Men in OB/GYN

[FenderHM]

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Why not a good physician is a good physician or stick to your territory?

 

[45408]

I've never heard a physician or a woman say that they don't think men have a place in OB/GYN - some women prefer female OBs and some women prefer male OBs. However, I've got an interest in it, and the first meeting of the OB/GYN interest group had about 30 women and 3 guys.

 

[FenderHM]

what about patients do they prefer women? Do men have a hard time recruiting patients? Residency programs say no because they're trying to recruit men to fill spaces, but do they have trouble keeping busy? Will you always be the default physician that patients are seeing because the woman doc was busy?

 

[45408]

what about patients do they prefer women? Do men have a hard time recruiting patients? Residency programs say no because they're trying to recruit men to fill spaces, but do they have trouble keeping busy? Will you always be the default physician that patients are seeing because the woman doc was busy?

I doubt it. I've heard plenty of women say that men are gentler and more sympathetic because they don't actually understand what the women are going through, whereas *some* female OB/GYNs might just think a patient should "suck it up." I think there's enough market for male and female OB/GYNs, and it shouldn't be a deciding factor in your career choice.

 

[DMB41]

what about patients do they prefer women? Do men have a hard time recruiting patients? Residency programs say no because they're trying to recruit men to fill spaces, but do they have trouble keeping busy? Will you always be the default physician that patients are seeing because the woman doc was busy?

i am female and interested in OB, however, i have spoke with people who say that men are actually more "marketable" to practices. they said that females look for practices that will allow them to be able to have time with their families and they look for "job-sharing'' situations. there is the notion that men are being sought out in practices b/c they are able to give themselves "wholly" to the practice.

Also, if you look, there are many male ob's out there and they are very very busy, and when you look at ob sub-specialties--many (quite possibly the majority) are men.

 

[zimmie256]

Dangerous territory in my opinion to say that men should stay out of OB... Should women stay out of urology too?

 

[erleichda]

what about patients do they prefer women? Do men have a hard time recruiting patients? Residency programs say no because they're trying to recruit men to fill spaces, but do they have trouble keeping busy? Will you always be the default physician that patients are seeing because the woman doc was busy?

as a patient i prefer a male ob/gyn because...

I doubt it. I've heard plenty of women say that men are gentler and more sympathetic because they don't actually understand what the women are going through, whereas *some* female OB/GYNs might just think a patient should "suck it up." I think there's enough market for male and female OB/GYNs, and it shouldn't be a deciding factor in your career choice.

i've found this to be true in my experience

 

[FenderHM]

It seems like maybe it would be better for women to have a doctor that does "actually understand" what they're going thru

 

[SoCuteMD]

It seems like maybe it would be better for women to have a doctor that does "actually understand" what they're going thru

Some women really prefer male ob-gyns. A lot of older women feel more confident in male doctors (not saying it's correct, just fact). I, personally, would rather have a female doctor as I've had a couple less pleasant pap smear experiences with male FPs (but I suppose that male Ob/gyns get more practice, so they might be better anyways).

I don't think there are many ob/gyns lacking for business, and I feel sure that with a little extra work most male ob/gyns could be just as skilled and empathetic as female ob/gyns if they aren't to begin with. Plus, as someone mentioned earlier, female ob/gyns might be more inclined to think that a woman should "suck it up."

 

[45408]

It seems like maybe it would be better for women to have a doctor that does "actually understand" what they're going thru

It's really not necessary, and patients know that. Most doctors haven't had cancer, diabetes or Alzheimer's, but it doesn't stop them from treating it every day.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

to think that only women should do obgyn is immature.
besides, men have longer fingers. 😉

 

[Gimlet]

Just an anecdote here, but something that made me think twice about OB/GYN. A close family friend of ours recently just went through a major mental health crisis and almost lost his marriage due to the disillusionment he has experienced as an OB/GYN in the past decade or so.

