women in urology

[Clair de Lune]

I'm a female medical student, interested in urology & find myself wondering if women are at any disadvantage to male urologists when it comes to their male patients. In other words, do you think men are less comfortable discussing urological problems with a female doc as opposed to a male doc? I know urologists also deal with female problems, but I don't think I would want to go into strictly women's urology. I just ask b/c I know a lot of women say they will only go to a female OB-GYN, and was just curious if anyone has experienced this sort of thing with male urology pts--is this even a concern for a female urologist? Thanks!

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[tRmedic21]

I wouldn't go to a female uro if I had a choice. If they were the only one around, tho, I guess I wouldn't have much choice, would I?

I think women who choose not to utilize the services of male gynos are well within their right, and shouldn't be looked down upon. Of course you would be more comfortable, so why not do what you can to alleviate some of the stress of an already-stressful doctor's visit?

It's personal choice. Some people mind, some don't. I don't know how much it would limit your practice, though. I would say, in my home area, judging by the clientele at my friend's Uro office... if he had a female partner, she wouldn't be seeing near as many patients as he would. Just my experience, not gospel truth by any means.

 

[Fermata]

Urology has some cool surgeries.

However, there are other surgical specialties that have cool surgeries and are more accepting of females.

If you have your heart set on it, then go for it. However, if you could still be happy doing something else, then I would go down that path.

 

[maxheadroom]

I read a paper a couple of years ago that said that 1/3 of women prefered a female gyno, 1/3 prefered a male, and 1/3 had no preference. I don't have the citation and don't feel like wasting hours on pub med trying to find it.

I've known several women who have matched Uro. They seemed to feel as though they were more sought out than their male colleagues.

Urology is a great field. Fun surgeries and interesting problems. It can be a very nice lifestyle, depending upon how you focus your practice.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

Out of the 10 urology residents at my hospital, 3 are female. Not a very low proportion. They seem to get along fine. Personally, I would have no problem going to female urologist.

 

[bobdobaleena]

why would you, as a female, want to go into uro? the reality is looking at old penis all day. especialy if you are good looking...it would be hard enough to see a female urologist, but if she was good looking......forget about it. i think it's strange when i see men going into ob/gyn....same thing with women going into uro.

 

[Clair de Lune]

Thanks, Maxheadroom & Whisker, for the encouragement! I didn't start med school with the thought of going into urology, but now that I've gotten to know more about it I think it is one of the more interesting fields out there. To me, it's the best parts of medicine and the best parts of surgery combined into one.

 

[njbmd]

Originally posted by bobdobaleena
why would you, as a female, want to go into uro? the reality is looking at old penis all day. especialy if you are good looking...it would be hard enough to see a female urologist, but if she was good looking......forget about it. i think it's strange when i see men going into ob/gyn....same thing with women going into uro.

Hi there,
At UVa, the women in Uro outnumber the men. Contrary to popular belief, you don't just look at the penis all day. There are plenty of other things to do too as both males and females have a urinary tract. Urologists see plenty of women too and it is a great lifestyle for women. The male patients here at UVa don't seem to mind being treated by women physicians as long as they are good.
njbmd 🙂

 

[Tbonez]

No penis, No opinion.

 

[chilipina]

ever consider the field of Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction?
just another suburb of Urology, fyi:


Jennifer R. Berman, MD
Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Urology, at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA; Co-Director, UCLA Female Sexual Medicine Center

http://www.mbcrc.med.ucla.edu/MemberBios/MmbrBermanJ.htm

I've heard Dr. Berman on the radio, I've seen her on the news, etc. She is awesome. I did my thesis in her former research lab. Very neat stuff.


http://www.bumc.bu.edu/Departments/PageMain.asp?Page=6700&DepartmentID=371

web page to BU's Sexual Medicine department, FYI

 

[MacGyver]

What kind of problems would a woman go to a urologist for? My understanding is that every kind of problem they can have would be treated by ob/gyn.

 

[dry dre]

Originally posted by MacGyver
What kind of problems would a woman go to a urologist for? My understanding is that every kind of problem they can have would be treated by ob/gyn.

Two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder, etc.

Ob/gyns don't do urology, nor do they do breast surgery.

 

[2ndyear]

I've seen a lot of the newer Ob/Gyn's doing TVT's and other incontinence procedures. Interestingly, I've also seen a lot of more senior Ob's who have urologists come in and do the same procedure (usually after they do a Dx lap or something). I'm guessing this is something being taught in residencies more recently? I don't claim to know much about either field, but I would think that a women urologist would have a great practice just based on female incontinence. Pretty common problem, especially in older folks...

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

General OB/GYNs do urologic and pelvic surgery, only involving the bladder in most cases. The ureters and kidneys belong to the urologists. There is also a fellowship in Urogynecology, specializing in urologic and pelvic floor surgery in women. At my med school, non fellowship trained gyns would do these surgeries.

 

[maxheadroom]

Not many urogyn trained OB/Gyns around, especially in smaller communities. Urology gets a fair amount of business from the females.