Do you feel awkward at the gynecologist, or are you totally chill about it?

Basically, everyone treating me is female!🙂
This is for those people claiming that other people touch you too, not just gynecologists.

I make it a point to see women exclusively. Honestly, regardless of the specialty. Of course, an ophthalmologist, a dentist, or something else where there isn't any physical contact like that isn't an issue, but if there’s going to be any kind of "touching," I want it to be a woman. To me, that's just common sense.

I don't really feel awkward visiting my gynecologist—though, I suppose, seeing a proctologist might be a bit more of a challenge 🙂 strictly because of the positioning 🙂

It’s not like I’m uncomfortable or anything, but I’m definitely not having a blast either. Just lying here on my desk—legs kicked up in the air—trying to occupy my brain with the absolute dumbest thoughts possible. Like, what am I grabbing for dinner? Or what the hell do I actually need to clean 😁

Amy Fowler48 said:I don't feel awkward at the OB-GYN. But I think visiting a proctologist would be tough🙂 just because of the positioning.🙂

That’s exactly my point. I've been putting off that specific exam for a while now, though I suspect it might just be because I'm already used to the routine with my gynecologist.🤷.

Honestly, going to some guy for this would be such a massive blow to my ego...🙄🙄🙄
I'm just not built for that. It’s not really a man’s job—it’s more of a woman’s domain, and honestly, women should be the ones handling it.☕

They don't need to be getting their hands dirty with this stuff anyway.🙂

Grace Chase97 said:Look, I’m just going to say it because someone has to—this isn't a job for men. Period. It’s a woman's field, plain and simple, and honestly, women are the ones who actually need to be doing this work. It’s just common sense!☕

Honestly? This sounds a little... meh. I don't know, it just feels kind of pointless to me. 🙄

I wouldn’t say I’m exactly comfortable during the exam—it’s definitely not my idea of a fun afternoon—but honestly, it isn't like I'm in any intense agony or anything. It's just... awkward.
Honestly, it’s just... kind of mid. A total letdown, really. Not even a huge disaster, just that annoying, underwhelming feeling when you realize something isn't nearly as good as the hype made it out to be—you know what I mean? It’s like ordering a premium burger at a fancy joint in Chicago only to have them hand you a soggy slider that looks nothing like the picture. Just disappointing. 😁

Grace Chase97 said:This is a domain where women truly excel, and I believe it is an area where they should lead the way.☕

I find myself unable to agree with that perspective. 👎
There seems to be this lingering idea that certain specializations are naturally divided by gender, which honestly feels quite outdated to me. I often hear women remarking that male doctors might be less attentive during exams, but personally, I don't see why that should matter. As long as my gynecologist is a decent human being who is truly dedicated to his craft, I am perfectly content. There really isn't any logical reason why a man couldn't excel in this field, especially since a gynecologist's expertise extends far beyond just performing physical exams. They also manage every aspect of a woman's pregnancy, providing support throughout the entire labor process while performing all necessary gynecological procedures and surgeries.And when that moment finally arrives, it seems everyone would much rather seek out a male surgeon.I am planning to schedule an appointment with my gynecologist soon.I find myself wondering about the reasoning behind choosing a woman for this role... I can't help but feel a bit uncertain about the decision. 🤔 It seems we have fallen back into the trap of relying on those tired, old stereotypes that rarely tell the whole story. ☕

I’ll try sharing a quick story from my labor (though I’m not sure if it’s quite on-topic).

I arrived with contractions—relatively intense ones. They hooked me up to the monitor, but it wasn't picking up any activity. The OB/GYN gave me a quick exam and just said, "You aren't dilated, you don't have contractions, go home."

Then my primary doctor, the one who handled my entire pregnancy, walked in. I panicked, telling him, "But I really am having real contractions, seriously, seriously, seriously!!!" He replied, "God, I believe you, let me check you myself." After a gentle exam, he told the staff, "Get her ready, she's in labor."

Three hours later...😍.

And that was my bad experience with a woman.

But obviously, the takeaway is this:

It was an encounter between someone doing their job poorly and someone doing their job well. In this case, unfortunately, incompetence was paired with rudeness, while expertise and kindness were paired with professionalism.

I personally feel much more at ease seeing a male gynecologist. I’ve visited a female doctor a handful of times, but it just doesn't click for me—it isn't quite right. I suppose I've just grown accustomed to my guy.
In all honesty, I'm pretty laid back about the whole thing—just like when I'm at the dentist or seeing my primary care physician. It's really not that big of a deal; they're just going to take a look at my lady parts, so what?

Ashley Bishop72 said:I actually feel way more comfortable seeing a male gynecologist. I’ve seen a woman a few times, but it just doesn't click for me. I guess I've just gotten used to my guy.
I'm pretty chill about it all—honestly, it’s no different than going to the dentist or a regular GP, I mean, it's not a huge deal, they're just looking at my bits, whatever.

😂 If only I could be that relaxed about it; personally, I still find it a little awkward.