He cites the increasing numbers of OB patients that have been choosing his female colleagues to be their doctors as the source of his problems. His experience has been that younger women these days just don't want male OBGYN's to be their doctors any more. Obviously there will be people on the board that disagree with this, but that's his experience. I'm not sure if this problem extends to the Gyn, because he dropped the OB part of his practice and is doing much better now. I'm sure he would tell any males here to run far far away from OB/GYN.

For what it's worth, I still voted that males can make great OBGYNs.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

That sucks for him. Every woman I know prefers a male OB/GYN for reasons already mentioned. That includes all the females in my family, and there are quite a few of them, lol. Maybe he should move here.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

a silly question......

if a woman had to choose between a handsome nice male obgyn, and 'some ol female' obgyn, which would she choose?

What do your younger sisters prefer?

 

[MacGyver]

I'll chime in here again.

As a male OB/GYN, once you get patients you can hold onto them easily as long as you are nice to them and professional. Male OBs hold onto their patients just as well if not better than female OBs.

The problem is that when that initial phone call is made to schedule an initial appointment, a large % of women will specifically ask for a female OB before they even know who the men are or how good they are. The male OBs are essentially being screened out before they can even make a first impression.

Thats the real problem here. Once male OBs get patients they do fine. But how many potential patients are going to screen them out before they even meet them for the first time?

 

[FenderHM]

I guess I was just curious because as a male medical student considering possible career choices I found I never considered OB/GYN strictly because I didn't want to have to deal with the issues of being a male in this field dealing with female reproductive system issues.

Even tho it seems like a well-balanced field where you would see lots of interesting stuff and make a competitive salary, I would get sick of explaining to women on a first date what I found so appealing about this field.

I don't think I could deal with constant thought in the back of people's minds that I went into a field because I like seeing women naked or something like that.

Already nearly 20% of my poll thinks that men should stick to other fields, I don't think I could deal with 1/5 of the population thinking I'm twisted for going into a field...

 

[45408]

Even tho it seems like a well-balanced field where you would see lots of intereting stuff and make a competitive salary, I would get sick of explaining to women on a first date what I found so appealing about this field.

I don't think I could deal with constant thought in the back of people's minds that I went into a field because I like seeing women naked or something like that.

Or the fact that most guys seem to think only Playboy bunnies have gynecological issues!

I wish more of the people who voted "stick to your own territory" would step up and say why, but I have a feeling that it's mostly for some pretty unfounded reasons. I pretty much never seriously tell people I'm interested in OB/GYN - among a number of other things - because I don't feel like hearing the lame jokes. I'm interested in the babies and the surgical aspects of it, and as one OB/GYN pointed out, if you can change mama's diet, you change the whole family's diet. Who cares what dad's eating? Mama's cooking! I thought it was pretty funny and pretty true.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

I wish more of the people who voted "stick to your own territory" would step up and say why,

those people are the females who think men are invading their space.

Even tho it seems like a well-balanced field where you would see lots of intereting stuff and make a competitive salary, I would get sick of explaining to women on a first date what I found so appealing about this field.

my explanation is simple. i have a nasty vagina fetish. (would that disqualify me from obgyn?)

 

[NonTradMed]

I am interested in OB/GYN as well, but I'm turned off by the malpractice insurance, the lawsuits and the odd hours. I'm also a girl and I have to say, I do look for a female OB/GYN....not sure why, I guess comfortable talking about female problems with a fellow girl. I guess at some subconscious level I'm also m looking for role models in the medical community, who knows? 😛

But I think guys should go into it if they're interested. It's has plenty of variety. You can do surgeries AND you get to see patients as a primary care provider. To top it off, you are making a substantial difference in their lives (i.e delivering babies).

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

I'm also a girl and I have to say, I do look for a female OB/GYN....not sure why, I guess comfortable talking about female problems with a fellow girl. I guess at some subconscious level I'm also m looking for role models in the medical community, who knows? 😛.

don't you think a fellow female obgyn is more likely to judge you? and men are more indifferent?

my mom had a male obgyn. she switched to another one cuz that man's fingers were to fat. I guess older women don't care so much. It's the younger girls like you all who are insecure about yourselves and only want a woman's touch.

