Delicate Matters
 

I'm putting this here because it's all about those most delicate of procedures, check-ups for things asunder down under (gynecological exams/testicular cancer checks/prostate exams). Both guys and gals, would you rather have a doctor of the same sex using your private areas as a playground, or one of the opposite sex? If you have different preferences for different areas, please do post and give reasons and such.

Reason for the question is that when my doc informed me of this wonderous exam which I am to undertake, he asked if I'd be more comfortable having a guy do it (him) than the woman assisting him with physicals. I thought about it, and then realised that, heck no! I would not be more comfortable with him doing it.

So yes, this is more about which sex you're more comfortable with than trying to secretly get your jollies at the doctor's office, or your sexual preferences.

There is absolutely nothing sexual about this exam at all... so I'm not sure the gender of the doctor matters... However, all of my gyn's have been male. and it's purely because i liked them better. I tried going to two different female doctors, and they both had major personality flaws (incredibly abrubt, didn't listen to me, didnt hear me when they were listening, and discounted a lot of what I said) I did not find those same charachteristics in the male doctors I have been to.

However, all my doctors have been older (than me which makes them ancient) I think I'd get a little skeeved out by a young good looking male doctor - -even though I know it's purely professional... eh-- I prefer my doctors like Dr Welby thank you.,

I prefer a female doctor and always have--with one exception. Generally I feel more comfortable around women--this goes for regular doctor's visits and gynecological exams. I've only found one male doctor I really like, and I would never consider going to him for a gyno exam.

Growing up I always thought it was weird my mom preferred male doctors over female doctors, and I presume now it's because of the generation thing--I think she grew up in a time where all the doctors were male and they were the ones who "knew" and so now she feels maybe female doctors don't "know" as much. It's really stupid, certainly, but that's how she feels.

For me it's not only aobut knowledge but personal comfort, and I can't feel comfortable with a man looking at my hoohah in a non-sexual fashion. Yeah, no thanks.

The jollies thing was just a joke. :P People may feel more comfortable with one or the other gender though. I've heard a lot of women like female gynos more.

Snowy: I can't feel comfortable with anyone playing with my balls, or sticking things up my tunnel of stinky destruction in a non-sexual way no matter who it is. :P I'm slightly less comfortable with a guy doing it though. ;)

I'd definately prefer a male doctor for check-ups and whatnot. Even though it's not sexual, I'd feel more comfortable getting out my goods in front of a guy than a woman.

my option isn't listed.. I just don't care.. if it is a male doctor so be it, female doctor so be it.. I am not there to date, I am there to get something checked out.

I'd be more comfortable with a male doctor for those sorts of things. May sound immature but I'd be afraid I would get an erection if it were a female. That would be pretty embarrassing. More to it than that though, I'd just be more comfortable with a male doctor.

You left out the "don't really mind" options. I have had both - the only doctor that ever did an intimate personal exam on me as a young adult was a tiny wrinkled Pakistani woman - not a trace of jollies there.

My current doctor is a new registrar, and it's the first time I've had a doctor younger than me. It didn't especially phase me.

I sum up my level of comfort by how confident I am with the doctor's ability and approach. I look for someone who will take matters seriously, who appears genuinely interested and will take time to listen, and finally I need to feel confident that they know what they are talking about. This person could be male or female.

I have seen male and female doctors in the past, I can't say that men or women are generally better for me. It's more about the doctor as an individual.

..........Ditto...........

I have to say, as a female, a female physician/nurse practitioner, etc, is the only way to go. I have had been examined by male doctors and they don't get it. I talk about the pain, the crippling pain, of cramps and they shrug it off like I'm overreacting or I'm supposed to just "walk it off." They have no idea what I could be talking about.

My female practitioners have been MUCH more sympathetic and understanding, willing to listen, gentle, etc etc etc.

I have had a horrible female gyn exam though. She was totally detached from my feelings as a patient. She used a speculum so large it felt like I was being raped.

When a female practitioner is examining me I feel like we are in the same boat, she knows what I am going through because she has to get these exams done too.

And i had teh exact opposite reaction to more than one female doctor - -because she had never experienced what I was going thru, she couldn't relate and didn't care. Male doctors, in my 20 + years of going to gynocologists, since they don't have our reproductive organs, make the effort to listen and to try and understand.

I want a doctor that listens to me, speaks English as a primary language, understand my issues, and is willing to refer me to a specialist when necessary. Gender is the least of my worries.

At the moment, all of my doctors are female.

