I can't go to a male - it just seems weird to me.

Female for a good reason. Two words: small hands.

oh definitely a woman

I said male because there is only one i will ever go to. Not only did he DELIVER ME, but he was the only one I went to when I started having pains/problems (later diagnosed as endometrieosis and ovarian/uterine/kidney/intestinal cysts... yeah... it sucks, in case you couldn't tell) when I was 16, and living in NJ.

I live in Florida now (for the past 3 years) and fly to NJ for my annuals or whenever I have problems. Actually just made an appointment with him for two weeks from now, what a grand Spring Break I'll be having! I also want him to be my OBGYN when I plan/have my family, whenever that will be.

I had a male gyno for a year or so (I didn’t want a male doctor but I got referred to him so I figured I’d stick with him for a while). He was fine and it wasn’t much weirder than a female doctor, but he had this habit of winking at me. After one or two visits I asked to be switched to the one female doctor in that practice.

Definitely a male. Going to a female gyno would just make me uncomfortable.

I can't imagine going to a man. Even though I am sure they're completely professional. That would freak me out. (and I'm 30... how sad is that?)

Female. I have never had a OB/GYN that was male. I feel like men can't relate to my questions if they haven't shared the same experiences. Men can only comprehend periods, birth control, and childbirth to an extent.

Doesn't matter to me.

I still don't get what would make a man want to spend all day looking at female genitalia as a profession.. actually never mind

But nah female for me please. Even that still irks me..

woman all the way.. its so uncomfortable as is and it would be so much worse if it was a male gyno! at least for me... id feel uncomfortable even if there were male students/nurses/whoever else is in the room when your giving birth lol

male are better, but i can't get over it, so i go to female.

Either way. I generally prefer a woman doctor, but my current doc is the best I've ever seen, and he's a man.

Depends on their personality. I had a female doctor to start and she was a huge b!tch who made me feel guilty for having sex and embarrassed when she looked down below. After seeing her 3 times and it never getting better I switched to a male doctor (who kinda reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld) and he is a gazillion times better.

It totally depends on the personality more then the sex.

I've been to both, and as long as I am comfortable with them and they seem competent and professional I am okay with which ever

i've only had female. but am more comfortable naked around men. lol

I don't really care, so long as they've got a degree from a top-notch school and take my insurance. My current OB/GYN is a man, and he's great at his job and never makes me feel uncomfortable... well, except for the fact that I'm in his office in the first place.

I heard that many males who normally would become gyns are not going into practice because of the reverse discrimination that exists.

I feel weirded out with males wanting to examine things down there for medical reasons, so I've had female gynos all the way.

Not to say that they're always better. It's hard finding the right doctor in general to be able to speak freely with and feel comfortable with.

Can't show my cooch to a woman. And imagining her sticking her hands down there? Please. I'd rather die. So men men men, all the way!

Doesn't matter to me. I've see both.

I used to be with a female, but now I'm with a male since I moved and that man is simply awesome. The female gyno never warmed up those mean instruments of hers. *shivers*

doesn't really make a difference to me.i have seen male and female gynos.

If the doctor can't relate directly to female issues, I can't deal with them.

Female, please. You can only fully understand the vajayjay if you have one.

Female for me and for two basic reasons..

I feel much more comfortable being honest about what's going on than I would with a man, which makes the visit more useful.
I don't care how many books you've read, videos you've watched, and people you have talked to - You still don't know what it is like to HAVE a vagina.

Female. Men are so insensative!! I had a male doctore call me, CRAZY!! once when I was unable to do a paptest..because I was very nervous. He suggested I get thearpy!! JERK!!

It's hard for me to explain something to a man who has never experienced it. Reading it in a book doesn't mean you understand what it's like.

LoL, it all depends. Despite the gender, it depends on how the doctor connects with the patient. Really, I'm sure male doctors saw plenty of vaginas, so yours is just another vagina really. -_-

Hmm, seems I didn't finish, same goes with female docs, so the comfortability rests on the patient, the only problem is...when discussing your health records.. If ever i get a urologist...I'd probably prefer a male one (I know that probably sounds...odd)...and the moments would be rather awkward....But I'm sure it's probably for the same reasons as you all...

Has to be female. I feel that she would understand whats going on down there better, having the same situation and all. I can't imagine answering a male doctor if he says "any abnormal discharge." No thanks.

I vastly prefer females, but when my normal doctor wasn't available when I needed a check, she referred me to a male doctor. She said that even SHE goes to him and he was amazing. I went, and he was an exceptionally nice old guy. I felt as comfortable as I could be (in getting a pap smear, that is).

I've seen both, and I preferred one doctor to the rest because of her personality. In my appointment with a male doctor, another female nurse had to sit in which was strange. It's not like that's a comfortable situation, and to share it with one more unnecessary person was awkward. It made it weird to have someone with the male doctor, like she had to watch him to make sure nothing happened. So, while I'm with Kaiser, I'll go with a woman.

I've been to several females and one male. I didn't have a problem with any of them, and probably preferred one of the females because she made me feel the most at ease. One good thing about the male doctor; he had warm hands! All the female doctors seem to have icy hands.

My usual doctor is a male, but when it comes to exams I try to book a female doctor. However my last Gyno was really rough, it made for a bad experience. I mean your NOT supposed to bleed heavily after a pap smear right?

It doesn't matter to me... I've had both. I don't get those of you who says a man can't understand a vagina or female issues. Don't you know that most doctors haven't had any of the diseases they treat?! Tell me, what is the difference!?

I was going to say the same thing Sprinkibrio

I had a male gyno once and he was a jerk. I was complaining of pain and he told me, in front of my mother, that I was making it up and just wanted attention. I switched to a female doctor who was much nicer a few years after that, and I was just diagnosed with endometriosis a month ago. So I was really making it up, huh?

Female. Even though they have the training male gynos can't possibly understand what I mean when I say I have bad period cramps.

I don't care either way, but I'm not surprised by the number of women that prefer female doctors.

As for the stupid accusations of "why would a man want this job" -- the average OB-GYN in the USA makes over $200K per year. It's more specialized than being a family physician, but less stressful than being a surgeon. Furthermore, women's health is interesting. That's why.

aside: I've never had bad period cramps either. Being a woman hardly means you've suffered in a similar situation as your patients. My only responses to this situation will be from my training, which is identical to that of the next male doctor.

Personally, I am more comfortable with a femal gyno. It is easier for me to discuss any issues with them.

*female

Either. I've had both and I didn't really see a difference in either.

I used to have the mentality that I wouldnt go to a dentist without a mouth. . . . .

I went to 3 different female doctors, all of which sucked. I switched to a male dr because one of the females blew off a medical emergency, and I still travel over an hour to see him after I moved away. He turned out being 100 times more gentle and caring than any of the women I saw, so needless to say it doesn't matter to me what he's got in his pants!

sympathetic gyn best, I7ve had both male and female: 2 women 2 men, I liked the ones one male one female that we most sympathetic with me when i was worried about something.

I've had my femaleness examined rather thoroughly and very intimately on a regular basis by my male partners; but never by another girl. It just seems more natural to get the professional evaluation from a man.

SaraJ, I think it's ... interesting that you use the words "man" and "girl" for male and female professionals, respectively, that have four years of undergraduate and 7+ years of med school and training.

She's not a "girl" - she's a "doctor."

It doesn't really matter to me...but I've only ever had a male doctor in any type of capacity.

Female only.

I've only ever had a female one, so I'm not really sure, but I will say that it was an immense relief to have another woman to talk to when I had problems and was in tears. She could reassure me from experience it would be all right, and it made a world of difference!