I remember that stupid show dr.90210 where that asian plastic surgeon got pregnant. her obgyn was a man, and seemed more knowledgeable too. If a lot of women think like this asian plastic surgn, then the field should look pretty good for men.

 

[NonTradMed]

don't you think a fellow female obgyn is more likely to judge you? and men are more indifferent?

my mom had a male obgyn. she switched to another one cuz that man's fingers were to fat. I guess older women don't care so much. It's the younger girls like you all who are insecure about yourselves and only want a woman's touch.

I'm insecure because I prefer a women OBGYN? 😛

Wow, such insight into my mind...I see psychiatry in your future. 😀

My OBGYN is not judgemental and I never thought that a male would be more or less judgemental. I just find it easier to talk to a girl about having menstrual cramping, geesh....whose insecure now? 🙄

I guess the fact that I grew up with male doctors as my pediatrician and my PCP counts for nothing because I prefer a gal OB to talk with me abuot female problems.

 

[chameleonknight]

Here's a better question:

Why would anyone want to be an OB-GYN? Guys, do yourself a favor and choose something else.

 

[45408]

Here's a better question:

Why would anyone want to be an OB-GYN? Guys, do yourself a favor and choose something else.

It's like a mix of surgery and internal medicine, your OB patients are among the few that actually want to go to the hospital (the plastics patients probably do too), you can do fellowships in things like oncology, and there are lots of people interested in women's health issues.

 

[DMB41]

Here's a better question:

Why would anyone want to be an OB-GYN? Guys, do yourself a favor and choose something else.

OB/GYN is a great field. You get a surgical aspect you get a primary care aspect. You can subspecialize in onc, mat-fet med, or infertility. All of those are procedure based (except maybe gyn-onc), and if you do it right you can have decent hours too!

I realize it is not for everyone, but we need to have babies delivered don't we?!

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

OB/GYN is a great field. You get a surgical aspect you get a primary care aspect. You can subspecialize in onc, mat-fet med, or infertility. All of those are procedure based (except maybe gyn-onc), and if you do it right you can have decent hours too!

I realize it is not for everyone, but we need to have babies delivered don't we?!

those fertility specialties rake in some good money don't they.

 

[45408]

those fertility specialties rake in some good money don't they.

That's what I've been told.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

In response to the question above, my younger sister sees a male OB/GYN. She doesn't have any strong feelings one way or the other. She started seeing him, and she liked him, so she kept going.

 

[Leukocyte]

How can a guy go into Ob/Gyn because "he likes seeing women naked"? That does not make sence to guys who acctually rotated in Ob/Gyn.

If anything, I bet that men who are Ob/Gyns have lower libidos (sex drive) after seeing smelly, fungating, tick infested, bloody, pus filled.........vaginas all day, every day!!!!

I know when I did my Ob/Gyn rotation, I never once picked up "a magazine", and "huged my little buddy" during the entire 6 weeks!!!!! I do not know what was it, but I was no longer interested in "tacos" anymore. It took me around a week after the end of my Ob/Gyn rotation to return to "what guys do" again.

Despite all that, I am interested in Ob/Gyn as a career for the reasons mentioned by other posters....balance between Surgery and Medicine.....knowing full well that I might not "party" with my little "fire-man" too often, or as often🙁

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

Here's a better question:

Why would anyone want to be an OB-GYN? Guys, do yourself a favor and choose something else.

What? how can you not like nasty smelly wet vagina?

well your still in 2nd year, so you don't really know yet. people change their minds.

 

[45408]

How can a guy go into Ob/Gyn because "he likes seeing women naked"? That does not make sence to guys who acctually rotated in Ob/Gyn.

If anything, I bet that men who are Ob/Gyns have lower libidos (sex drive) after seeing smelly, fungating, tick infested, bloody, pus filled.........vaginas all day, every day!!!!

