But they will be very limited in the services they provide, for obvious reasons. The name has something to do with Medicare billing. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/111 "2013-05-13T15:25:12Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > So, how did you get pregnant? 😃 > > I’ve always had pelvic exams done by a male physician and have never had a bad experience, besides of course the embarrassment factor. It’s really no big deal. My current doctor is quite handsome, and more than once, women have said, “He could do my breast exam any day of the week!” 😛 Oh, trust me, it’s no different. > > I have a friend who will only go to male gynecologists, because she had several really bad experiences with women. I have also heard way more horror stories about female OB/GYNs than male ones. YMMV, of course. Well it was bad but manageable in the right situations before I met her dad. But then stuff happened and now it’s almost a phobia at this point. Sooo yeah lol. I just can’t imagine having a male doctor poking around down there. It just seems so wrong to me. I know it’s wrong but my mind keeps thinking, why the hell would a man want to be a gynecologist unless he’s like the biggest pervert ever? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/112 "2013-05-13T17:12:24Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > Well it was bad but manageable in the right situations before I met her dad. But then stuff happened and now it’s almost a phobia at this point. Sooo yeah lol. I just can’t imagine having a male doctor poking around down there. It just seems so wrong to me. I know it’s wrong but my mind keeps thinking, why the hell would a man want to be a gynecologist unless he’s like the biggest pervert ever? I used to live in a town where there was a female urologist who specialized in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. 😃 :eek: Her husband’s a doctor too (anesthesiologist) and I wondered how she could do that all day and then go home and have sex with him. But really, to them it’s just a job. ---
**Author:** ![Amara\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7993a0/32.png) [@Amara\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amara_1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166/113 "2013-05-13T17:17:33Z")
I prefer female ob/gyns. I do NOT want anyone else, regardless of gender, in the room with me. That applies to Nurse Practitioners, assistants or students. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-a-poll-regarding-male-gynecologists-and-male-medical-students/544166.md?page=5)