In college at the student health center there was only 1 doctor and one nurse practitioner- the doctor was an OB/GYN and anytime any female went there he automatically said it was either 1. Herpes 2. you were pregnant or 3. chlymida/ghonorrhea.

e.g. "I have a headache" "No, you have the clap"... "I have a fever" "No you have herpes"... "I think I have the flu like all the other 500 studentsin my classes" "No you are pregnant".

What a quack.
My mother made me see HER gyno when I had to go finally. It was a male and I kept telling her I did NOT want to see him I wanted a female and not some old man. He was the man that delivered me and for some reason that mortified me. She made me anyway, and as soon as it was over I told her I hated her. I've been going to a female ever since I it is what puts me at ease (or as much as one can be in that position!).

I can't believe you have never been to the gyno, christiangirl! I have always gone regularly, but after my aunt died of cervical cancer and I had my first abnormal pap...it's my new religion. I wouldn't be afraid of going, I'd be afraid of what could happen if I don't go!

To the question at hand...MALE!!! I had one woman as part of my gynecological experience. After being very harsh in our initial conversation, she proceded to CUT me during a very routine pap smear! Talk about bleeding! For my first pregnancy, I had an AMAZING OB. He's in a very rural area, and does mostly home deliveries. His wife was the nurse, and he had an amazing bedside manner. I'm pregnant with my second child, and if he weren't three hours away, I'd be seeing him again! Believe me, I've thought about moving to be closer to him!

Finally, for those of you who talk about a female doctor knowing better 'what it's like'. I just don't necessarily agree with that. For example squirrley girl...my male OB told me my biopsy and colpo would feel like a harder menstrual cramping. And it did. We all have different thresholds for pain, and it might feel differently for different people.

REGARDLESS OF YOUR PREFERENCE...ALWAYS SEE YOUR GYNO!!!!

LOL. When I was in college, it was a running joke that if you went to the med center, you would be immediately diagnosed as pregnant, no matter what was wrong with you. Nausea? Pregnant. Headache? Pregnant. Broken arm? Pregnant. Even if you were male. :p

I go to the gyno regularly... however, I don't think I've ever established myself with one and only one. I've moved, lost insurance, gone to Planned Parenthood etc etc that every time I've needed an annual, I just kinda called up a few months before and got one. I've even gotten them when I didn't really want them... for example, when I changed my method of BC. (And having a pap with an unprepared mindset REALLY sucks.)

Thing is, whenever I decide to have children, my gyno will switch over to the high risk pregnancy gyno, who I'm not sure sees regular patients.

But bottom line, male or female, I most likely won't see the same dr twice. But I've had both good and bad regardless. But I don't necessarily mind having a male once in a while.

My G doctor is male. I don't have a problem seeing a guy doctor because 1. He is so old and I mean it's a very clinical process, it's not weird to me at all and 2. he saved my mohter's life about 20 years ago so I trust him and he knows my family history better than anyone else. THat might be weird that my mother and I see the same doctor, but oh well.
I was diagnosed with endometriosis recently and he performed the surgery for treatment and things went very smoothly. I had never had surgery before and I was crying all the way into the surgery room, but he comforted me and he was right there when I woke up in recovery and came and explained everything he did and what was going on. I can call and ask him questions and he was very honest about my chances of having children one day, especially with my endometriosis being as bad as it is. He's fabulous, I'm just sad that he no longer delivers babies. not sure what I will do one day when (if) I have kids. We'll see!

I read the warning. Why did I open anyway? Whats worse, why did I continue to read each post ?

You're getting in touch with your feminine side?

Mine is a guy, and he's the same guy my mom sees. He's nice and all, but he has this HORRIBLE toupe...i can't stop laughing just thinking about it. I have some *issues* that crop up related to my diabetes, and he's always willing to fit me in for a quick visit.

That being said..my first visit ever, I cried so hard, and was so horrified by the whole thing that I cried the whole way home. The second time I went I was OK, but still didn't freaking like it. I refused to let them do the brest exam too...I lied and said I needed to keep my insulin pump on and my bra was the only thing I could clip it to!

