Mammograms and male radiographers

I would cancel if they offered a male to do my mammogram - there is a lot of handling and I would not be comfortable - I will have to go private if need be and see a female

Glasweegran

Glasweegran

I've had male doctors in gynae and obstetrics. A male doctor at a sexual health clinic and even a male midwife. As long as they know their job, I couldn't care less.

No-one asks if their female doctor/radiographer is a lesbian do they?

... and to be clear, they shouldn't be asking that either.

Why on earth even raise the possibility of the doctor/radiographer being a lesbian? All lesbians are female which is the only requirement. This facile argument is being used as a gotcha on other sites....yawn.

I am due one in a few weeks at my local centre. My letter states it will be carried out by a female which I’m happy about. I have scarring following a lumpectomy and radiotherapy and it is still tender along the scar line so my feeling is I don’t want a man pressing me onto the scanner.

Glasweegran

I've had male doctors in gynae and obstetrics. A male doctor at a sexual health clinic and even a male midwife. As long as they know their job, I couldn't care less.

No-one asks if their female doctor/radiographer is a lesbian do they?

... and to be clear, they shouldn't be asking that either.

I've had male doctors in gynae and obstetrics. A male doctor at a sexual health clinic and even a male midwife. As long as they know their job, I couldn't care less.

No-one asks if their female doctor/radiographer is a lesbian do they?

Quite honestly, the way patients are treated during an echo is far more sensual than a mammogram.
Thst was normal, then! I wasn't sure as it's the only echocardiogram I've had.

Cervical smear tests? Often was a male GP.

I do think women should have a choice though.

Evans64

After I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had a male surgeon and male oncologist. I also had male radiographers. I didn’t give it a second thought as I just wanted them to treat me and get rid of the cancer. Thankfully they did. So I think your mindset changes once you receive a diagnosis. Since going through what I did I don’t think I would mind whether or not a male performed my next mammogram, however I think it is best to let women have a choice.

I absolutely agree. It didn't even occur to me at the time. It's only now, thinking back, that I've realised that about half of the people who treated were male. I also had to have an echo before the op (as a result of a previous heart attack). The operator was male and there was no chaperone. Quite honestly, the way patients are treated during an echo is far more sensual than a mammogram.

But (and I'll keep saying this) not everybody feels like I do, so there must always be a choice.

Ilovecheese

We are not going to be given a proper choice though if any
woman objects to a man doing this procedure because of how the woman feels about it, the woman's feelings will not matter one jot, the woman will be called a bigot and told to consider the feelings of the man at all times.

Why do you think that? Who's going to call her a bigot? It bothers some woman; it doesn't bother others. Simple.

If it helps reduce waiting lists, that's absolutely fine by me. When women book their appointment, they can be asked if they'd mind having a man without a chaperone - all they have to do is say (or tick a box) that they would mind. Nobody is going to know apart from the people organising the appointments.

We are not going to be given a proper choice though if any
woman objects to a man doing this procedure because of how the woman feels about it, the woman's feelings will not matter one jot, the woman will be called a bigot and told to consider the feelings of the man at all times.

I agree I would find it embarressing to have a male radiographer for a mammogram. Never thought about it before, & I don't feel the same about intimate examination.
As someone said, with IUD's, smears, childbirth etc maybe I have just got used to the idea of that.

After I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had a male surgeon and male oncologist. I also had male radiographers. I didn’t give it a second thought as I just wanted them to treat me and get rid of the cancer. Thankfully they did. So I think your mindset changes once you receive a diagnosis. Since going through what I did I don’t think I would mind whether or not a male performed my next mammogram, however I think it is best to let women have a choice.

I had an electrocardiogram a few years ago. It was done by a very small Malaysian chap. I was lying, stripped to the waist, while he literally had to crawl all over me to get the correct readings. There was a lot of manhandling involved, but it stuck me that I had never had such sexless contact with a man.

Not for me. I know it's a medical procedure but it's a bit like a man doing your bikini wax.

I’m with OP on this I wouldn’t like them handing mine either

Had a mammogram 20-plus years ago by a male technician at Royal Free in London, Hopefully he was authentic! 😳

TBH I can’t say it’s bothered me. It’s an uncomfortable procedure whoever does it.
I’ve had male obstetricians, and recently, had to strip to the waist for heart monitoring by a male practitioner. Made no difference to me who did it.

