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!!!!

Three of my cousins -- all male -- are OBGYNs. I wouldn't hesitate to go to any of them, if they lived near me. Unfortunately, they all live over 1500 miles away.

Wow. Really? :eek:

I would be completely uncomfortable with a family member as my OB/GYN.

Me, too! My roomie finished her OB/GYN rotation with an intern she liked, and I've been with her ever since. I learned the hard way to NEVER recommend a good doctor - now, it's almost impossible to get an appointment!

I have only seen female gynecologists.

I do go to a male endocrinologist who does have to check on my chest and back for certain signs- but he wears gloves and it is SO clinical that it is as if I were being checked by a robot. I have been going to him for 12 years and do not mind it one bit.

I had an EKG done once by a very handsome technician. But a gynecologist is where I draw the line.

I have a female OB/GYN and wouldn't trade her for the world. If she wasn't my OB/GYN, I could see us being good friends. However, since she IS my OB/GYN, I think going out to dinner would be pushing it! (we do have a friend in common so this is not totally far fetched)

In fact at my last visit, she even told me she was going to miss seeing me since my womb is now closed for business and I will only be seeing her for my yearly appts.

My sister-in-law is a dr. but even though I love her dearly, she is not coming near me for a OB/GYN medical procedure unless it is a life-threatening emergency! (because of the comfort factor, not becuase she isn't a great doc)

You mean you don't want to share "down there" will all of your husband's family??:p;)

It's actually my brother's wife, which makes it even worse!

slight hijack but, the wife of my cube-neighbor is a LD nurse at the hospital where I delivered #3. She was working the day I went in and actually REQUESTED to be my LD nurse. Luckily they had already assigned a nurse to me. Not that I don't like the wife in question, but having cocktails at the Christmas party with my LD nurse would creep me out.

I've had both a male and female GYN. (Changed due to insurance) Both are excellent in their practice and make me feel totally comfortable. I was searching for a minority dr. and everyone recommended the guy, claimed he was the absolute best in the state!

Funny tidbit of info: My current GYN (the man) asked if we'd met before because I looked familiar. I told him yes and that my mother has been one of his patients for years - but that he hasn't seen me recently. He looked a bit puzzled at first, then I went on to say: So yeah, you recognize my face from my mom, I look just like her but we first met when you delivered me. :p

Two of them are brothers. One delivered his brother's baby (sister-in-law was a doctor too). I guess we aren't that modest.

This is going to sound crazy, but I think I could be (mostly) comfortable having a family member deliver a baby... but for yearly check-ups (and for that matter, for the check-ups throughout pregnancy), not so much. Having given birth twice now, I'm pretty much of the opinion that there's no room for modesty when it comes to delivery. That's just part of childbirth. But, I don't feel the same way about check-ups.

I think it must have something to do with all the hormones/adrenaline/etc... of childbirth. Or maybe it's because hubby is there during childbirth (and not check-ups). I dunno.