Is Your Doctor The Same Gender As You?

[Lilac110]

As an adult, I almost always have female PCPs. Had the first one for 17 years, and she's only a couple of years older than I am. Then had a male for a couple of years, then a female these last 6 or 7. I prefer her LPN to her. OB/GYN, always males.

I don't notice gender differences as much as regional ones. Loved my doctors in D.C. Long Island, not so much, especially OB/GYN. Kind of paternalistic and defensive. I had fairly severe endometriosis and needed surgery, and I went to enough of them for second and third opinions that I'm convinced it's just how they practice medicine here, so I don't take it personally. But I'm either a physician's best friend or royal pain in the arse, because I'm a health and medical writer. If your MD means "Most Divine," you'll hate being questioned and you'll find me annoying. But if you recognize my name or have read my stuff, you'll love me.

[cloven]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

I have had both male and female doctors. I'm female. For PCP I don't really care that much about the sex of my doctor. I have a female doctor now and she's great. For OB/GYN I have never been comfortable with a male doctor.

^This.
My gyno. is female, I couldn't tolerate a male in that role (I need someone who shares understanding of this stuff from the inside out).

My current PCP is male, because my previous (female) doc. left the practice-and this was the new guy the office hired.
For me, it's more about personality/interpersonal style or manner-if I can deal with the person/our interaction, then we're good, and the gender is of secondary importance.
In past, there have been female drs. I couldn't work with, same goes for male ones, too-it's an individual thing, rather than based solely on gender.

[melissapla12]

My PCP was a female. I remember the last time I saw her she was pregnant. When I went for a another check up a few months later, she wasnt there anymore. She decided to stop practicing medicine to be a mother. Too bad, I really liked her.

After a bad break up I had a few years ago, I was seeing a psychiatrist who was male. I didnt feel comfortable with him and it just didnt "click". I stopped going.

My gyno is a male and I tend to me more comfortable with males than females. Maybe it's a bit TMI but Ive noticed males arent as rough as females are. I guess females think, eh I can handle it, so can she! lol