I prefer women, but won't set my appt based on female availability.

I would never pay money to see a male gynecologist or a male psychiatrist/therapist. I am not a sexist but I believe there are some fundamental gender differences that no amount of medical school can help you to transcend.

all male gynocologists are perverts. dont give them the pleasure

I dunno about this. The last time I went to the gyno I had to see the male, and I didn't have as much anxiety as I do when a female is there. I guess I feel as though the female gyno is more likely to compare and to criticize (not to my face, of course) but a male gyno is more likely to just get the job done and get out of there. Either or in my book.

It's not that I prefer having a male doctor, I just do and I love him! He's so willing to listen and work with me for everything. He's my general practitioner as well as my gynecologist. I feel comfortable with him plus there is always a nurse in the room for my well woman visits.

"all male gynocologists are perverts. dont give them the pleasure" well ok. That sure is a mature and fact based statement!

I go to a male gyno only.
I went to a female once when mine moved and it made me very uncomfortable. Male doctors dont personally attack (the ones I have had) whereas the female I saw made judgemental comments that were out of line. I am also very old fashioned and look at men as more powerful and knowledgeable than women, so I prefer to have that male figure looking after me.

"Male doctors dont personally attack (the ones I have had) whereas the female I saw made judgemental comments that were out of line."

Being judgemental is not due to someone's gender! It's due to someone being opinionated and too vocal.

"I am also very old fashioned and look at men as more powerful and knowledgeable than women"

Is anyone else bothered that some of these comments have taken us back 50 years?

I prefer a woman doctor...only on the basis that they have smaller hands/fingers! (I hope, oh lord.)
That might have been a little graphic, lol.

i dont care. the gyno is not fun regardless if its a man or a woman down there.

youre going t a complete stranger and they are poking and prodding up there..plus your ass is out there for world to see. i dont care who i go to, man, woman, just get it over with!

Thats why I said the ones I have had...
The men I have seen have been very nice, professional and prompt whereas the one woman I saw basically called me a slut. I prefer to see men. Thats my personal choice. Of course it was the woman I saw and not women in general. That one lady put a bad taste in my mouth for female gynos so now I don't see them. Big deal.

And don't look too into the last comment and lets not steer away from what this message board is actually about. Gynos!

I've only had female gynecologists, but I have had several breast exams and breasts ultrasounds by male doctors and it never bothered me. Either way is fine by me.

I used to prefer a male. I have severe anxiety about pelvic exams, and it seemed like every female gyno I got would not only make fun of me for it, but pull the "Oh come on, I've been there. It's not that bad!" with the eye-rolling. Men, on the other hand, seemed to realize that they can't pretend to know what it feels like. *lol*

However, I've recently discovered a few women I'd be happy making appointments with, and do. So far this pregnancy, I've had all my appointments with female doctors and had very good luck.

I really don't care as long as they job it done right and I am comfortable enough to talk to them about personal issues and they are comfortable enough to listen and take the time to understand.

I have a male gyno that I am not happy with. I had to go to Planned Parenthood for a second opinion and because they are so sweet and caring there. I am going to use Planned Parenthood from now on. I don't ever want to see my male gyno again.

He's a rude Egyptian man.

I used to prefer female gyno'as until I) was discussing this with a friend, who brought up the possibility of jealousy iossues with female gynos. It soungs extreme but imagine Giselle Bundchen in a female gynecologist's stirrups. There will be some degree of envy/jealousy. A doctor wouldn't compeltely sabotage your health but it's not so hard to imagine Giselle's gynecologist overlooking some minor symptoms of problems. Wheras a male gynecologist would want absolutely nothing more than to help you.

I have only had a woman gyno, but I don't think I would mind a male gyno anymore than I mind a female. I base my doctors off of reference and personal experiences not gender.

And some of these comments do take women back 50+ years. I am really shocked that some women still beleive that men are smarter and more apt than a woman is. Honesty, how did the woman graduate medical school then? Based on her charm, wit and bra size? Come on ladies.