I know when I did my Ob/Gyn rotation, I never once picked up "a magazine", and "huged my little buddy" during the entire 6 weeks!!!!! I do not know what was it, but I was no longer interested in "tacos" anymore. It took me around a week after the end of my Ob/Gyn rotation to return to "what guys do" again.

Despite all that, I am interested in Ob/Gyn as a career for the reasons mentioned by other posters....balance between Surgery and Medicine.....knowing full well that I might not "party" with my little "fire-man" too often, or as often🙁

I'd recommend www.urbandictionary.com to any sheltered SDNers having trouble with this post.

 

[crunchyhamster]

Just an anecdote here, but something that made me think twice about OB/GYN. A close family friend of ours recently just went through a major mental health crisis and almost lost his marriage due to the disillusionment he has experienced as an OB/GYN in the past decade or so.

He cites the increasing numbers of OB patients that have been choosing his female colleagues to be their doctors as the source of his problems. His experience has been that younger women these days just don't want male OBGYN's to be their doctors any more. Obviously there will be people on the board that disagree with this, but that's his experience. I'm not sure if this problem extends to the Gyn, because he dropped the OB part of his practice and is doing much better now. I'm sure he would tell any males here to run far far away from OB/GYN.

For what it's worth, I still voted that males can make great OBGYNs.

i would personally never go to a male OB/GYN. just makes me really uncomfortable. i think older women trust male doctors more b/c that's what they grew up with. the last time i tried to make a gyn appointment, i called the clinic and they told me the first available appointment with a female doctor was in 1 month. the first available appointment with a male doctor was 1 week. i chose to wait 1 month. i think that answers your question.

actually, these days i only go to female doctors/dentists if i can help it. i find female doctors are easier to communicate with and i feel like i'm taken more seriously.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

i would personally never go to a male OB/GYN. just makes me really uncomfortable. i think older women trust male doctors more b/c that's what they grew up with. the last time i tried to make a gyn appointment, i called the clinic and they told me the first available appointment with a female doctor was in 1 month. the first available appointment with a male doctor was 1 week. i chose to wait 1 month. i think that answers your question.

actually, these days i only go to female doctors/dentists if i can help it. i find female doctors are easier to communicate with and i feel like i'm taken more seriously.

that's good for male docs then. acute dz's will be handled by the men

 

[45408]

actually, these days i only go to female doctors/dentists if i can help it. i find female doctors are easier to communicate with and i feel like i'm taken more seriously.

on the other hand, when I asked a different forum if they'd go with a male or female primary doc, virtually everyone said they'd prefer a guy. obviously, neither gender is out of work, so I wouldn't take anecdotal evidence too seriously.


I don't really care which one you prefer, but I don't really understand why you'd feel uncomfortable with a man. Care to elaborate?

 

[DoctorFunk]

actually, these days i only go to female doctors/dentists if i can help it. i find female doctors are easier to communicate with and i feel like i'm taken more seriously.

Sounds like this is more of a personal problem than an indictment of all male health professionals. Maybe some counseling could get to the source of this inability to communicate with men. How was your relationship with your father?

 

[crunchyhamster]

on the other hand, when I asked a different forum if they'd go with a male or female primary doc, virtually everyone said they'd prefer a guy. obviously, neither gender is out of work, so I wouldn't take anecdotal evidence too seriously.


I don't really care which one you prefer, but I don't really understand why you'd feel uncomfortable with a man. Care to elaborate?

um, maybe because when you see a gyn you expose the most intimate part of your body, get into an extremely vulnerable and demeaning position, and discuss personal sexual/reproductive issues? i personally feel more comfortable going through that with a woman who has been there herself. I'm not sure if men can really relate to any of that. it's a hell of a lot more than "turn and cough".

