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Wow. The part about them discussing mutual acquaintances is disgusting, but honestly not that surprising!

Also I'm a little surprised at the result of his survey!

Oh my god, I'm so glad now I don't see male doctors. That was so incredibly disturbing. I'm sure they're not all that bad, but jeez I have no interest in taking that chance.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I really dislike the idea that men just can't help themselves. It's really demeaning.

For every bad doc out there, there are dozens of good ones.

And yes exactly @yoursilverlining, I don't buy into the whole "men can't see a vagina without it being stimulating on some level".

@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.

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.

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.

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.

I'm somewhat skeptical of his theory and his experiment.

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!

@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...

I'm skeptical. My OB is a male and I have no issues or concerns.

@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!

This article is completely disgusting. I'm so offended by it. It's hard for me to even put words together.

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.

@sandy: I agree 100%!!! To me, this article is just generalizing a stereo type.

@yoursilverlining: I fully agree with you.

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.

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.