Horrible, I know. But I'm not sexually active, so I suppose my *need* to go isn't as great as it should be. Bah.

It's what I like to refer to as morbid curiosity.....

WOW this reminds me so much of my situation just last week!!!!

I normally see a woman nurse practitioner at the women's health clinic on campus for my pap smears etc.

well i had an abnormal pap and had to have a colposcopy and an endometrial biopsy.. i was SCARED out of my MIND!!!!

the doctor who comes in to do the procedures is this young guy who is a BIG ASSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!

well he was an hour and a half late for my appointmet so i was nervous as hell and my blood pressure was REALLY high..
then i get in expecting him to shake my hand, introduce himself and explain to me the procedures..
well he did NONE of these!! he just said ok spread your legs im going to do the procedure.. my knees were shaking! he saw them shaking and said.. "ohhh come on its not going to hurt there aren't nerve cells there" and i wanted to KICK him in the head when he got started.. he was very rough and had to do both biopsies twice because he didnt get enough cells. i was in so much pain!!!

THEN i ask him... so what is the worst case scenario for these types of biopsies (in all seriousness) i was trying to get more info! and he said ..."worst case...(insert his evil laugh) a hysterectomy and radiation treatment."
i wanted to DIE!!!!!! He was just being so casual and assholish about it.. making me feel like a baby for being in so much pain. i actually blacked out for a second after the procedure and he made a nurse come in to help me out. he didnt even ask if i was OK!!!

this is what happens when you have no insurance and have to use the clinical services on campus.

i just got the results back from my tests and they need to freeze my cervix on the outside to get rid of the superficial cells on my cervix. since i know this A-Hole will be the one doing it, im looking into alternative doctors.. i dont want to go through that trauma again :(


*edited to add* does anyone have information on cryosurgery or has anyone gone through it to remove abnormal cells on the outside of the cervix.. im really nervous about it and any info would be great!

Don't get anything done on campus surgery wise!!! Go to Planned Parenthood and get a second opinion.

I assume you aren't covered by your parents' insurance at all? If they have it, you should still be covered if you're a student.

I go to a male gynocologist and he is amazing. He is caring, sensitive and he listens! When I started going to his women's clinic I didn't even think about what sex he was. I just went and the way I look at it, as long as I'm healthly I really don't care. Plus, when he does the exam there has to be a female nurse in the room. Apparently, at all clinics in Oxford they require that be/c I asked my friend who is a Labor/Deliver Nurse that once. She said it is just incase anything should happen that's not suppose to happen. But anyway, he is very nice and very good.

Exactly what I was going to say. I prefer female doctors as a rule because the male doctors I had to go to while I was in college thought they knew everything there was to know about "girl problems" when they really didn't know jack. However, I have been to lady doctors who would barely give you the time of day, much less answer any questions or explain anything.

Edited to add: MoonStar17, I'll PM you...

It doesn't matter whether you're sexually active or not, doctors say that you should go every year when you turn 18.

Yikes!!! That's awful. I really would have kicked him in the head. "Sorry Dr. you must have hit a nerve and I lost all control of my leg".

Secondly, there should be a female nurse in the room at all time while a male OB/GYN is examining you.

seriously! eghhhhhhhhh icky biopsy memories.

- marissa

I'm currently looking into switching doctors... Aside from the fabulous things I've heard about the one I'm looking at, this is one of the main reasons why I'd like to see him... He's got a family practice, but is also OB/GYN.

Female. I would feel very uncomfortable with a male doctor for those kind of things.

Christiangirl, I have a friend who hasn't ever been to the gynecologist...and she's 32! She thinks she doesn't need to since she is not sexually active.

MoonStar, you absolutely should not take this lying down (no pun intended)! I'm sure you want to forget all about the whole, horrible experience, but this "doctor" needs to be told that his bedside manner ABSOLUTELY STINKS! I would contact the supervisor and let her/him know of your experience. Perhaps as a result, the next patient he "treats" will be treated a little better!

My old roommate never got checked up. She wasn't active, but I kept telling her a yearly pap also detects cancers and other funky problems that you don't necessarily get from having sex!

