https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:16:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617513 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:49:53 +0000 cheert16 617513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a male GYN and dont feel like he is that way at all- but I guess you never know! This kinda freaked me out a bit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617472 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:38:23 +0000 spaniellove 617472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think all male OB/GYNs are like this. That said, when I was 12 I had to get a sports physical and was shocked when the doctor told me I needed a breast exam. My stepmom was in the room and said nothing. Knowing what I know now, that was NOT an exam nor did I need one! He was for sure groping me. It was awful, I felt violated, and I was mad at my stepmom for not speaking up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617405 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:14:54 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 617405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm completely comfortable with my male GYN. If I wasn't, I'd switch. But that would hold true whether my Dr were female or male. Are there creeps out there? Sure. But I don't feel my Dr is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617398 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:13:01 +0000 .twist. 617398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I fully agree with you. </p> <p>This article is full of garbage. I don't buy any of it. I fully think there are (and always have been) doctors out there who view patients this way, but I believe the majority of men (and women) who go into the field of medicine do it for the purpose of helping people get better and a love of, well, medicine. Not to get their rocks off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617342 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:56:22 +0000 Bookish 617342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the article is BS, but that's me. On one hand, I did date a guy who wanted to be an OB-GYN and I knew a large part of it was he thought he would get to see naked ladies all day (he ended up not being a doctor). On the other hand, I think it's a disservice to the many great male OB-GYNs out there to say all male drs are like *THIS*. I had a male doctor for my last 2 pregnancy checkups and I thought he was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617308 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:43:23 +0000 MrsBrewer 617308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: I agree 100%!!! To me, this article is just generalizing a stereo type. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617300 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:41:54 +0000 mrbee 617300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: On behalf of all dads out there, I thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617289 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:40:27 +0000 MrsBrewer 617289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This article is completely disgusting. I'm so offended by it. It's hard for me to even put words together.</p> <p>My OB is a male, and I respect him and trust him 100%. I definitely disagree that exams are seen in a sexual manner....I'm just blown away. I think this article is the epitome of ignorance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617262 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:35:38 +0000 DillonLion 617262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my gosh this is horrifying. </p> <p>Either way, there are horrible people out there in the world, and then there are normal ones. You can probably tell based on other factors (flirting, other comments) what type of men would intentionally give you a pelvic exam you don't need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-617236 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:30:56 +0000 sorrycharlie 617236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: agree! i feel like men get a bad rap. i was thinking the same thing about if a female OB was a lesbian, or male or female was bi! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616464 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 06:36:08 +0000 BananaPancakes 616464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I agree. There's very little of this article that I buy in to. Do I think it's possible that doctors talk about patients' anatomies? Sure, and it doesn't bother me at all. But do I really think the majority of male doctors are such pigs, they can't help persuading an attractive woman into a pelvic exam, just because they want to see her naked and feel powerful? Not at all. </p> <p>I have had two male GYNOs after my first pelvic exam, which was with a female doctor. She was a raging bitch and made me cry the whole exam, and I vowed never to see a female again. I obviously don't think all female GYNOs are mean, but I know I'm really happy with my male doctors, both of which have treated me with nothing but respect and kindness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616415 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:42:36 +0000 autumnlove 616415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm skeptical. My OB is a male and I have no issues or concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616413 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:36:11 +0000 stargal 616413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm don't buy it. I call this article bluff completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616371 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:58:36 +0000 sandy 616371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: my OB is a guy and I am so happy he delivered my baby. He is an excellent surgeon and I had an amazing recovery after my unplanned csection...it makes me so sad to even think that people just assume male doctors can't be trusted bc they view their patients sexually...well, what if your female doctor is a lesbian or bisexual. I understand everyone has their own preference in dealing with a health care provider, but these generalizations about men drive me crazy...men who are loving, caring fathers are treated like pedophiles for being affectionate with little kids....this is totally going off topic but it just bugs me... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616265 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:57:14 +0000 Honeybee 616265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I'm skeptical of the whole article in general. Anyone can anonymously write something like this without having ever stepped foot in an OB's office. I find a healthy dose of skepticism when dealing with somewhat inflammatory, anonymous opinion pieces on the internet goes a long way.</p> <p>Anyway, I will probably always have a female OBGYN, so I'm really not affected by this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616164 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:16:33 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 616164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm somewhat skeptical of his theory and his experiment.