My choice isn't on there. I'm a guy and I really don't care what the gender of the doctor is. As long as the docrot is qualified and I feel comfortable with him/her, the gender is of no concern to me. It's a medical examination and there is nothing sexual about it in any way.

I'm not a fan of either. I'm not really all that shy or uptight or anything, but it bugs me to have someone i barely know poking around at my sack or something... but back to the question, I guess I'd be a little more comfortable with a male doctor.

I really dislike going in for my yearly exam. I get really nervous because I feel so vulnerable when my legs are spread open on the table and I have someone looking inside me. I chose to have females because I feel slightly more comfortable with them then I would a man. But, if I had a friend go to a really great male doctor..then I might consider seeing him instead.

I really don't care

My first experience with a pap was with a rough, abrupt, rude male doctor, and I believe that set the tone.

I have also had a female doctor who was negligent to the point of losing my pap results THREE TIMES, resulting in what should have been mild dysplasia growing to severe dysplasia and requiring lots of what I felt to be avoidable and horribly painful day surgery.

However, my gut feeling is that I just prefer a female doctor. I think it reminds me of being cared for by my Mom. I have, however, had a couple of really great male doctors that I was comfy with --- I've just had to switch a lot of times due to moving.

I've been to see both male and female doctors and I couldn't care less what their sex or gender is... All I care about is competence.

I voted a preference for a male doctor, but it has nothing to do with the doctor's sex and everything to do with the fact that my current gyno is serious, caring, skilled, listens to what I'm saying and seems genuinely concerned with my well-being. I'd take him over any female doc not because of anything having to do with sex, but because I'd prefer him over any other gyno period. Grace has had bad experiences with male gynos, and would never go to one again.

For my first pap (only a year ago...) I asked for a female doctor. Not because I wouldn't be okay with a good male doctor doing the exam, but because I hated the doctor I was currently seeing and the thought of him poking around inside of me actually made me cry.

I now have an excellent female doctor, but I still miss my first male doctor. He was awesome.

I don't care about the gender of my doctor. I just want to feel comfortable with them.

Personally.... I get extremely weird when I have a guy poking around my special spot. I've had two examinations with a male doctor for immigration purposes. And I have had one examination with a female doctor for just a regular check up. I felt a lot more comfortable with a female doctor. I don't know.... the male doctor was more thorough and poked and proded. The female doctor was quicker. So I guess minues the poking made me feel a lot more comfortable.

I've had mostly bad experiences with male doctors, and my current female doctor is awesome....

When I was pregnant and went to the military clinic, I saw whoever was available. I have no problem with a man doing a checkup on me, but I've found that women tend to be more gentle and tell me when they are doing something because they understand what it's like to poked with a speculum. Based on personal experiences, I'll probably keep a female doctor the rest of my life.

BTW, my husband has the same doctor and likes her too. I guess she is just good :)

For me, the bolded part is the most important; I can't see what's going on when he's poking around down there, and it makes it so much easier when he narrates what he's doing before and as he's doing it, and why it's necessary. This is, by the way, a quality I think is comforting in any doctor, regardless of where they're poking around.

I pick the “I’m not fussed as to where the examination is performed by a male or female doctor” option.

Honestly, it wouldn't matter to me. I have had both sexes examine me. With school insurance I really cant be that picky. For me, I only see female massage therapists and psychologists. Seeing a male in either of those positions is extraordinarily creepy to me. Thats me

I marginally prefer men, because it's a bit more locker-roomish then. It's not a very sexual thing either way, but if I'm looking at a male and a female doctor of equal skill and experience I'll go to the guy. So a good male doctor is better than a good female doctor, who's better than a poor doctor of either gender.

I think for my purposes (mid-30's guy considering a vasectomy) a guy doctor will do fine. Coincidentally, that's the only one available at the clinic I go to that can do it anyway, so, its a bit of a moot point.

Overall, it seems that people have good solid reasons to prefer guys or gals for doctors. It just comes down to personal preference.

+1 for I'm female, and I don't care, so long as they're a good doctor.

I've honestly kept an open mind and had two female doctors since my adult life began. Perhaps I've just had bad luck with them but my experience is that those two were inept -don't listen to my problems and seem to exist just to suck up insurance money.

On the other hand my sister (later on) has the exact same female doctor as I had and likes her a lot. I'm wondering if gender affects the level of care that someone gets.

You should have added a fifth option.. I don't care either way.. the exam is disturbing either way. The gender of the doc is of no importance to me, only that he or she is gentle and has good bedside manners.