Might add that the only time I’ve ever experienced rough, thoroughly unsympathetic treatment from a medic, was from a female obstetrician when I was in labour.

I too think it would put a significant number of women off. At one time there were very few female doctors and surgeons so there was no choice but to be intimately examined by a man. Things are very different now and many women prefer to be seen for these sorts of exams by a woman. Mammograms do absolutely entail much manipulating and handling of breasts not to mention standing naked to the waist while waiting for the radiographer to put you in the xray machine. The clinician is standing so close to you while she gets your boobs in the right position and arm, shoulder, waist etc. the fact is that women have to highly sexualised throughout history and most men look at women differently to the way most women look at men. I heard the discussion on 5 Live and the senior radiographer said it's some years away and there will be choice. I think as long as there is real choice(as some women won't mind) then it would work. Just my opinion.

I think there is a puzzlement from some as to why, when most women have undergone very intimate examinations often conducted by a male doctor, given birth overseen by male medics and possibly not batted an eyelid, as to why so many women feel a disquiet around what could be considered the lesser embarrassing procedure of breast screening being conducted by a male radiographer. I think the posts of both Mirren and Monica have crystallised those feelings very well. Possibly being flat on one's back while undergoing intimate examinations, giving birth, from what I recall is a little bit more of an out of body experience, or maybe that's just me. Whereas undergoing the manipulation and handling of one's breasts I've always felt very present, it is, as Mirren expressed, such a close range procedure very up close and personal. I completely accept that this doesn't bother some women, but we aren't carbon copies of each other and it would bother many of us. I imagine some would simply not attend their mammograms if they were to be conducted by a man, particularly women from certain religious demographics.

I wouldn't really mind if male or female, I would be more worried about not going and missing something rather than if it was a male or female, I've had male GP check a lump, had a male midwife.. Didn't phase me, like said I have a greater fear in not going

Rosie51

Mirren it's so good to have a female doctor's input to reassure those of us that don't want males doing our mammograms that we're not a load of fussy prudish pearl clutchers

I don't think anybody has said you are. Personally, it really doesn't bother me, but I have no problem accepting that some women would be bothered by it. To be perfectly honest, I've never found mammograms uncomfortable and I haven't experienced the handling that some have. I just plonk my breast on the plate, usually get told to lean forward, the other plate gets brought down and the mammographer disappears behind her screen and that's it. Maybe I'm just unusual - I don't know.

If there's a shortage of mammographers and people who feel the same as I do are happy to accept a male, I really don't see the problem, if it cuts the lists.

Rosie51

growstuff

Sue65

Handle ?? That is so untrue and unfair
to say men are more gentle
I think theres no difference
However there is a massive under take up for mammograms so it must remain women only radiographer
Also when we are examined intimately by male doctors there is always a woman chaperone

Not necessarily. I've been examined intimately by a male GP. Admittedly, I was asked if I wanted a chaperone, but I declined.

I think the default should be a chaperone is provided. OK then for the woman to say actually I don't need one, but they're equally for the doctor's protection. Some women asked if they need a chaperone would feel embarrassed to say yes.

That's why it should be made quite clear when the booking is made.

growstuff

Sue65

Handle ?? That is so untrue and unfair
to say men are more gentle
I think theres no difference
However there is a massive under take up for mammograms so it must remain women only radiographer
Also when we are examined intimately by male doctors there is always a woman chaperone

Not necessarily. I've been examined intimately by a male GP. Admittedly, I was asked if I wanted a chaperone, but I declined.

I think the default should be a chaperone is provided. OK then for the woman to say actually I don't need one, but they're equally for the doctor's protection. Some women asked if they need a chaperone would feel embarrassed to say yes.

Mirren it's so good to have a female doctor's input to reassure those of us that don't want males doing our mammograms that we're not a load of fussy prudish pearl clutchers

Sue65

Handle ?? That is so untrue and unfair
to say men are more gentle
I think theres no difference
However there is a massive under take up for mammograms so it must remain women only radiographer
Also when we are examined intimately by male doctors there is always a woman chaperone

Not necessarily. I've been examined intimately by a male GP. Admittedly, I was asked if I wanted a chaperone, but I declined.

Handle ?? That is so untrue and unfair
to say men are more gentle
I think theres no difference
However there is a massive under take up for mammograms so it must remain women only radiographer
Also when we are examined intimately by male doctors there is always a woman chaperone