Ladies only - guys beware! - Page 3

ZTAngel · #31 07-24-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jubilance1922
Now that I live in Atlanta, I have another woman gyn who is fantastic!

Could you PM me her name and where her office is located? I'm currently looking for a gyn in the Atlanta area.

valkyrie · #32 07-24-2005, 06:40 PM

I find male gynecologists somewhat creepy. I mean, I just don't get it. I only see women.

I always thought I preferred to see women for everything, but I've been seeing a male psychiatrist, and he's awesome.

squirrely girl · #33 07-24-2005, 08:36 PM

i'm big on the female perspective, but i'm also HUGE on having a female nurse practitioner do everything. most NP have more 'hands on' experience and more practically oriented training.

generally speaking, my male gyno experiences have been pretty icky. one told me, during my cervical biopsy, that it wouldn't hurt much (kinda like menstrual cramping) because there 'weren't a lot of nerve endings there' - needless to say I DOES FREAKING HURT YOU stupid $hit. grrrrrrrrrrr, that trauma still affects me.

in general, i've always felt more judged by male doctors and i don't get the feeling that they 'understand'. just last week i had a male doc who felt the NEED to push on my bladder to check for signs of a UTI even AFTER the urine culture came back positive and I TOLD him i've got one and my chart shows a HISTORY of them. what kinda sick person truly needs to do that? one who just doesn't know what it is like to have a bladder infection. thats who. grrrrrrrrrrr...

sorry for the rant. GO FEMALE DOCS!

- marissa

mu_agd · #34 07-24-2005, 08:50 PM

I've always gone to female doctors. Even before seeing The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. I just feel more comfortable with them.

aephi alum · #35 07-24-2005, 08:59 PM

Okay ladies (and gents) ... you asked.

As a rule, I strongly prefer to see female doctors. Women in general, I feel, have more empathy with other women, and I do not believe a doctor can truly diagnose gynecological issues unless she herself has been through those same issues or could potentially be faced with those issues.

However... not all women, and not all gynecologists, have that empathy. I had a very bad experience with a female gyno when I was 14 (I was not sexually active; different issue) and I experienced physical pain during the examination. I therefore did not go for regular visits until about a year ago.

My current gyno is a woman. She is ok, but her office sucks...

AChiOAlumna · #36 07-24-2005, 09:29 PM

When I first started getting my annual exams, I was seeing a nurse practitioner at the college health center. When I graduated, I had a strange insurance and had a male doctor. It didn't bother me at all actually, so when I got a better insurance, I chose a male GP who was an OB/GYN prior to becoming a GP so I knew he could see me for a range of medical problems. He was wonderful!!!

When I had my annual, he was professional, and calming at the same time. When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, he had no problem accommodating my requests for early mammograms or any other requests...unfortunately he recently died in an accident, so I've got to find a new doctor....UGHHHHHH..

ISUKappa · #37 07-24-2005, 10:55 PM

I've had both female NPs (when I went to PP in college and just after I graduated) and a male doc (who is my PCP but used to do OB) do my annual. They were all about the same none neither better nor worse than the other (I mean, come on, it's an annual exam, like it's going to be a party?)

My first OB was male (just a different doc in the same practice as my PCP), but didn't know how to handle my m/c issues, so I transferred to a an actual OB/Gyn clinic and chose a female Doc. I haven't met her yet, but I've heard great things about her.

AGDee · #38 07-24-2005, 11:09 PM

I have had both over the years. I've had good and bad of both genders. The most amazing was the OB who delivered both of my kids. He was the most compassionate and caring doctor I've ever met. He truly believed he was assisting God in bringing life into this world. He was gentle and never made me feel uncomfortable. He guaranteed he would be there for every delivery himself (not one of these big offices where you didn't know which doc would be on call for your delivery). He was such a cheerleader in the delivery room. He really got me through it.

My primary care doc is a female now and she does routine gyn stuff and she's fine.

My gastroenterologist is a male and I like him a lot.

I figure, medical personnel are professionals and I am relatively comfortable regardless of their gender. They've seen it all anyway. After all the gastro procedures I've had, including surgery to remove a big chunk of my intestines, the gender doesn't really matter to me. I want a doctor who listens to me, explains his/her thoughts about my treatment to me and is straight with me about what's happening to my body and what we can do about it. My gastro sits with me and tells me his whole thought process and problem solving method in determining what course of treatment we should take next. I really appreciate that. He is also available to me by pager at any time and even called me one Christmas Eve when I was extremely ill to find out if I needed anything and to let me know he was going off pager for 24 hours for Christmas. He's just awesome.

Dee

Dvyne Evolushun · #39 07-25-2005, 01:20 AM

My current gyno is a male.

I went to a female gyno before and was very uncomfortable. I have horrible menstrual pains and went in for my annual pap smear. She gave me a very painful rectal exam (why????)!

Then, she tried to talk to me about BC as if we were "homegirls" (i.e. "Girrrl, you know how it is when you and your man are out on a romantic evening, ...etc...etc...") I did not want to hear that after a rectal & I practically ran out of the office.

I was so traumatized that I wouldn't go for another pap smear for years. Then, last year I became pregnant. My family Dr. tried to get me in with his wife's OB/GYN, but she was full, so I ended up with a tall, built male with LARGE hands (ladies - he has a caricature on his wall of him lifting weights).

Anyway, he actually is pretty good, quick, and not at all painful. At times, he reminds me of House, but not as bad. He diagnosed me with endometriosis during my cesearean.

christiangirl · #40 07-25-2005, 03:03 AM

Ok, let me just spit out the horrifying-but-true statement so nobody's surprised.....no, I've never been to "that" doctor yet. Yeah, I know, it's terrible, but I'm scared, I can't help it. I had a physical last week and when my (male) doctor found out, he immediately told me he was making my appointment for me, he's not even leaving it up to me.

I know he's right, I'm getting used to the idea that I just have to.

But I'm very uncomfortable with the fact that he's setting me up with a male doctor, even if that's the best option for me (he's recommending me for a particular reason and his friend's a specialist). I don't want a man, I don't even like having a male physician, but he's growing on me. I'm not happy AT ALL about having a guy poking around down there, but hey, a specialist is what I need. It's not freaking me out so much anymore, but I do miss my female physician. After the appointment, I'll revive this thread and tell you how it goes...

.

ilovemyglo · #41 07-25-2005, 08:33 AM

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!).

AnonAlumna · #42 07-25-2005, 08:40 AM

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!!!!

aephi alum · #43 07-25-2005, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ilovemyglo
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".

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.

JenMarie · #44 07-25-2005, 10:17 AM

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.

#45 07-25-2005, 12:33 PM

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!