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Do you prefer a male or female doctor?
Posted by DocNicole • 5/11/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Tags: blah blah blah, doctor, female
I wrote a little post in honor of Mother's Day about female doctors being in high demand lately kitchentablemedicine.com/are-women-better-doctors-a-mothers-day-post-of-gra...
and was wondering what people prefer?
Male, female, the best? No preference?
Personally I will only go to female doctors, what do you like?
And happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!! Hope you have the best day ever!!! Lord knows you all deserve it...
User Comments
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an osteopath!
it really depends on what we're talking about - specialist or GP? specialist, i want the best and then to know that the specialist is actually listening to me and that we can build a professional rapport. sex? don't care quite so much if that specialist is a male or a female.
GP - again the professional rapport is really important - i've been to some female doctors who have not listened to me or ignored an issue - i won't go back to a doc like that. i've been to male doctors who did the same - in fact, it was a male dr who ignored my cancer symptoms for over two years before i went to another male dr who listened to me and got me to another male dr who saved my life.
so, male/female doesn't matter nearly as much to me as being listened to and having the dr investigate issues properly.
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Wow that is an amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing
I am glad your cancer was caught and treated appropriately. I blame the medical system on the fact that doctors don't always have time to listen the way they need to.
I think it is always important for patients to know if there wasn't enough time to address all their problems that they are always welcome to make follow up visits. Especially if they aren't getting better, are developing new symptoms, or are worsening.
I agree...specialist...I want the best too. -
Tell the other doctor story ender! heh -
LMFAO - you're evil!
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here is the "other" dr story if you dare click thru ...
www.cre8buzz.com/profiles/1097/blogs/7244/blog_entries/13606 -
It is a great story!
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I prefer female Doctors. I'm actually being serious for a second. Women tend to talk more than men do and I want a doctor that will give me lots of information about my health. More bang for my buck, I guess you could say.
Also, Women tend to be more nurturing and male doctors are more "point of fact". Not that I am looking for sympathy, it's just hard to think things through in the aftermath of a male doctor dropping the bomb of bad test results on you.
Besides, if I have any problems in the "Southern regions" I don't really want a dude touching my giblets.
Ok, serious second is over -
that's one of the reasons i like osteopaths - regardless of the M/F question, they tend to be more more likely to explain and talk and be kinda "nurturing."
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Hahahaha...Oh my goodness!! Cracking up. But, you share the same sentiments that I have heard from many male patients. Most of my guy friends say they would much rather go to me for their problems (although I get out of it by quoting ethical boundaries and such).
But in a meta-analysis by John Hopkins women doctors were preferred because they spent more time with their patients (23 avg vs 21 minute avg), involved the patient more in the treatment plan, and established more of an emotional rapport. So what you are saying may in fact be true, although there are of course always the exceptions to the rules as I know some male docs that spend more time with their patients than me, and some female docs that are some of the coldest most calculating prickly people you could ever meet! -
Well, I had a male Doctor that was a little off. I think he asks questions that may not be medically relevant. For Instance, I went to see him because I had all the symptoms of the flu. During the exam he was asking me about my sex life.
I have the freakin flu, sex life is a bit on hold right now, little too much mucous leaking out of me to attract a mate.
The new female doctor that I go to is much better. She asked me all about my dripping mucous. I felt much more comfortable. -
Here's a tissue Ekim. OOOH.
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I really don't find a problem with either gender, as long as they are doing their job well.
Although I would be a little nervous if the doctor at the men's health clinic was female.-
LOL yes that would be strange. I specialize in women's health and always am paranoid when a man wants to see me, I am not sure exactly why they would want to visit with a women's health specialist, but that is their choice I guess.
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blond, female docs named DocNicole are my favorite-
damn. all the rest of us gave the wrong answer, didn't we?
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@Ender: yep
@Tony: Good answer. You now have priority treatment over everyone else on this thread. -
Brown-noser
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Hey, what about me??
Oh, THAT kind of doctor!
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Yes, DocKC, you're a brown-noser too
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Ekim are you calling me a brown noser? I believe it is Tony worshipping me, not the other way around!
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No, I was calling Tony and DocKC brown-nosers.
But only because DocKC said "What about me?"
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Female as they seem to understand the complexities of the female form better than a man might. Especially menopause.
Male dentist.-
Yes, I think menopause is tough for a man to understand, but then again, I am too young for it, treat it effectively with natural medicines...and thus have a hard time saying a man can't treat it.
I would be in bad shape if I had to have every sickness in order to better understand it.
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@DocNicole
I enjoyed reading the post and found the information in it to be quite interesting. I'm about to leave you a comment there.
I really do not care if my doctor is a male or female. I make my own health care decisions after I consult with health care qualified professionals. What I expect is that the doctor I attend upon will listen to me, order appropriate lab tests, provide referrals to specialists who will provide me with a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options.
Like ender I have also experienced doctors who ignored what I told them (I even kept a written record of symptoms, dates and duration!), failed to order appropriate lab work and mis-diagnosed my condition. By the time I got to a specialist I was in terrible shape. In due time the specialist concurred with my diagnosis (the one that the GP had disagreed with) and complimented me on my record keeping skills.-
you are the perfect patient my dear. If only everyone would be so invested in their own health. I tell all my friends, family and patients to always keep copies of their labs on file each year and learn to compare them themselves.
No one should ever accept a diagnosis that does not resonate with them, or the answer "there is nothing wrong with you" when in fact they are having symptoms. Even if it is hypochondria, I still see a problem to treat...which typically is an anxiety disorder.
I had a few bad years where I was passed around from doctor to doctor and I know first hand how horrible that can feel. Kudos to you for taking your health in to your own hands. Medical decision making should be made WITH the patient, not FOR the patient.