I have Kaiser and they recommend that if you've had normal pap results, you only have to go in every TWO years.

Anyone else heard of this? Or follow this?

Thanks to everyone who PMed me. I have been doing my research and am looking into a second opinion just to make sure I was told everything...and to possibly get some questions answered.


I have also written a complaint letter to the Director of the Health Services complex about my experience. And from talking to some other girls I know, apparently I am not the only one a few of their friends and some of them have also had negative experiences with this "doctor"


thanks for all the great advice :)

MoonStar17, I read that you had to have a Colposcopy. Well I got a phone call from my doctor yesterday saying that I too had an abnormal pap. They want to do a Colposcopy. What in the heck is it? I am scared out of my mind! I know you didn't have the greatest experience but how bad was it? Any encouraging words would really help me not go insane. Thanks a lot!

DZTUBAGIRL,

I just PM'ed you :)

I've seen both male and female gynecologists... Right now, I see a very good female gynecologist, although she doesn't hook me up with extra tests--no need according to her, I do argue medical facts about past conditions I have had since I started seeing a gynecologist as teenager...

Since I'm about to be 37 years old, I had huge concerns about my genetic predisposition to fibroids and other female related cancers. And the fact that AA women suffer from these kinds of issues moreso than other women at younger ages, I really wanted to know what my reproductive health was like since I've NEVER been pregnant and want to have children, sooner than later... My current insurance allowed me to see a nurse practioner that I got to give me an intrauterine ultrasound. I had to lie about feeling pain during my period, etc. but I got it done. Well, the results were extremely boring for folks to read as they called it...

ZTAngel-- I have an excellent male gynecologist in ATL who did laser surgery for me. I will have to search the world for his name, but I have it somewhere... There is also the Women's Center that made the original referral that was pretty good 15 years ago. But, they may be poor now... The Dr. was located in Cobb Co. Ironically, my godfather is an ob/gyn in Nashville and was under consideration for the Surgeon General during the Clinton Admin. But they thought he did one to many abortions and block his vote in the senate... The senate failed to consider that miscarriages are considered "spontaneous abortions" by insurances and they counted his handling of that procedure... Now he does research in gestational diabetes and speaking tours...

To those who have to undergo extra stuff like Colopscopy. That is just the visualization of the cervix, up close and personal. Does it hurt? Well, how wide can you open up? Usually a "kid's" (and you all are young ladies to me) vaginal canal are relatively small and taut--strong abs. So, they have "fittings" on the scope to detect these abnomalities on the cervix--they are trying to see how big, the color and how bad they are... They can scrape them off once visualized, the same day--that feels like the biopsy and can hurt some folks... They can add a chemical "peel" or cryofreeze them--sometimes that hurts... Or they laser them off--that's invasive and dangerous if clotting doesn't occur properly...

Best thing to do is to get tested for EVERYTHING... Make sure you do not have it... If you need the Colopscopy, you may need other things and the fact you are young, it can worsen very quickly...

The next thing you need to KNOW is "protect yourself at ALL times" and "just say NO"... It ain't about the fact that he's cute, he don't like using a condom, he'll kicked me to the curb if I don't--it's about your future reproductive health--do you want children when your 28-35, safely, without costly infertility treatments? Then, EFF the dumbisht, those little boys need to watch and wait. If they want skank, they can have skank... But you don't have to be stank with them and endanger your own health...

And if you get unbelievable diagnosis, get a second opinion--even a 3rd if you have to. Verify... Make them show you your paperwork--they have to legally do that anyway. They don't have to give it to you, but they can show you the test outcome. Many insurances are posting their lab data now to protect themselves legally... It's about papertrail... You are your OWN health advocate. Don't settle until you get an accurate diagnosis that you clearly understand... Not EVERY doctor graduated with honors and the top of his or her class and is board certified... Most don't like to put codes into the computer for accurate diagnosis and get jacked by the pay. And many have seen a gazillion patients since 6 AM for 7 days and think things are routine when they don't have alot of info to go on...

Besides, med schools aren't teaching the "let's examine and go developing and figure" process of elimination--that for the "translational clinical trial researchers to do". Med schools teach the "triage on the battlefield" method of seeing patients and the more info you give someone, the better off you are.