*believe

i prefer female..

I would never feel comfortable with a male gyno.

Yeah I don't think that viewing men as more powerful and knowledgeable than women is old-fashioned. It's flat-out sexist.

The mindset that men gynos are all perverts isn't exactly keeping us in the present either, though.

Ditto to fashionhore!! I didn't realize women Dr.'s weren't as smart or capable as male Dr.'s?? LoL, do they have gender specific medical schools??

I feel more comfortable with a female gyno, just because she has the same set of equipment. I just feel more relaxed talking to someone who has the same issues/concerns. I love my female gyno.

my first female gyno was a huge b*tch. my gyno now is female too and she's really good and nice although she has made a few awkward comments. has anyone else experienced things like this? here are a few examples:
i'm in the stirrups with her between my legs and the nurse nearby. she turns to the nurse and says "my, my look at these legs! so nice and long! you should be a model!" slaps my thigh so it makes the slapping noise...i know its a compliment but its awkward with someone staring at your bits!

next appointment she pulls down my gown to do the breast exam. she sucks in some air and says "well they are very big now i see--like implants. they are very large!" i reply that theyre not implants and ive just gained some weight. she says she knows but they are very large and firm "like implants"...

ive never had any other doctors say these types of things--is she just trying to be overly friendly and help me relax? its kinda creepy but i dont feel threatened by her or anything

o also with my last post i just wanted to point out that if a male gyno said that to me i would probably change doctors. i dunno if thats wrong or not but just how i feel...

That's creepy, regardless of gender.

Slapping my thigh and complimenting the firmness of my breasts would make my exam anxiety fly even higher.

Are you kidding? All male gynocologists are NOT "pervs".

Regardless of gender, all gynocologists are MEDICAL DOCTORS and have gone to medical school for years. By the time these doctors are practicing medicine on their own, they have seen so many private parts, that it's ridiculous to think that they would consider yours anything particularly special.

I prefer women, I don't want any man knowing more about my vagina than I do.

"it's ridiculous to think that they would consider yours anything particularly special."

Unless they're making inappropriate comments about your legs and modeling, or the firmness and size of your breasts.

If that's their way of making conversation, then at the very least they have an inappropriate bedside manner.

I'll only go to a female. My doctor is completely awesome. She's never been anything but nice and supportive.

"I am also very old fashioned and look at men as more powerful and knowledgeable than women"

"Is anyone else bothered that some of these comments have taken us back 50 years?"

Yes! That's a pretty disturbing comment.

I don't think all male gynos are pervs, that's an obtuse statement.

I prefer a male gyno because I personally feel more comfortable and less judged by males in general so it fits that I would rather see a male gyno.

"I am also very old fashioned and look at men as more powerful and knowledgeable than women."

"Is anyone else bothered that some of these comments have taken us back 50 years?"

I think that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Female.

And we're entitled to our opinion that such statements take us back 50 years.

I prefer a doctor that will explain things in medical terms and give me all the facts. So far I feel that my male gyno does this better than my previous female gyno. However I do not think that it is fair to stereotype that all of the female gynos breeze over the facts.

I prefer a woman.

Although some of the reasons people are using for their choice in gynos is entertaining, hahaha. I'm pretty sure men and women need the same credentials to graduate from med school and practice medicine. Why would a man be better at his job just because he's a man? It's a shame that in 2007, society is still having a hard time embracing the fact that men and women of all races are e-q-u-a-l. Good points though everyone!

Something strikes me as odd for a man to aspire to be gynocologist, therefore, I feel way more comfortable with a female.

NdHebert: Maybe you should take into mind your own statement: You "look at men as more powerful and knowledgeable than women," "that sure is a mature and fact based statement." The only reason a gynecologist is going to make judgemental comments is because you have given her the basis to do so...

either for me. But i must say, overall in all other aspects of medicine i will usually only see a male. Just a preference.

