Do you prefer a doctor of the same gender as yourself?

Yes, only when it comes to gynocologists.

Either gender is okay with me as long as I have confidence in their abilities. I’ve been to doctors enough times in my life not to be particularly shy about who examines me,

I prefer a woman doctor and I recently discovered that a woman dentist is much more pleasant than a man, when my male dentist retired and a woman took over his patients. She is very gentle and has nice small fingers.

I prefer female doctors. Usually they have smaller hands and can relate to my female issues.

I agree with those who prefer women. After only men for most of my life, to have a choice now is wonderful. And @YARNLADY I completely agree about dentists, the females seem to have more compassion and a softer touch. I know , I know, it is sexist, but it’s my body/mouth so my choice.

I prefer doctors that are older men, including my gynecologist. If I get a female, I’d prefer her to be older as well. If some cute 35-year-old woman walks into the exam room, I’m generally not too excited about it.

@rooeytoo : ....Was this comment about small ‘Asian’ women intended as a joke, or for practical reasons….?

@livelaughlove21 : Why is it that you would distrust a younger female doctor?

I have two doctors right now. Both middle aged; one is a man and one is a woman. I prefer them both because they respect me, trust me, and don’t ask stupid non sequiturs about my being trans.

@bookish1 It’s just a preference. I wouldn’t say I distrust young female doctors, I just don’t want their fingers in my vag. I feel more comfortable with older doctors, that’s all.

I’m generally not bothered either way, but when I was pregnant I actively sought a midwife who had children of her own (the one I used actually had one very complicated pregnancy).

I felt that only someone who had once been pregnant could understand more easily any complaint I may have, as opposed to someone with only book-knowledge.

Since so much of the experience of pregnancy is hormonal and emotional, I separate it from other forms of medical care, where a grasp of standards and practices will generally suffice.

I had a hemorrhoid removed by a female doctor. I had my testes measured with calipers on a monthly schedule over a two year period by a variety of doctors; I was amused by the techniques of the various doctors, male and female. In my experience female doctors are more compassionate, but in the end I’m just a medical problem to solve. It doesn’t matter to me anymore; especially when I’m in pain.

No, I prefer a male doctor with soft hands and a gentle bedside manner. I haven’t had many good experiences with female doctors in the past, they seem almost masculine and a little rough. And in general, I tend to be friends with and trust males more.

I feel the same as @livelaughlove21. I had a really nice gynecologist for many years who was a male in his 50s. I was very comfortable with this man. I then moved and my new doctor is a female who can’t be over the age of 27. She actually looks like she’s in her early 20s. I like her, but I’m not looking forward to getting an annual exam from her, and have actually put it off. I was sitting in the exam room waiting to be seen by her for the first time and I overheard two women speaking outside the door. One of the women had a high pitched voice and kept using the word like before many of her sentences. It sounded like two valley girls gossiping outside my door. The woman finally walked in the exam room and it happened to be my new doctor! She was very professional with me, but that first impression stuck. I don’t want a valley girl as my doctor. I just feel more at ease with older men.

I don’t really care—when I was a teenager, I was embarrassed at the idea of a female doctor examining me and I would always make sure I saw a male doctor, but that does’t matter to me anymore. The last time I had a physical it was with a female doctor and I didn’t seem to mind it at all.

I don’t really care either, it’s all down to individual manner and knowledge. I’ve seen male and female doctors and had good and bad experiences with each.

@bookish1 – I think a little of both, but it caused such a ruckus, he had to apologize for making inappropriate references. I personally thought it to be an overly politically correct reaction.

I like an older doctor (obviously not older than I because that would be too damned old, might be getting senile) but I would prefer someone who has a fair few years of experience. Because let’s face it, you don’t learn it all in med school!

Thank you all for your answers, I guess the bottom line is, any port in a storm, but it is nice to have someone who makes you feel safe and comfortable.

I think I would prefer a female doctor, but my male doctors are wonderful, so it doesn’t bother me.

I like either for general things, but for my gyn. stuff I prefer a female…just more comfortable with a woman who can relate.

I don’t care either way. I tend to like them to be a bit older though (40 plus) because I imagine they probably have more experience.