Why? Because insurance jacked up this process... That's why the patient MUST be their OWN advocate and NOT wait for a fair and accurate diagnosis... Watch your symptoms... Mark the dates and times of your periods, their consistency (heavy vs. light; chunky vs gooey and the color), the headache intensity, how long is the period, if you don't take birth control, what does your ovulation goo look like and when does it start; do you get sick after your periods because of lowered immune system; mood swinging and depression, whatever else that happens and BRING that list with you with dates, times, etc... You don't know how much that will help clinic folks out... Besides, that chit gets put into your permenent record so when you get jacked for some psychotic chit and decide to sue, you got that papertrail to follow... Because a TEAM of doctors (mainly from the insurance provider) will decide your diagnosis if you sue--and most of the time, you can't sue without probable cause unless your very rich...

Y'all need to realize doctors are human too and don't know everything although they do have to take some class on "being an asshole doctor 101 'cuz I passed my residency program"... Ironically, they HATE folks like me with a Ph.D. 'cuz I call them on their thought process with the genes and chromosomes... That's why the older doctors find me interesting because they have all these questions that I have to answer... The younger ones, well, some care about questions, others are like, how many patients I need to see to pay off my student loans... It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is now until something happens to advance medicine... That will happen in our lifetime, how I don't know.

Ok, ok. My doc really wasn't playing, I got a call yesterday from somebody trying to see when was good for me. And I get the feeling that my doc was somewhere close because anytime it sounded like I wasn't sure what he wanted checked, she'd put me on hold and come back with, "Well, he said..."

:rolleyes:

I'll bump this thread up on the 16th...if I don't....just know how much I loved you all...keep me in your thoughts and don't forget me...:(

And hey, we have bad campus doctors like that, they'll try so hard to tell you you have an STD. I came in for a headache and he really asked me, "When was the last time you had sex?" I'm thinking, what on earth does that have to do with a headache, but I just politely said, "Never, I'm a virgin." He just put down his pen, folded his hands, and shot me a look over his glasses. :mad: TALK ABOUT OFFENDED, I yelled, "Well, I am!" and he sighed all big and said, "Well, okay then..."

Bumping this because there was an article about this in this month's Glamour. A male med student wrote a piece about how he wants to go into OB/GYN and he was discouraged by other men from doing it saying that most women wouldn't hire him. It goes on to talk about it and he says that men should be gynecologists.

My friend and I had this talk over th e weekend and she and I both agree that men should not be gynecologists. I don't care if you have a medical degree, but unless you have a vagina then you don't know how one works. Wednesday night I had to go to the ER because I had ruptured cysts on my ovaries and the doctor that was assigned to me was a man. He gave me two Tylenol (no joke) for the pain. He really thought that was going to do it for me.

TWO TYLENOL?!!?!?! :eek:
I would have thrown the tylenol at him and then kicked him in the balls to see if tylenol would help him with THAT pain.

men just dont get it.

i hope you are recovering well from your ER visit....

It is rumored that at the "Quack Shack" (the medical center on Baylor's campus) that they have even given a guy a pregnancy test. :D They think everyone is having sex and going to hell! Neither of those beliefs are true. Thankfully, when I had a sinus infection, they just gave me my Z pack and sent me on my way. :)

That actually was exactly what I wanted to do with that Tylenol. Thank G-D the nurse taking care of me was a woman....
I'm feeling a lil better but still really sick. Going to my gyno after work today.

I disagree.

That's kind of like saying anyone who hasn't given birth or been a parent shouldn't be an obstetrician.

It's all about the empathy.

As I've said earlier, I strongly prefer women doctors because I feel they have more empathy, particularly for problems that affect only women. Show me a male gynecologist who's ever had a menstrual cramp, let alone given birth. :p

However, not all women have this empathy, and not all men don't have it. Example (warning: TMI ahead): I used to have the cramps from hell (no longer - praise be to the pill! ;) ) One afternoon when I was 13, my mother picked me up from school and told me she had to run some errands before we went home. I told her that I had bad cramps and really needed to take some Advil and lie down. She said, "It's normal" and refused to take me home. Twenty minutes later I was throwing up in the middle of Macy's. :( Did I mention that my mother is a doctor? And that she specialized in pain management? :rolleyes: Yeah... I haven't forgiven her for that one.