</p> <p>However, my theory is that I want someone performing that exam who has been on both sides of that table! See? It all evens out that way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616155 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:14:08 +0000 mrskc 616155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm more disturbed by the unnecessary pelvic and breast exams before surgery. This actually happened to my mom. Her doc performed a breast exam before her colonoscopy. She was already partially sedated. She told me she felt violated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616148 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:11:12 +0000 Mrs. Blue 616148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Something about his analysis and explanation is very off-putting to me. I don't think a "study" of 12 or 14 women is at all reliable, particularly when this man does not practice in this area and he has little info on why each dr recommended continured exams for some and not for others. Further, he projects his own discomfort and a few isolated comments from other doctors onto bascially the entire male population of doctors. In every profession, there will be both men and women who make inappropriate remarks about clients/patients, but that doesn't mean the entire profession is motivated by an improper factor.</p> <p>I'm not saying that no male OBGYNs ever find themselves sexually attracted to a patient, but for that mattet, you could very well have a female OBGYN who also is attracted to a patient. Feeling attracted and acting on that attraction are very different animals. That said, I believe that for the vast majority of male doctors, it's just clinical. I go to a male OB, and I have zero worries about how he views my exams. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616132 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:03:36 +0000 photojane 616132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I had a male OB who I really loved, and I never felt uncomfortable at all. I think being pregnant removed a lot of the reservations I previously had about male doctors. But, now that I'm not pregnant anymore, and I'll go back to regular gyn appointments, I think I'm more comfortable seeing a woman. I totally understand that not all men think like the creeps in the article, and I agree that it's unfair to generalize, but I find it easier to play it safe with a woman. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616124 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:00:25 +0000 marionberry 616124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always had male doctors and all have been totally professional. If one had an inappropriate reaction, I've never noticed and honestly I don't worry about it. If your doctor seems skeevy get rid of him, but I think most are just concerned physicians. I actually work in healthcare too, so this isn't just an unknowledgeable opinion. I work with doctors frequently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616115 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:56:55 +0000 sorrycharlie 616115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly - I think there's an article for any pov nowadays. I have a male OB and LOVE him. I've never felt more comfortable with a doctor in my life, and he certainly isn't demanding I do tests that are unnecessary. In fact, he recommended a pap every other year as I have no family history of cervical issues and am otherwise healthy.</p> <p>I can't stand ANY generalization - that men are only capable of seeing women in a sexual light, as well as generalizations about other groups that I won't get into on this thread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616097 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:50:46 +0000 ashleyt 616097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KJN - As another female physician, I completely agree with you. My genital exams on male patients are not in the least bit sexual and the overwhelming majority of male physicians are professional and respectful. I think it is unfortunate that someone chose to publish this perverted viewpoint of one isolated physician. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616091 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:47:00 +0000 aMohror 616091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never wanted a male doctor and have made sure I've always gone to a women, whom I'm more comfortable with! Just creepy.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616090 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:46:39 +0000 blackbird 616090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For every bad doc out there, there are dozens of good ones. </p> <p>And yes exactly @yoursilverlining, I don't buy into the whole "men can't see a vagina without it being stimulating on some level". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616087 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:46:18 +0000 googly-eyes 616087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I'm only a little surprised because while I believe without a doubt a male dr would rather do a pap on an attractive woman vs a lung exam on an old man..it's still more work for them, and at least my dr (who is a woman) has a lot of patients waiting to see her, so no shortage of work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616079 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:41:46 +0000 yoursilverlining 616079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really dislike the idea that men just can't help themselves. It's really demeaning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616069 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:38:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 616069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have always felt more comfortable with female gynies. This article reinforces my preference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616044 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:25:36 +0000 kjn 616044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally disagree with this. I am a female physician and I often do genital exams on my male patients for various reasons. I have never felt that these exams were even remotely sexual. I know my male colleagues feel the same way. In fact, I've spoken to several male obs/gyne friends about their experiences and how seeing women's vaginas all day affects them. They have all said that the "medical vagina" is a different entity entirely to them and they don't view their partners' vaginas as the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616037 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:23:47 +0000 runsyellowlites 616037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As much as I don't like to think about it, or agree with him, he is a man and the simple fact is men do view the human anatomy, specifically women, differently than we as women view anatomy. That's just the way they are so even though I can look at anatomy &amp; not get a thrill (I worked in the hospital) does NOT mean a man won't, or more accurately most likely does.</p> <p>I can attest to doctors and other personnel talking about patients.. whether about the way they looked or acted... it definitely gets done! </p> <p>And I'm most certainly not surprised by his non-scientific poll of the women that were/weren't told they needed regular paps... a guy is still a guy regardless of his title! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-article-the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctor%e2%80%99s-point-of-view#post-616026 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:19:56 +0000 MrsRoo 616026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see this as him being a bit extreme as far as his suspected reasons why he thinks drs perform too many tests (the male domination/vulnerable women scenario in particular). But his opinion as a whole doesnt strike me as very surprising.</p> <p>I have a college friend who, during his OBGYN rotation had an inappropriate reaction to an attractive woman during an exam. When he confided in his mentor, he was assured that its common for there to be sexual feelings during exams. </p> <p>I've never been comfortable with male GYNs for that exact reason, and after what happened with my friend, and this article saying some of the same things, I don't see that changing anytime soon! </p>