 

[crunchyhamster]

Sounds like this is more of a personal problem than an indictment of all male health professionals. Maybe some counseling could get to the source of this inability to communicate with men. How was your relationship with your father?

haha, my relationship with my father was great. but i don't want someone who reminds me of my FATHER asking me to put my feet in stirrups and "scoot up just a leeetle bit more". 😱

 

[Leukocyte]

um, maybe because when you see a gyn you expose the most intimate part of your body, get into an extremely vulnerable and demeaning position, and discuss personal sexual/reproductive issues? i personally feel more comfortable going through that with a woman who has been there herself. I'm not sure if men can really relate to any of that. it's a hell of a lot more than "turn and cough".

????

With this "logic", we should not let doctors treat a patient with CHF. It is better to let a CHF patient of many years treat CHF patients!!!🙄

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

hey hey.

it's all in the head. but it's a normal reaction. some people are just not as secure with themselves. but for each, there is another who is not so shy.

so there are plenty of patients for everyone.

Everyone...., keep screwing and spreading STD's and tell all of your friends to do the same so that we can keep the flow of patients coming.

 

[45408]

um, maybe because when you see a gyn you expose the most intimate part of your body, get into an extremely vulnerable and demeaning position, and discuss personal sexual/reproductive issues? i personally feel more comfortable going through that with a woman who has been there herself. I'm not sure if men can really relate to any of that. it's a hell of a lot more than "turn and cough".

turn and cough is fine, it's the digital that guys don't like.....

to each her own - there's plenty of each out there for you.

 

[chocomorsel]

How can a guy go into Ob/Gyn because "he likes seeing women naked"? That does not make sence to guys who acctually rotated in Ob/Gyn.

If anything, I bet that men who are Ob/Gyns have lower libidos (sex drive) after seeing smelly, fungating, tick infested, bloody, pus filled.........vaginas all day, every day!!!!

I know when I did my Ob/Gyn rotation, I never once picked up "a magazine", and "huged my little buddy" during the entire 6 weeks!!!!! I do not know what was it, but I was no longer interested in "tacos" anymore. It took me around a week after the end of my Ob/Gyn rotation to return to "what guys do" again.

Despite all that, I am interested in Ob/Gyn as a career for the reasons mentioned by other posters....balance between Surgery and Medicine.....knowing full well that I might not "party" with my little "fire-man" too often, or as often🙁

ROTFLMAO!!!!! This is too damn funny. Oh My Gosh!!!!
Tick infested? Now that's a new one.

 

[mrphobiaman]

I'll chime in here again.

As a male OB/GYN, once you get patients you can hold onto them easily as long as you are nice to them and professional. Male OBs hold onto their patients just as well if not better than female OBs.

The problem is that when that initial phone call is made to schedule an initial appointment, a large % of women will specifically ask for a female OB before they even know who the men are or how good they are. The male OBs are essentially being screened out before they can even make a first impression.

Thats the real problem here. Once male OBs get patients they do fine. But how many potential patients are going to screen them out before they even meet them for the first time?

as a husband, i personally do not like a male physician examining my wife for obvious reasons. i have took a lot of damage emotionally from dealing with male doctors and medical students and i can tell you those feelings dont go away very easily. we have had a very difficult time trying to find a female doctor because of insurance and there is not many in our area, the male doctor has been rammed down our throats where i live. to us, it is too intimate of a procedure to be done by another man. basically we view it as adultery. and there are a few biblical passages that will back up my stance on this issue.

 

[FenderHM]

as a husband, i personally do not like a male physician examining my wife for obvious reasons. i have took a lot of damage emotionally from dealing with male doctors and medical students and i can tell you those feelings dont go away very easily. we have had a very difficult time trying to find a female doctor because of insurance and there is not many in our area, the male doctor has been rammed down our throats where i live. to us, it is too intimate of a procedure to be done by another man. basically we view it as adultery. and there are a few biblical passages that will back up my stance on this issue.

ok so my first response was really critical, but then I saw your other post about how you really have issues with this. While the reasons for your discomfort may be "obvious," they arent reasonable. Ever worry if your own physician is gay when he is examining your little guy? Does it matter? The point is that physicians don't get into medicine because seeing the female pelvic area during pregnancy is erotic. Trust me there are many EASIER and CHEAPER ways to check out naked women. Physicians are professional and concerned 100% for the welfare of your wife medically. The female reproductive tract is complicated and requires meticulous medical care, please don't think Ob/Gyn is the medical version of a stripclub. I'm sure these docs that saw your wife were much more concerned with her health and not thinking about her sexually.