Is it just me or do they always want to have in depth conversations while they are doing the exam?
Like "So, where are you working? What do you do? Oh that sounds fun! Are you dating anyone? How long?"

My gyno also sees two of my good friends and my sister in law... she is always "so how is so and so and so and so..."
Can we wait til your head is out of my crotch to talk? Please?!

thank G-d this has never happened to me

OMG i thought i was the only one who felt like this. The nurse practioner I see works in my office building, so shes always talking to me about work things and asking me how my boyfriend is..and how things are..blah blah blah..

i get so aggitated cause I feel so exposed and its not one of my "better" moments.. so how can anyone carry a conversation?!

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO VIOLATED IN MY LIFE!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it was really uncomfortable. Turns out he's the man who delivered me. So my mom kept saying, "Well, at least it's someone you know!" Okay, mom, the last time I saw him was how many years ago while I was upside down and balling my eyes out. :rolleyes: Well, the first man to check me out down there was the first man to give me an exam down there, I almost wanted to say, "It's all the same stuff, you don't need to check, really..."

His hands were really cold and when he pressed on my stomach, I couldn't help but laugh (I'm ticklish) then he jammed his fingers in and pulled the vaginal walls apart and ALL THE GIGGLES WERE SUPPRESSED. There was nay a "tee-hee" out of me, it hurt so much. After that it was over, I wasn't there for a full exam. But I didn't like it one bit. :mad:

By the way, if anyone needs a good gyno on the south side of Atlanta (she's a GP, but she's really good), I have a really good doctor. She's very gentle and never forgets to WARM everything.

It's actually to try to distract you, or take the focus off of what is going on...it's not that they actually give a isht as to what you have to say.

My first OB/GYN was a man. He was THEE best. He taught me that I was my own best advocate, and if any doctor was doing anything to make me feel uncomfortable in ANY way, that I needed to tell them to STOP and end the appointment. Many of us will not do that for fear of looking stupid or silly or whatever. ALL of my GYNs will be measured against him because he was that good. He was the kind of doctor who was ALWAYS running late because he took however much time the patient needed. My midwife was the same when I had my daughter.

I don't buy the theory that men dont make good GYNs because they dont have the same equipment. Some medical professionals are just assholes by nature, but will take it down if they are CALLED on it and a formal complaint is given. They are there to serve you, not the other way around. Don't be afraid to ask for someone else, if you can.

And in regards to pain, you have to make it relative. Not just "it hurts", but be as descriptive as possible: on a scale of 1 to 10, its a 7, it feels like someone with a hot iron is stabbing my uterus (I've said these things!). I have had some rough female doctors perform my annual tests, and I let them know when it hurts or feels uncomfortable. It's YOUR body and its unique. What they do for others, may not work for you, but they won't know that until and unless you tell them. The key is to try to relax as much as possible and to keep breathing normally.

EVERY woman should see a GYN yearly after the age of 18 or when she becomes sexually active, whichever happens first. Not being sexually active is NOT a reason to avoid the GYN. If you are uncomfortable, do what we are doing here. Ask your girlfriends, talk to other women about issues specific to us and don't be embarrassed. We've all been in the stirrups, and can offer some advice to someone.

WebMD is a great source of information. Has anyone else ever had a Bartholin's Gland cyst? I had one last year and it was VERY painful.

Yes, I realize this thread is 2 years old...
 

I will be going back to the OB/GYN who delivered baby #2 for sure. The appt that I had my pap smear, the nurse got out all of the equipment, and I assumed the position, etc. She did my normal check down there and listened to the baby. Then she told me she was done and I asked if she was going to do the pap smear, and she said that she had already done it when she checked me. It was so painless, I didn't even realize she had done it.


I will never go back to OB/GYN who delivered baby #1. Fake nails + checking for dilation = OUCH X 100!!!!