Ummm… Doesn’t your doctor use gloves?
I’m as comfortable with these as I am with any other test. As long as I feel like the people are making a sincere effort to do the job, I’m happy with medical people poking at me and peering into my innards.
Ariadne
Count me among the poster who are confused about someone who is not only not pregnant, but not sexually active, has already decided on having an “elective cesarean.”
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So far, I’ve only found one gynecologist who will accept that and just give me my birth control pills without the exam.
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There’s no statistical reason for a doctor to accept your statement: “Virgins” turn up preggers all the time.
You probably feel your doctor should recognize your sincerity. Perhaps your doctor believes you but prefers to use the same process for all patients. That’s not unreasonable - especially for a partient who is asking for birth control.
Additionally, cervical cancer is rare in virgins, but not unknown. (Although, one guesses this group might be a case of the HPV being transferred via unsterile speculum!)
Cite: http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t990316c.html
As for male vs female drs, it doesn’t make a lot of difference to me, although smaller handed female drs sure is a plus.
As for mammo’s I’ve had one. They were vere nice and took good care of me (as I’m way to young to normally have one). It didn’t hurt, but it was uncomfortable… and cold!
Ariadne, every woman’s pregnancy and delivery experiences are different. I can tell you from my pov (I’ve had 3 babies) I have no problem with incontenence. With my first I had a 4th degree tear (the entire “stem to stern” type you mentioned), and while it took time too heal, I have no problems with bladder or bowl control. YMMV
It’s surprising you were even able to find one. That’s not, IMHO, a responsible thing to do. You should have the exam whether you’re getting the b.c. pills or not. All kinds of things can go wrong that you wouldn’t know about otherwise. Ovarian cancer, for example, is hard to detect even with the exam. If you never have the exam, by the time an ovarian cancer gave you any symptoms, it would be far too late. Look up “Gilda Radner” if you want to know how sad ovarian cancer is.
That’s just one example. All the really important stuff is hidden in difficult to get to places, which is good when it comes to keeping it safe from injury. Unfortunately, that also makes it difficult to find disease.
Yes. However long nails, especially acrylic nails, still feel sharp and pointed even through the gloves.
Yeouch!
I used to think I would only see female Ob/Gyns but several different people raved about a male doctor who is conveniently located *and * a provider on my particular insurance plan. Can’t beat that. Even with a great dr I’m never in a rush to visit. The previous time I had a Pap test it was collected with a little spatula. This most recent time it was a scary theing that looks like a tiny bristle block replica of the Golden Gate Bridge. I did not like that!
I’ve never had a mammogram.
Ariadne,
Um…quick question…you are trying to avoid an episiotomy so you elect to have a c-section? That cut is MUCH bigger and goes through more layers. I admit I had a terrible first delivery where I did tear but that is because I had an incompetent male dr but my second delivery was a piece of cake (well a large three tiered thingy…) and the episiotomy was done in a second and I never noticed it after that. Sorry to go off track, your post just had me curious. Also, I have been pregnant 5 times (have 2 live children) and I have had no incontinence issues what so ever, unless you count the time I almost wet my pants reading some of the threads on here…Deon
I second what Margo said. I’ve never had a c-section, but I know a couple of moms who have, and I have had other abdominal surgery. An episiotomy is uncomfortable for a couple of days but that’s about it. The alternative is definitely more painful and carries a longer recovery time.
The risk of complications such as infection is not large in a clean environment, but it is a larger risk than that of a vaginal delivery. Competent doctors reserve it for those times when to do otherwise would be to risk the health of the mom or the baby.
Of course, if there is a real problem, such as a large baby that won’t fit through a narrow birth canal, well, sure, that’s exactly the type of thing that in the old days caused so many women to die in childbirth. Most of the time it’s not needed, though.
Incontinence & other problems are not AFAIK related to the type of delivery. It can occur for a whole bunch of reasons including generally poor muscle tone, hormone problems, excessive weight gain, pregnancy itself, or a long list of other things. Keep fit and healthly and it is unlikely to trouble you for a long time if at all.
I’ve had both male and female doctors. As with anything else it depends on the individual doctor. I’ve really liked some and some I only went to once. I do know one thing though. I now have a woman dr. and when I had my miscarriage she was absolutely great. This woman actually cried with me. I don’t think any male dr. would go that far. Some might think it was unprofessional of her, but I needed that tender touch and support from someone in the “know”.
As for mammo’s, it’s a little squishy and cold but worth it to find out if something’s wrong.
I’m not going to nitpick your entire post (I’m not at home, where I’ve got tons of pregnancy reference books; I’m sure I can dispute most of what you’re saying.), but I will take issue with one thing.
Billing for one thing when it’s really something else is insurance fraud, plain and simple. If your insurance doesn’t cover elective ceseareans when you deliver, and you ask your doctor to falsify records so you can file a claim, you’re asking him to commit two crimes: One for falsifying medical records (a misdemeanor in most states; a felony in others, and with HIPAA coming into effect in the next couple weeks, there’ll be possible federal crimes), and another for filing a false insurance claim, i.e. fraud. He can lose his license to practice medicine, lose his privilege to file with Medicare and Medicaid (which is a big deal, because that alone can cost him a lot of his practice), and possibly go to prison.
Think about that.
Robin
Eh, Pap smears are no fun, but they beat going to the dentist. And if the doctor keeps up a string of patter, it helps to distract me.