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@ ekim941 "More bang for my buck" : Awsome!!! I agree!
@ TonyB "blond, female docs named DocNicole are my favorite" : You got the girl buddy! Congratulations! You are "bangin and buckin"!
@ DocNicole: No problem with either gender!
I guess cause I'm a dog:-)
Do you like dogs DocNicole? Do I have any chance
for a "priority treatment" if I stay quite inside my lil
case and bring mommy with me?:-)-
thinks... sniffing... -
LOL sorry I'm not a vet dear. I could probably get sued just for looking at you!
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I have always had a male GP, the same one since I was about 10 years old and he is a really great with the emotional and physical things you would go see the doctor for.
When I have had to go specialists, I have had good and bad male and female ones.-
That is really cool. I had the same pediatrician up until college and then had to find a new doctor when he retired. I decided to see female doctors after that because it seemed more comfortable.
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It just depends on what kind of doctor.
When it comes to women's issues, men can be GREAT doctors as far as text book is concerned, but if they cannot actually "feel" what we feel inside, how can they truly understand?? Then the bedside manner goes out the door.
I'll give a male doc ONE of my crampy days and then maybe I'll use him as my doc. Shrug.-
Do we have to suffer from every problem as doctors in order to be able to actually help people? That is what I wonder on the flip side of the argument...
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I'd have to say a woman, they seem more understanding.-
Yes, most are i would say. Not all, but most. There are like three good guys out there I think...
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I'm 82 and haven't been to a Dr. in 5 years. Personally, i'd rather hear what you, KC, Heidi, and Kayb 625 (Kathleen) have to say about health. A few others too.-
Jack,
My philosophy is "An ounce of prevention..."
It is always wise to be checked out because there are many "silent" killers out there that don't always give you symptoms before they can "attack."
I'm not by any means saying that you have anything wrong with you, but it's pretty important to have a physical and full blood work done at least once/year. And that is just in my humble opinion.
If you don't do it for yourself, do it for those who love and care about you! 82 is the new 55-60 these days and you are probably looking at many more years of life, my friend. Make them healthy ones!
Doc KC -
wow Jack you are 82! That is amazing! You look great. Tell everyone you are on my anti-aging program...LOL
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Doesn't really matter to me if I am going to see a doctor to treat those normal flu, cough and fever but if for something more personal like women's body checkup then I prefer female..-
I completely agree with you, Nursarahlam!
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Agreed. Anyone can cure my strep throat!
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What's a strep throat?
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Female - always.
But then again I wish every profession was staffed only by females, and every non-profession too. Hmmm now that I think about it I wish everyone was female ('cept me) - I think I may not have been the best candidate to answer this - I appear slightly biased.
Ben -
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It depends on the issue but as a male I prefer female UNLESS its a real GUY thing.-
See that surprises me flowers - I honestly can talk talk to a female Doctor more openly and with more ease about 'man things' than I can a guy - dunno why that should be, but I can - maybe it's coz I imagine the guy is secretly laughing to himself lol...and women doctors have always struck me as appearing less hurried than men - like they are genuinely focussing on what you are saying and not just trying to rush you out of surgery to get to the next patient.
Ben
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Female any day... most of the blokes are such boofheads that have no connection with their bodies but a great connection with their textbooks
I can't remember the last time I saw a doctor.
I use Chinese Herbs and acupuncture -
I prefer a female GP. -
Basically it is the same concept women when it comes to women body checkup prefer female docs as for guys if its guys body checkup definitely they go for male docs.
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I've had great female and male doctors. I've had horrible female and male doctors. Last year, during one hospital stay I had one female doctor who was so wonderful, I think I asked her to marry me. And I had one who I think I tried to stab.
I was on a lot of drugs. It may have been the same doctor.
Being serious, I just want a good physician who will listen to me. I've gone through a lot to get to the ones I have today. They are wonderful. -
Females seem to be a little more attentive. So, for a general practitioner I would go with a female. For a gyno, I would choose a male. I'm not sure why-I just have had better luck with them. -
I'll settle for a competent doctor.
As far as I'm concerned, the sex of the doctor doesn't make much difference in most cases. However, I think there's less likelihood of the doctor dismissing or misunderstanding a situation involving sex-specific conditions, if the doctor and the patient are on the same side of humanity. -
I'm with Norski. I've had good and bad experiences with both genders, in several different forms of medical professions.
Competent is key. So long as the doctor isn't trying to push unnecessary, untested, or overwhelming drugs on me, listens to me and understands that I know my body better then s/he does, and is willing to work through problems rather than steamroll over symptoms, I'm good.
My other criteria is that if the doctor is more concerned about how you're going to pay, and what medication you're not on, I won't go. I just won't.-
Oh, yes: Hearing those little 'ka-ching!' sounds inside the doctor's head is unsettling.
I've only run into one doctor like that, thank God. And he wasn't a doctor yet, but a medical student. My sincere hope is that he dropped out and decided to make a killing in some other field. -
I had one doctor (OK, there has been more than one LOL) - actually a cognitive therapist who asked me in one breath "What insurance do you have, and why hasn't your Gynecologist put you on medication for the PMDD?"
All I did was ask her if she had a program to help women cope with PMDD. That was the first thing out of her mouth. Yikes!
I said, "uh, yeah, I don't think this is going to work out, I have another therapist willing to help". When She asked who it was, and I told her, she bad mouthed him! O.o Way unprofessional!
Of course, he was willing to work with my uncooperative insurance, and refused to drug me (or other patients) up unless it was medically necessary. No wonder she didn't like him. He actually helps people!
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I have always had a male doc and for the most part they have been good. I am happy to discuss anything with a man, it would be quite a novelty to have a woman doc though. -
Depends where they are examining -
Ah, well my male doc isn't keen on intimate examinations - he refers to the nurse.
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