A question about male doctors and pelvic exams?

I'm with you. I have heard the opposite of what the female doctor said. This doctor told me he works in a hospital and he has been checking out his male colleagues behavior. And he said 6 out of the 9 doctors do pelvic exams on the good looking women and not on the unattractive women. He said one doctor told a good looking woman who had a hysterectomy for a benign condition that she has to keep coming back for pap smears but he told an unattractive woman who had a hysterectomy for cancer that she didn't need any more pap smears. Totally opposite advice of what should be given. Maybe doctors don't act sleazy all the time but if you're good looking they might

I just want to add this doctor did this because when his wife went to the hospital that he works at she had to have a pelvic exam that he knew was unnecessary. And he said he thought women were crazy to go to male gynos.

I think that women who say it's utter rubbish maybe just aren't appealing to their doctor.

My OB, BTW couldn't stop staring at my cleavage one day.

Male Pelvic Exam Video

First I'll start by saying I am using my husbands account. I am a women and a Dr. I work in emergency medicine where we do a lot of pelvic exams. Basically every women who has abdominal pain, pelvic pain, is pregnant or has vaginal bleeding gets one. Emergency medicine is a male dominated field overall and the majority of my colleagues are men. I would say I know these men well, they are more than crass in my presence because its a boys club. Not once in all my years have I ever heard any man get excited about doing a pelvic exam!!! This isn't a sexual thing. Most the time we are examining you because you need a check up, you have discharge, a disease, you are bleeding, pregnant etc. I don't care what you look like this is not a turn on! Most of the male Dr.'s I work with, actually the women too, feel some annoyance when they pick up a chart needing a vaginal exam. No one likes to do these...its a part of job, just like doing a rectal examination. Or for me doing penis and testicle exams. Trust me that is NEVER a turn on. We are professional on some level and there is nothing sexual about anything we do. I know there are pervs in every field but I assure you the vast majority of male docs are either indifferent to the exam or slightly annoyed by it...that's the truth. I can tell you already have strong opinions about this but I hope you are posting with an open mind....because this is a truthful answer from behind the scenes.

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OK, firstly it has nothing at all to do with a womans boyfriend. A woman decides for herself whether she is comfortable with a male doctor examining her. I don't get all wierd if a female doctor examines my bfs penis or testicles, so there is no reason for him to feel disrespected if I choose to have a vaginal exam done by a male doctor.

I would be unhappy having a strip search done by either a male or female police officer. Such things should be left only to medical proffessionals.

When you are in pain and ill, you are happy to have anyone examine you as long as they have the qualifications and ability to help you. It does not bother me in the slightest to have intimate examinations carried out by a male doctor. I have had bad gynaecological problems consequently have had many such examinations. What concerns me at the time is how skilled/gentle they are and how at ease they make me feel. My worst ever internal exam was carried out by a woman. I felt totally degraded by her attitude and lack of professionalism.

If male doctors think anything inappropriate then does it really matter as long as they are able to do their job and help you? I doubt if many get turned on by a speculum up the vagina, but hey, I'm sure some do. They are human.

You seem to have some serious issues surrounding this. I would be interested to know why you feel so strongly on this issue. There is nothing wrong with a male examining a woman if he has the know how to help her, and she is comfortable with it. It is way different to the emotions and situation when your lover touches you down there. There is nothing to be ashamed of in the human body.

I would only complain if I felt the exam was different than expected, no arousal, no abnormal or unusual pain.

However there is a difference from a doctor who spent 8-9 years in college and then took an oath to "do no harm" from a police officer who finished a 6-12 month course and has agreed to protect the public. But we have seen these police officers use tasers on innocent and unprovocted people with little or no reason.

So what do you really want to know. Have you been abused by a doctor? If so, say so. And then if for any reason you cannot seek help on your own, there may be someone who can help you.

It is different from the police. Doctors are trying to determine or prevent illness while the police have already invaded your personal space. Both situation are very vulnerable but as you said as this is the doctors profession, the police are merely further violating your privacy, they are not looking to improve and prevent serious medical conditions. Yes, male doctors probably do get turned on, but they are only human, doctors are not gods, they do the very best they can to cope with the situations they are presented with. There are more options than ever, more female doctors in Canada than male doctors, there may not always be a choice but there is a greater chance than ever for women to be examined by female doctors. Would people not always complain of being strip searched?

oh dear you've not had any children have you? whats more important the wellbeing of you and possibly an unborn child, or the sex of the person examining you? I know what my priority was.

There are actually male midwives now y'know?

I honestly think your talking rubbish. I've been under the care of a man GP for the past 20years and through that time I've had smear tests, IUDs put in and had a baby and not once did I ever think there was anything wrong with him examining me. It does feel strange to know that he's seeing parts of my body I'll never see, but that goes for anyone doing that job.

You are entitled to have a woman doctor and have right to refuse a man, but I honestly dont see the point. There is nothing sexual about being examined by a male doctor, not unless YOU want it to be.

But as a woman and if you have children you will find that most of the people you deal with will be men.

I am astonished to read the opinion of the people regarding this issue. I am a male doc and frequently get posted in delivery suite. What I have noticed is that whites usually have full faith in their doctor irrespective of their age, sex or colour. When a doctor examines you internally, he has so many things going in his mind and the least prioritised one is the fantasy you are imagining. In 99% of the cases, the doctor is doing the examination because he is expecting something that is going to change the course of the disease / treatment. We have enough legal hassles to deal with to have another one on board. Have you ever sought the opinion of a lady midwife about doing internal examination? I am sure most of them hate it as much as a male one. That do it only because they don't want to see the infant on the floor next minute nor do they want to see puddle of blood.

In my day to day work, I too come across such situation. I find some women stunning and beautiful. So what? Am I not a human being? Yes. But then I know what are the priorities. I donot forget the purpose why I am there !!!! Everyone in this world had both devil and god in him It is what you prioritise. This is called as "professionalism" in posh words. thats it.

When I come across such situations in my work everyday, I look at the patient and decide my course. 99.9% of the time all that you need is an explanation as to what you are doing, why you are doing, a reassuring touch with your hand on their shoulder/arm/forearm to win their confidence. Once assured, they do cooperate with you. But, then, there are 0.1% people who come to the doctor, keeping one foot in their solicitor's office. These are the people you need to be careful with. Most of the time they are from a particular region and faith. By the way, I am also a southeast Asian

Well, maybe if you don't like that then just get a woman doctor. Get a female one. And woman complain because well police officers as we know them their jobs are not to be stripping us down. I understand what you're saying. Why wouldn't a guy in this world get turned when they see us naked right? Well, I agree with you. But I think that doctors seen so many a day you know so they have to get use to it. And they are professionals I know you don't believe that but they are. Well, guys are guys.