I've been seeing the same gynecologist for a few years now. I enjoy everything about her. She's a compassionate Jewish mother who lives in my town and shares my passion for running. So when I called to confirm my annual appointment last week and was told she was out of the office delivering a baby, I was a bit bummed. The nurse asked me if I'd care to see the new doctor instead. I don't have time to reschedule this, I thought. I agreed, and that was that.
After an hour in the waiting room, I was just a tad frustrated. It was clear I should have made another appointment, and the other OB/GYN was swamped. Finally, one of the nurses brought me into an exam room and told me to stay dressed so the new doctor could come in and meet me. As I sat waiting, I heard a voice in the hall. It was a man. He asked, "Does she know?" The nurse replied, "I think so."
Are you 'effin kidding me!?
NO, I DIDN'T KNOW THE NEW DOCTOR WAS A MAN! I wanted to scream. My head was spinning. I had spent an hour in the waiting room and another 15 minutes alone in the exam room, only to then find out my OB/GYN had a penis? I know, I know: I should have asked. But to be honest, the thought didn't cross my mind. And now, after this long, I didn't know if I had the balls to walk away.
It's not that I don't think he's qualified. I'm positive he is. I'm sure he's an excellent doctor who went to an excellent school. I'm also sure he's very sweet. His voice had a low, sort of sexy tone to it. But I'm also sure of this: I was not pleased about the thought of him going near my, well, you know. And I wish someone had told me sooner.
As it is, the whole idea of someone touching my private areas makes me squirmy. But just thinking of a man I don't know investigating down there makes me squeal. Not to mention, I still can't wrap my mind around why a man, out of all of the medical concentrations in the world, would choose to be a woman's doctor. And then there's the inevitable question: Does he ever get aroused during a consultation? Oh my God. I would die. Actually, I'm pretty positive I would start crying and walk out.
Lucky for me, my real OB/GYN ended up arriving just in the nick of time to give me my annual. Maybe if I had gone through with the exam with the other doctor, I'd feel differently. But I really doubt it. All I know is for now, I'll stick with my yenta of a gynecologist. She and I get along just fine.
Would you ever go to a male OB/GYN?
Image via clevercupcakes/Flickr
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Comments 90
When I became old enough to go to a OB/GYN, I scheduled my first appt with a woman. However, when I became pregnant with my first child, I changed practices and most of the doctors in the practice are men. When I went into labor I lucked out and the dr on call was the one that I wanted to deliver me (a man). He is the greatest, it doesn't make me nervous about him being a man. He's a great dr and thats all that matters to me. He listens to my concerns and helped me with post-partum depression and panic attacks/anxiety in my 2nd pregnancy. I had another male dr deliver my 2nd baby. I figure as long as they can do their job..it doesn't matter what their sex is.
Honestly I've always preferred a male. I find them to be better at listening to me. In my experience female gynecologists tend to think that you can't possibly be experiencing that or that they know all about this or that. Drives me batty. I'd much prefer a male who while very educated and intelligent has never experienced it and doesn't sit around with other people discussing those things. Also, the reason most males are gynecologists are because they also are obstetricians (or were, nowadays because of the sue happy world they stop delivering about 20 years before they want to retire). Most go into that field because of a desire to see life, and to help women.
Gy-no-cologist: Guy No. I don't think I'd be comfortable with a man gynocologist.
My ob/gyn is a male & he has been in the practice for at least 30 years.. he's compassionate, humorous, wise, & very caring! This dude delivered my son 9 weeks ago (my first child) & did a great job. The pregnancy & delivery were almost perfect, so I'd say gender doesn't matter at all.
Oh yeah, and for some reason I feel weird like I might be being judged whenever a female doctor takes a look down there! Think about it: guys don't have vaginas so who are they to judge? To them, we're just women which = an awesome mystery :P
Yep. I wrote then a nasty letter after that.