I’ve only ever gone to female gynecologists. It’s a modesty thing. I know it’s irrational, but I don’t like flashing my goodies at strange men, even if they are doctors.
Mine, too. The doctor was very warm and friendly; the process was painless; and it was over very quickly.
Oh wow where to begin. Sorry this is pretty long but there was a lot I wanted to add. Oh and I love the dentist comparisons… I too think dental checkups are much worse than pap smears!
My first pap was with a female doctor. I was 15 and my father was sending me to get the pill so he could take his level of sexual abuse to a new level. I cried all the way there and hoped she would be someone I could confide in about the real reason I was there. She was such a cold and unfeeling bitch. The pain was awful and she yelled at me for crying, stopped, tossed a prescription at me and said “come back when you are no longer a virgin” and stomped out of the room. I was mortified and I left the scrip in the trash and lied to my father. On the upside he didn’t make me go anywhere else and the abuse stayed status quo until he discovered I’d lost my virginity years later… on the downside it was 8 more years until I managed to tell what had happened to me at his hands.
In the meantime I had a male doctor who was very patient do a pap that while not comfy did not feel like I was being ripped open from the inside.
When my insurance switched I went to another doc for some BC pills. I was engaged and sexually active but only on the pill as I trust(ed) my boyfriend (now hubby) wasnt diseased or cheating. He gave me a long lecture about how all men cheat before they are married (like marriage totally negates cheating) and a chat about writing my congressman and the insurance industry sucking and a lot of other crap WHILE I WAS NAKED ON THE FLIPPING TABLE. I never went back to him again! I payed cash to see previous doctor!!!
So I’ve had bad docs of both sexes but some really good male doctors. My OB is amazing and male. I tried to give birth vaginally but ended up needing a Csection. I am pregnant again and this birth too will be a Csection to protect my health and my child’s. While the Csection wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be it was major surgery. I was in the hospital for an entire week and caught pneumonia for my troubles. I have a cute scar and a nasty numb spot that even two years post has not totally recovered. I must say though sliding on my clothes no longer triggers a feeling so disgusting from the nerve damage that I want to vomit. It was 12 weeks before I was okayed to drive after surgery and I don’t remember how long before I was comfortable trying sex again. I couldn’t pick up anything heavier than the baby (will be awkward this time with a toddler I won’t be able to lift for months) and I had to keep a small pillow or towel with me to use as a brace when I coughed, sneezed or pooed. I also had to take stool softeners for a couple weeks.
While I can only speak for my experience … YMMV… tax title and registration not included… There are pros and cons to every situation. Weigh them carefully and really know what you are getting into.
Back to the OP … too young for a mammogram although my mom brought me her stickers one day… googlie eyes that said nipple! Too funny! I think it is more the demeanor/bedside manner of the doctor than their sex. Again YMMV 
Wow can I kill a thread or what?!
I didn’t think I was uncomfortable with pap smears until the day I noticed my gynecologist (male) sitting at the next table from me at a restaurant. He appeared to be on a date. Something about seeing him as a normal person really gave me the shivers!
I guess I’d always figured the being in the white coat and gloves with the stethescope was some asexual creature without normal human thoughts and behavior. The next pap smear I had was very uncomfortable! It’s so irrational, but I had this feeling of “oh my god, there’s a real person touching me and looking at me down there!” But I got over it.
I had my first mammogram about 6 months ago. I’m a bit young for them (36) but there’s a lot of breast cancer in my family. I wasn’t mentally uncomfortable with it, but physically it was more than a bit ouchie! For some reason, they really hurt with me.
Pap smears. Ugh! My doctor hired a Nurse Practioner several years back, and I must say I’m more comfortable with her doing them. As a woman, she knows the drill. Make it quick and dispense with the chit-chat. I have always had a hard time thinking of inane chatter when someone has their hand up my hoo-ha. And the NP warms up the speculum before insertion. Thank God for small favors.
I hate, hate, hate Mammos. I have meduim sized boobages, but they’re very cystic. So lots of mashing takes place. My doctor likes to have at least two different views because of all the lumps I have. The hospital I get my Mammos at is always staffed with women. While they mash the girls with those ice-cold plates, I at least have the satisfaction of knowing their girls will someday be placed between those same cold, metal plates.
Misery loves company, no?
Ariadne: You’re sadly misinformed about womens’ health issues, and you seem to be quite immature. I’m sure that you can find a more competent doctor at your university. Perhaps you should print out this thread and show it to him or her, and hopefully he or she can provide some much needed education.
To answer the OP: I’ve never had a mammogram. I’m not uncomfortable getting a pap smear, other than the slight physical discomfort at the scrapey part. I have no preference as to whether the doc is male or female.
Pap smears are no fun - but oh so much better than a biopsy. Any I have a wonderful male gyno that is very quick and very thorough.
Mammos are very uncomfortable. I hate the lexan see-thru top plate so that you can watch your boobie assume new and interesting shapes. That’s one thing that I really don’t need to see.
Too young for a mammo.
Paps don’t bother me at all. I’ve found good and bad docs of both genders, so base my preference on things other than their gender.
Are paps and the BC pill linked in America ?
Yep. They are. Actually, paps and most birth control are linked. At least, I’ve never been to a gyn that would prescribe birth control without an exam first.
The best Paps/exams I’ve ever gotten were from men with small hands. Fortunately, we’re going to Texas for Aaron’s birthday, and I’m thinking about scheduling my exam for when I’m down there. snif I miss Dr. Wen.
Robin