Gender specific doctors

Well to me i like when female doctors do me. I dont feel comfortable with a male doctor touching me. But a female doctor i trust.

firm believer now. 5 male doctors let a problem of mine progress for 30 years until a 6th FEMALE doctor diagnosed it properly and literally saved my life.i had a staph infection by the time i found her among other things. sometimes it takes a woman to understand a woman's problems. we won't mention the idiot that pinched me with a speculum once and caused an infection.

I don't think it really matters, although I think sometimes kids look at a woman doctor more like mom. They feel more comfortable. I would go with the comfort level.

The only time I ever really care is when it comes to OB/GYNs. Obviously I'm more comfortable with a woman, but if I can't always get a female I don't really make a fuss.

Well, I'm definitely now first this time, but at least I've stumbled upon a discussion that I can offer some input into. I personally have never had a preference between male and female doctors and I don't think that my children do either. I think that the reason that I feel this way is because of the fact that my father was a PA so growing up I never really thought twice about having a male doctor. In fact, my OB-GYN is a male as well and I really couldn't ask for a better doctor.

I can only imagine it is comfort level and age dependent. As my son was a little guy he seemed to relate better with female pediatricians. But now that he is young adult he prefers male doctors. Oh and as usual I am definitely not first. HA!

Well I believe it is better I always prefer a Female Doctor and I was glad that now they do actually ask if you prefer male or female

When appropriate, I think it's a good idea. Only another female can really understand how a female feels. Your 10 year old child is probably already beginning puberty.

Hi dawn, For many women, I don't think they mind as they are used to being poked prode and all sorts, especially when pregnant, i don't really care either but at the moment I have a wonderful female doctor who take her time to listen to me and ask about my family and generally talk about things, she exams me and see to my well being, but I did have a male doctor before and they don't ebven look at you when you are talking to them or hear you as they are too busy writing notes, that used to anoy me no end, so I am glad I have a lovely woman doctor now. Tamara

I like taking my children to a Doctor that they knew, it seemed that comfort level for them meant familarity. I know that I hate to change Doctors, it seem just when I get friendly with one they move on.

Hi Dawny, I have been molested by a cousin who was studying medicine. And I was just five and a half. So I'd be very particular about that, based on personal experience. Having said that, not a single one of the male doctors who attended to my problems - so far, have been anything other than professionals. I guess I got lucky with them.

I prefer a female doctor, Dawny. I think it is better for women to have female and men have male doctors. TATA.

dawnald hi, for us adults I think it's what doctor we prefer, but for the kids it should be the same gender as they the kids... I took my 17 year old daughter for her physical but there was no female doctor so we went ahead & she was seen by the male doctor. The doctor told us before he started what he will be doing & said we can stop at any time. When everything was completed & we left my daughter said she felt uncomfortable which I don't blame her because I was in that same position when I was about her age & had a male doctor also. This was my mistake because I didn't tell her that we were going to have her physical done until we got there, which her father didn't approve of a male doctor... To go elsewhere is more money which we didn't have & she couldn't go back to school until she gets the physical done. She was half way done with her senior year in high school & the school decides she needed the physical or no graduation for her.. I was present & watched everything so I know the doctor didn't do anything wrong, but I do blame myself for the way my daughter felt & I know that the next time we would have to go to another clinic where there are female doctors available...

Definitely a patient's preference. My wife actually preferred the male doctor at the clinic we used to go to before we moved to our present home. The female alternate was a mean "witch" and didnt show any care for her patients. The male was an older man who was very kind and took the time to explain everything and listen to any concerns. So I guess it depends on the patient and the quality of the doctors :O)

I don't care for male doctors. I find they don't listen to you as well as a woman doctor would. My daughter had an allergic reaction to meds ( huge hives all over her body) looked up on the internet that it could happen with those meds on many different websites. The dr told me that it can't happen. When I tell male drs that shes allergic to it they say no way. I just laugh b/c I brought all the info to her female dr and someone finally believed me and put her on something else. The 1st dr even told me to continue with the meds. I even asked him if he was trying to kill my daughter. He didn't respond to the question. Everyone knows if you have an allergic reaction to something and continue to use it your body keeps trying to fight it off and your air way could close. I just don't trust them anymore b/c it has happen too many times. A mother knows when something is not right and they put me off as being crazy. I refuse to see a male dr b/c of that. I have never had any trouble with the female drs.

My only stipulation is that they are qualified otherwise I don't mind. However, I think that it's "different for girls" especially for those more intimate examinations. I drop my pants for anyone in a white coat. LOL.

I prefer to see a woman doctor for ‘certain’ conditions otherwise the male doctor we normally see is fine; my daughter feels the same and that is why we have two favourite doctors that we see depending on what the problem is. The male doctor charges less so he is the one unless we need help with something really ‘personal’!

I just had this discussion with my kids. My two younger ones 12 and 14 are due for their annual checkup. We recently moved, so I have been trying to find them a new doctor. I asked them both if they would prefer a male or female doctor. My 12 year old daughter said she wanted a female, however when I asked my 14 year old son if he wanted a male doctor, he said he wanted a female. He further explained that if someone was going to check out his private parts, he would prefer that a women would be touching them instead of a man. I almost fell on the floor laughing. However, I suppose he has a very good point. LOL

hi dawn.. i think gender specification is essential for patients. it not for the patient's comfort but better for the privacies.

Let's see . . . when I grew up, we went to a female family doctor - who took care me me, my sister, and my mom. My dad went to that doctor's brother in the next office (um, IF he ever went to the doctor, that is). Then at some point we never went to the doctors as my dad was a believer in "if you're healthy, there's no need to go to the doctors or pay that kind of bill" - so I didn't go til I was in college. I had various doctors (at college, at clinics, blah blah) - but I always requested females . . . I guess I thought they could relate to me better. Even in recent years, I always wanted female OB/GYNs. BUT when I had my son, I had no choice in the matter during delivery - it had to be a male doc. I ultimately didn't care that the doc was male - but maybe because it concerned me more that this doc was a bit strange. My son is too young to care - but my daughter actually has a preference for male doctors!! Well, males period . . . she never liked women - beit doctors or cashiers at the grocery store or wherever. We'll see if she changes her mind when she's a wee bit older!!