Is the Male OB/GYN Going Extinct?

The Doctors discuss whether male OB/GYNs will soon be a thing of the past? Find out the reasons why a male OB/GYN is hard to find.

About The Doctors:

The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon and OB-GYN Dr. Nita Landry.

The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Lamar Odom, Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June, and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors’ Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier.

Now in its eighth season, The Doctors celebrity guests have included Academy Award Winners Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Marisa Tomei; reality stars from Teen Mom and The Real Housewives, as well as Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Melissa Rivers, Sharon Osbourne, Tim Gunn and Amber Rose; actors Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Julie Bowen, Patricia Heaton, Chevy Chase, Kristin Davis, Lou Ferrigno, Harrison Ford, Grace Gealey, Cedric the Entertainer, Valerie Harper, Debra Messing, Chris O’Donnell, Betty White, Linda Gray, Fran Drescher, Emmy Rossum, Roseanne Barr, Valerie Bertinelli, Suzanne Somers; athletes Magic Johnson, Apolo Ohno and Danica Patrick; musicians Tim McGraw, Justin Bieber, Clint Black, LL Cool J, Nick Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Paula Abdul, Gloria Gaynor, La Toya Jackson, Barry Manilow, Bret Michaels, Gene Simmons and Jordin Sparks; and celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Guy Fieri and Curtis Stone.

[averyk]

I went to my first male obgyn last month. He was very professional and quick when it came to the actual procedure. But, right after he was done he made me feel uncomfortable, rubbing my shoulders and then rubbing my back briefly and looking into my eyes in this very uncomfortable way. It may not sound like anything, but it's one of those things where in the moment you know that that is not quite right. Ogyns male or female are usually very professional, but that situation makes me want to continue sticking with female doctors. A female could do that to me too, but I just feel more comfortable with female to begin with.

[lakishae.]

I find it hard to talk about these things with someone else, even when it’s a woman. I remember that i had an appointment with a female OB/GYNS, and i walked into the room and all of a sudden a male intern sitting there next to her, early 20ies like my own age. I was so embarrassed, with a red face talking about my issues with him just sitting there and listening. I hated that moment so much, i wanted to run away. She wanted a check up, I said no. I don’t feel comfortable.

[abcdefghi]

If a male doctor came live on air and said females should not become urologists, because it makes men feel "awkward" these same women would call him mysoginist and sexist. ObGyn is much more than seeing vaginas, it about delivering babies and helping women in the most difficult times in their life.A patient that is truly in need of help dont care weather the help comes from a man or women, when a patient is in pain or suffering the last thing on their mind is what gender the person is that trying to help them.

[nakulmon]

Honestly this whole you need to experience it to empathise as a doctor is bs.
If you apply that logic then most doctors cannot possibly treat most of their patients because they wouldnt have experienced those symptoms.
So what now to treat lupus, a doctor needs to actually have lupus?
Give me a break!

[lexismith]

Men just don't get it. Pregnancy and having children is what bonds women together. I would never feel comfortable with a male OB/GYN. No matter how professional a male doctor may be, at the end they are still human. It's too risky.

[Zainab-Creates]

I had 2 painful deliveries from a female obgyn.... This time during my 3rd pregnancy I chose to have a male obgyn, so far during all my visits he has been very gentle and caring.

[memymomalex]

It's funny, I had the best OB for basically when I started going as a teenage until my late 20s, and he was a man. He had such good bedside manner, he had the same nurse, he made you so comfortable and would ask about school, he and the nurse would be talking about restaurants they'd been to or vacations and asking my opinion on stuff. They made me forget I was having some an intimate exam. I go to a women now and they are silent throughout the exam, and it makes me think something's wrong, and I'm so uncomfortable. i've actually cried a few times and it's like they don't react, they don't do anything. You'd think women would have better bedside manner and compassion than men, but man, I just wish my OB hadn't retired. He was seriously the best.

[liontelarisacosmina]

To be honest I thought we live in the 21'st century, where discrimination based on gender is way behind us. Everyone should go for their goals and do what they feel passionate about, irrespective of the gender. And who thinks that a gyn sees only beautiful flowers doesn't live in the real world. Plus, they know the female anatomy even better than we do, so I don't think we need a doc who can "relate" to our symptoms. Getting the right treatment against those symptoms is even more important.

[liontelarisacosmina]

As a female, I can't relate to pregnant ladies. Or to those with strong menstrual pains. And I'm sure there are also female gynecologists who don't have this kind of pains. Should we exclude them as well, because they don't feel what others feel?

[xwrtk]

I don’t have a preference, but I’ve only had a good experience with a male gynecologist. The female gynecologist who refilled my birth control pills was nice, but not much happened besides a quick talk. I had a female gynecologist deny me a Pap smear and a pelvic exam as it wasn’t covered by my insurance until it was 21 and she wouldn’t allow me to pay out of pocket. Another gynecologist made rude comments on my small stature when getting the iud. Turns out she did a hack job to my iud as the male gynecologist concluded before the ultrasound results. I had to get the iud removed.

[petterderter]

the women that perfer woman have been lucky and havent been judged

[samuelawenti]

Never you trust a stranger in your house. Even if He means well.

[bloodcottoncandy]

The issue is that with misogyny many female related medical needs are ignored. You can't expect men to be able to help as much as women when it comes to a woman's body. At the very least we can't count on most caring.

[rhui]

I'm a 4th year med student going into OBGyn and I totally understand why someone would prefer a female provider. However, I'm still attracted to what the field has to offer. No other specialty allows you to be a patient's primary provider, specialist, surgeon, and primary assist in delivering their children.
During my rotations many women have asked me to leave the room, but just as many have been open to allowing me in their care team.
At the end of the day it's what is best for the patient and when I'm practicing, if my gender deters them from giving a complete history or allowing for a comprehensive work up I will have no problem referring them to a female colleague.

[suseq]

Certainly love that they are decreasing in numbers. They, men, had full control of women’s health for the past 200 years. Nobody cried foul or worried about diversity and quality of care when men were in charge.

It makes sense that many women prefer women to take care of their obstetric and gynecological needs… just like midwives and female family members took care of women before men took over.

[zengara]

Men who becomes gynecologist is weird, no way around that.

[elyse]

It could be due to a lot of women having bad experiences with male OBGYN’s. I have had one for sure. But I’ve had good experiences too.

[Brooklyn_baddiex]

Unfortunately sometimes you don’t have a choice when it comes to certain procedures

[M]

From my experience, male OBs empathize more and have more patience. Females tend to be arrogant, and just bored of the repetitiveness.

[Brownie]

I would still get a male gyno. Females can be creeps just as easy as men. But every woman should have a choice. I love how insecure men lose traction in one practice and they're treating it like the apocalypse 😂😂😂