You probably should be on meds if these things really bother you. Trust me your wife wasn't cheating on you when getting a pelvic exam from a male Ob/Gyn

Don't discourage your wife from seeing an Ob/Gyn just because you want to find a female because you're uncomfortable. What if the female physician you find is a lesbian?

 

[MDDOWhatever]

as a husband, i personally do not like a male physician examining my wife for obvious reasons. i have took a lot of damage emotionally from dealing with male doctors and medical students and i can tell you those feelings dont go away very easily. we have had a very difficult time trying to find a female doctor because of insurance and there is not many in our area, the male doctor has been rammed down our throats where i live. to us, it is too intimate of a procedure to be done by another man. basically we view it as adultery. and there are a few biblical passages that will back up my stance on this issue.

I'm sorry to sound callous, but after reading your post, all I can say is that your username was very aptly chosen.

 

[45408]

I'm sorry to sound callous, but after reading your post, all I can say is that your username was very aptly chosen.

Smells like a troll. Take a look at his other posts, and then he came and found this thread, a week after people stopped responding.

 

[FenderHM]

maybe. we'll never stop the trolls. because how do you kill that which has no life?

 

[45408]

maybe. we'll never stop the trolls. because how do you kill that which has no life?

With the Sword of a Thousand MCATs.

 

[lilnoelle]

I am a female who prefers a female ob-gyn for some of the same reasons as mentioned above by other females. I also prefer an ob-gyn that has had children because no one else can possibly understand what its like to be pregnant and go through the birth process. For the same reason, I'd like a pediatrician that has kids, because I won't feel quite as guilty about admitting that my children watch TV and occasionally have sweet cereals.
To those that are coming down on the females that respond this way - insecurity issues or not (I'm gonna have to say not) the truth is, some patients are going to have preferences and that is just the way it is going to be.
The obstetricians I've seen in the past were usually in groups, mixed men and women, and so you got whichever physician was available for an appointment, especially towards the end when I was going in biweekly or weekly. So I saw male obstetricians as well as a female obstetrician. This didn't bother me but I still prefer a female. What bothered me more was having a doctor tell me that I'm gaining weight too fast (a male) and that I should drink less milk and take a vitamin instead because it would really pack on the pounds (again a male).

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

whuuut's the deeeaaal . . ?!?!?

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

The obstetricians I've seen in the past were usually in groups, mixed men and women, and so you got whichever physician was available for an appointment, especially towards the end when I was going in biweekly or weekly. So I saw male obstetricians as well as a female obstetrician. This didn't bother me but I still prefer a female. What bothered me more was having a doctor tell me that I'm gaining weight too fast (a male) and that I should drink less milk and take a vitamin instead because it would really pack on the pounds (again a male).

do you think males give worse advice?

or does it all come down to not wanting a man touching your privates....

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

as a husband, i personally do not like a male physician examining my wife for obvious reasons. i have took a lot of damage emotionally from dealing with male doctors and medical students and i can tell you those feelings dont go away very easily. we have had a very difficult time trying to find a female doctor because of insurance and there is not many in our area, the male doctor has been rammed down our throats where i live. to us, it is too intimate of a procedure to be done by another man. basically we view it as adultery. and there are a few biblical passages that will back up my stance on this issue.

it's fine. for each one of you insecure or possessive men, there are 10x more confident men who will let their wives visit the male obgyn.... alone too.

This is no voyeur porno. it's not like they're fingerf*cking your wife while you stand by watching.




should breast implants be done by female plastic surgeons only? cuz you know, the plastic surgeon gets to feel them up afterwards. is it too intimate?