To echo what Chloe Gomez6 was saying, I’ve also had much better experiences with male OB-GYNs. They tend to have gentler hands, they're professional, polite... 👍

But it feels a bit silly when people claim doctors don't like it when a young, attractive patient walks in. Okay, maybe so—if she just came from intercourse and is feeling "emptied out," sure, they are doctors after all—but that shouldn't imply they're asexual. Obviously, they'll remain professional in the exam room, or they'll be fired. 😉

I’ve got a gynecologist who is honestly such a decent, polished, and attentive guy. He’s always willing to listen, take the time to explain things, and even crack a joke or two... He was incredibly gentle and supportive throughout my entire pregnancy, too. But I can't quite put my finger on it—even with all that kindness, it didn't help me relax at all. If anything, his politeness just made me feel even more awkward.
It’s not that I have any bad intentions or anything, but maybe because I’m not used to that typical, rigid, "doctor-patient" professional distance, I just end up feeling even more embarrassed.

Speaking from experience here... back in the day, whenever I had to go in for those pelvic exams, I’d practically get diarrhea from sheer terror... whether it was a guy or a woman doing it.

I dealt with more men back then, but now I usually have women, who tend to be gentle and super polite. Though, I did encounter one female doctor at the hospital once who was just arrogant and rude—completely zero empathy for her own gender... and having someone like that watching you during labor? Ugh...

Nowadays, I've gotten used to it. I'm not embarrassed anymore. I mean, it's their job, right? I'm certainly not the first or last patient they've seen...
But look, it still matters to me... honestly, when I was pregnant, I walked a little differently. I was mostly terrified that I'd end up finding out something terrible about my baby... just hoping everything would be okay.

And then there was this one thing during my last delivery. I was coming in for checkups every two or three days because I was overdue, and the doctors would examine me before the CTG scans. I hadn't shaved down there... let's just say it was a bit "bushy"... quite a lot, actually.

So, the big day finally arrived, and that thick little forest was gone. But there was this young doctor who had been checking me out every single time... and of course, on that specific day, he had to be right there while they were shaving me. He was leaning right over my legs while another doctor was examining me...
God, I was so mortified... ugh... even he turned bright red when he saw me... I wanted to tell him, "Get lost! What are you staring at?"... but I couldn't. He just kept smirking... what a total creep...🤣 I wasn't exactly in the mood for jokes... I had a baby to deliver...

So yeah, people have all sorts of different situations and experiences when it comes to those pelvic exams....

Getting myself to an OB-GYN appointment used to take forever... honestly, it took so much damn courage just to walk through the door. And then there’s that whole debate about whether you should pick a male or female doctor 🤷 People always say the guys are more gentle, which just makes my skin crawl... I mean, why on earth would they be gentler? 😁 Anyway, whatever, I ended up choosing a woman. I've been seeing her for years now, but it still feels like the very first time every single visit. I can't help it, the awkwardness is just overwhelming 😢 and I'm always just sitting there, counting down the seconds until she says we're done 🙂 I don't know... how am I supposed to get over this constant discomfort?

Not to be judgmental, but maybe because I never experience that rigid, cold doctor-patient dynamic, I actually feel even more awkward about it.

I get it. Honestly, I’d go as far as to say that a little bit of confidence—or even slight arrogance—actually makes me trust them more.🙈

hmmm I just wonder why they tend to be gentler.

Oh man, I’ve said this before, but it’s like men think, "Sure, she likes it when a guy does it, but if a doctor does it, she’s going to claim it’s just an exam."
Think about it that way during your next appointment; it might help you shake that discomfort.🙂.

👍 Thanks for the tip. I guess I'll give it a shot at my next checkup, which should be coming up pretty soon... hopefully 😁

So, I’ve actually never had a breast ultrasound before. Since my maternal grandmother passed away from breast cancer, I’m technically in a high-risk group (I think).
I feel incredibly awkward about it, so I wanted to ask—for those of you who have done this, is it more embarrassing than a pelvic exam? I get pelvic exams all the time, so that feels totally normal, but the idea of this is making me so self-conscious. Do I have to strip down completely? What's the deal? What does a "full physical" even look like for women over 40 here in the States?

I schedule a breast ultrasound for myself every single year, mostly because I fall into that same high-risk category you mentioned. However, I don't have my OB-GYN handle it; instead, I make a separate appointment specifically for imaging at the local hospital.
The process is straightforward: you just take off your shirt and bra, lie back on the exam table with your hands behind your head, and they apply the ultrasound gel. It isn’t particularly uncomfortable at all. In my experience, I've always been examined by male technicians, and honestly, I don't find it awkward one bit. They've likely seen more breasts in their professional careers than they can count—it's all just part of the job.

I’m not gonna lie, the first time was super awkward, but I wasn't actually scared or anything.
I made sure to pick a male gynecologist instead of a woman. Honestly, I just don't want some lady poking around down there.😁

After that, every checkup since then has been totally fine, and I can talk to him about pretty much anything.

After my follow-up, I found myself feeling surprisingly unbothered by having a group of medical interns observing the gynecological procedure 😁—they even gathered around during my first ultrasound after the surgery just to check the results. It didn't feel awkward at all.

I honestly think that once you go through pregnancy, childbirth, or any kind of gynecological surgery, any sense of modesty or discomfort just evaporates entirely.

Sarah Rodriguez68 said:I get a breast ultrasound every single year since I'm in that same high-risk group you are. But I don't have my OBGYN do it; I specifically book an ultrasound appointment at the hospital.
You just take off your shirt and bra, lie down on the table with your hands behind your head, they put the gel on, and they scan. It’s really not a big deal or uncomfortable. I've always had a male technician perform mine and I honestly don't care. The guy has seen enough breasts in his career to not be phased by it.

Well, it probably feels more normal having a guy handle it than a woman anyway 😁 I guess it just depends on the person 😁