I don't have a preference but I currently go to a woman. When I was pregnant the pratice that I went to made you rotate among 3 male doctors, 1 female doctor, and 2 nurse practitioners so that you were familiar with them for delivery. I ended up with the nurse practitioner at my delivery and kept her ever since. The only person that I flat out did not like was the female doctor. She was a lesbian(which wasn't a problem)but she was had the worst bed side manner and was extemely rough. I signed off that she couldn't do my delivery.

Brandy...I don't know if the future md's aspire to be gyno's but I do know that when they are in school they have to learn how to deliver babies as part of their training. Some of them probably just take a liking to it.

My sister in law used a female gyno in Hawai'i, who told her (the SIL) that PMS was a completely fabricated story women came up with to sluff off responsibility for being a raging b*tch. (Not in those exact words but...)
She said it was something we were told we "should have" so we created the symptoms in our minds and perpetuate the cycle by passing those things we 'should have' down to our daughters when we talk to them.
She told my brother PMS was a figment of a woman's imagination and that he shouldn't worry about it.

I think she was trying to get him killed.

My gyno now is a female, and I have never been so creeped out. Maybe it's just because she is a woman, and touching my goodies...but I felt like I was being touched by a lesbian. At the same time, I'm not sure I want a man down there either... I'm confused... I guess this is called "gyno bi-curious?"

Female. I talk to my Gyno like she's a close girlfriend. i couldn't do that with a male doctor.

I prefer women...in fact when it comes to my gyno it is a must. I just wouldn't be as comfortable with a man. My new general doctor is a man though and he is simply amazing but I will still go to my female gyno. i won't lie though she really pissed me off in the beginning... She was VERY judgemental about my sexual habits....but since I got married she is nothing but sweet... I know, I know...soooo wrong!!!! I like that it is an all female practice so I chose to stay....

Definitely a female gyno, but that is because I feel most comfortable and am likely to be truthful as a result. It has more to do with me than the particular doc.

Have to admit, I find the comments questioning female doctors' capability in comparison to their male counterparts pretty unfathomable; it is okay to say that you have had a bad experience with a woman, or feel more comfortable with a man, but to say that women in general are somehow less able doctors is just bizarre.

That being said, I do understand what some posters have said about scary and judgmental gynos (and general practitioners too!)and I hope the medical profession is beginning to understand how freakin counter productive SCARING a patient is - cause we aren't already freaked out enough with the stirrups and the naked vajayjay......

My first gyno was an amazing woman who, when I was 16 said flat out to me that she was my doctor and would ensure that nothing I asked her would ever leave the room. As my mom was a nurse in the same hospital, that was very reassuring!!!!

I'm sure male gynos are just as professional and knowledgeable and trustworthy as female gynos, but to be honest, I just can't wrap my mind around the idea of a male doctor sticking his fingers in my cootchie! Plain and simple.

gal, i have a female gyno who has also made comments about my breasts. specifically, about the size and perkiness and how i should be happy while it lasts. who would say that. i wanted to be like hm way to burst my bubble and make me feel uncomfortable all at once. i was BEYOND dreading her seeing me down below. UGH. regardless of sex some people are just way more inappropriate than others. i have to drop her. i dont know if i could go to a guy tho- ONE oogly eye and ill be scarred for life!

*Oh, I'm straight...so it's not a sexual preference to have a female gyno (RE: "I feel like I'm being touched by a lesbian" comment)

I've only had one gynecologist - a male. I really like him, he made me feel extremely comfortable, the whole time he was doing the exam I barely even noticed he was doing anything! He was extremely easy to talk to. I would have no problem going to a female though, just as long as she was like my current gynecologist!

Ive only had one. A male, also my GP. I was expecting it all to be bad, but it was fine. I dont necessarily have a gender preference but for the time being I will stick with him.

I guess since I had a male doctor deliver my baby for me at the last minute, with blood and god-knows-what-else was going on down there, I kind of lost my whole squeamish-ness about seeing a male gyno. The last time I went it was a male, and he had to put in my IUD! Poor guy...