Ladies, how much do you prefer your OB-GYN to be female?

[AGBF]

My GYN is no longer an OB/GYN. He stopped delivering babies about 15 years ago. I originally met him when he came in as the younger/junior partner of a female OB/GYN I was seeing while trying to get pregnant. She was tough as nails. He was really kind and empathic as well as competent. When I had an insurance change I actually privately paid him to do laparoscopic surgery on me. I still see him although he has stopped taking insurance. The sex of the practitioner is not as important to me as his (her) competence and personality. I want to feel comfortable and that I can depend of my doctor's medical decisions/advice.

 

[acaw2015]

Only had female ob/gyn before giving birth to my twins. I think there were about ten people present then, at least two male. I couldnt care less during delivery! But for normal visits to gyn I would definitely want female. I am no prude but I would feel very awkward with a male gyn. I also agree fully re understanding/explaining parts...

 

[partgypsy]

acaw2015, that's how I feel! clothed prenatal visits, even childbirth I did not have a strong preference. But for regular gyn visits I feel a female doctor has a better understanding, and I feel more comfortable asking questions. I've had the same pcp and gyn doctor for the past 20? years? but she is retiring at the end of the year. She knows about my life, knows about my kids. I'm sure the next person I get will be competent but I will miss her!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Male ob-gyns delivered my children, but that was before there were so many female ob-gyns. Once I changed to a female, I never looked back.

 

[Austina]

Only females for me. I had one Male gynaecologist who was awful, and all the females have been great.

When I was pregnant, I never saw the OB who I was assigned to, yet when I went into labour, I was told Mr X wanted all his first timers to have an epidural. I told the midwife, that as he’d never met me, I wasn’t having an epidural for his convenience.

 

[telephone89]

A guy doc may have seen a thousand hoo-has & delivered a thousand babies, but he's never had either one to know exactly what we go thru.

Question - what about female obs that havent had children? Do you inquire this with a doctor?

 

[the_mother_thing]

Question - what about female obs that havent had children? Do you inquire this with a doctor?

When I was in the baby-making stage of my life, I knew my ob/gyn had given birth by virtue of regular convo with her during my ‘pre-baby’ gyn visits, so I didn’t have to ask. Same with my dr now, even though I’m not popping out babies anymore. And that does make a difference because - as women - our bodies and the changes they go through do have some ‘variations’ depending on whether you’ve had kids or not.

 

[LaylaR]

I had a problem a few years back, ended up in the hospital getting iron and blood transfusions. Went to four OB-GYN-- not including the one I saw at the hospital. It just happened that two were men, two were women. None of them were competent. All of them were focused on obstetrics and not 'women's issues,' the last one, a woman, did not listen to me and advised a hysterectomy. Why? Because she couldn't figure out the problem so she was going to remove one of my major organs to 'solve' the problem!

Finally, a friend of mine who works with a non-profit and knows a lot of doctors found me a doctor that LISTENED to me and was more than competent and who did not handle obstetrics at all, just women's issues, thankfully. Thirty minutes after walking into the room I had a diagnosis. A very BASIC one that ALL the other doctors had missed, when it was literally right in front of their eyes. One simple outpatient surgery later-- completely painless-- and I was healthy.

That doctor-- the one who was focused on women's problems-- is a male. And he's the only one I'll see now.

In my experience gender of the doctor has nothing to do with their competence. I do not judge doctors or reject them because of their gender. I was no more comfortable with the women than I was with the men. And the women did not listen better, or 'understand me' better.

 

[Austina]

I had the opposite situation, saw a male OB/GYN when I was 29 whose solution to my problem was a hysterectomy. I said no thanks.

 

[Jambalaya]

I prefer female doctors across the board, but perhaps that's because my health problems are of the female variety. My PCP is female and I feel more comfortable talking to her about those parts, having her do my smears, breast exams, etc. I might have to see a breast specialist soon, and that might be a male doctor. We'll see. I'd sum up by saying I mostly prefer female doctors but am not opposed to being treated by male doctors if he's right for me.

My PCP happens to be gay, and I've heard she's experienced some prejudice over that.

 

[lovedogs]

I always preferred my OBGYN to be female until my current doctor. He is amazing, and I found him via great reviews. I was nervous at first, but he's amazing and very kind. I now have no issue with it at all.

 

[cflutist]

Female OB-GYN and PCP for me, but male neurosurgeon (department chair) with "all business" bedside manners (no soft side touchy feely from him). Female neuroanesthesiologist.

 

[HollyS]

I'm with ksinger and Dee*Jay on this one. I've had both genders, and I've formed an opinion based on my 30+ (or 40?) years of being "seen down there". Women know what I'm talking about, not just in a clinical sense, but because they have experience in these matters. And, there are other reasons . . . like men dismissing concerns, not listening, etc.

One guy I went to for years (as a default after my doctor, also a male, retired) was flippant about his patients with his staff. Making fun of some, calling others ugly names, etc. I found this out when I hired a receptionist who had worked for this group of doctors. I shudder to think of the things he might have said about me. Completely classless. If I'd had actual proof, I'd have made a formal complaint with the state medical board.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I want a competent one regardless of gender.

 

[Jambalaya]

I really need one with a good bedside manner, regardless of gender. Rudeness to sick and vulnerable people is not something I can stand. If a doctor is rude to me, we are pretty much guaranteed a fight. There is no excuse for rudeness and dismissal toward someone who is either sick or has a very good reason to be worried about their health. Of course, the doctor has to be competent - goes without saying. But competent and rude doesn't do it for me. I need both. If I had both, I don't think I'd be too bothered about the gender, on reflection.

 

[Jambalaya]

Regarding my BRCA thread, I had one doctor be VERY dismissive toward me. If that test is positive, Madam is getting a letter from me.

 

[AprilBaby]

I’m betting a lot of the answer has to do with age group. Those of us who had kids pre 1990 didn’t really have a choice so we don’t really care much. I would bet younger women prefer woman.