Question for the moms of boys...

[debbi801]

I'm lucky enough that our pediatrician practice has a male and female pediatrician. Originally, all the kids were going to the same (male) pediatrician. When my DD was 9 or 10, she asked to switch and now she sees a female pediatrician in the same practice. All the kids are comfortable, I trust both pediatricians completely, and we didn't have to worry about transferring records to a new practice and going to 2 practices.

 

[luvsJack]

For my sons, around the age of 12 I started asking them if they wanted me to go with them. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes it didn't matter. However they wanted was fine with me.

As for dd or me being uncomfortable with her ped being a male. She loves her dr.; she has been going to the same clinic since birth and has seen this particular dr. since she was about 5. (her original ped started a practice that only sees kids with add/adhd, speech problems or learning problems) He is actually very good at asking question about development without embarrassing her or making her feel uncomfortable. He only requires yes or no answers so she is fine with that. The only female dr. in the clinic is the one dr. that neither of us can stand.

 

[disfan07]

I think that with my brother, my mom stopped going with him to the doctor at all when he turned 16....when he started driving.

Same with me. She stopped going with me to my internist when i was 16 and got my license. Now, my specialists....i'm 20 and she still goes with me most of the time but that is only becasue my specialists are all 45 minutes away in beverly hills so we usually go do something or see some family afterwards.
She never coems back with me though unless it's for pre-op information.

Now, pertaining to female or male doctors. I had a male pedi from birth until I was 14. After that, my mom switched me to teh same internist she used (female) just because it was time for me to stop seing a pediatrician.
The only doctor that i really prefer to be a female is my GYN. The rest, as long as they are good doctors, i don't really care. That being said, i do like the female doctors that i have more than the males but thats becasue i can relate to them more (especially since they're all in their early 30s) and it's very easy for me to talk to them.

It's really all a matter of personal preference though. Male or female, recently out of residency or many years of experience. Some people are much more comfortable one way or another.
In the past few years i've had dozens of doctors and the best one's i've had have been the younger women doctors. Out of the ones i've had, my favorite 3 were all women, 1 who was in residency at hopkins and 2 who are about 3 years out of residency at Cedars-sinai and they seem to be the most knowledgable and most caring doctors i've ever met.

 

[HamTown]

My 9 yo DS asked me to leave the room this year during the "cough" portion of his exam. I left the room immediately. I want him to be comfortable. His pediatrician is a friend of mine, so I'm not worried about impropriety.

I would imagine that if my DD was having an internal pelvic exam, her pediatrician would follow the same protocol my OB/GYN practice does. There is always a nurse present in the room, regardless of the gender of the provider.

 

[disfan07]

I would imagine that if my DD was having an internal pelvic exam, her pediatrician would follow the same protocol my OB/GYN practice does. There is always a nurse present in the room, regardless of the gender of the provider.

They most likely would. I'm pretty sure they are required by law to have 2 people present during a pelvic exam. I've had them done by probably a dozen doctors (4 different GYNS, an internist and 7 ER docs) and regardless of gender of the doctors, there was always a nurse (or 2) in the room.

 

[mjkacmom]

They most likely would. I'm pretty sure they are required by law to have 2 people present during a pelvic exam. I've had them done by probably a dozen doctors (4 different GYNS, an internist and 7 ER docs) and regardless of gender of the doctors, there was always a nurse (or 2) in the room.

Interesting - I've never had a nurse in the room, and have had MANY exams by both male and female doctors.

 

[Chelley00]

Interesting - I've never had a nurse in the room, and have had MANY exams by both male and female doctors.

Maybe it's a state thing, or just varies by practice? My gyn is required to have at least one other person in the room with him during my exam. It's written on the form they give you when you check in, and there is a sign in each room.

 

[NHdisneylover]

They most likely would. I'm pretty sure they are required by law to have 2 people present during a pelvic exam. I've had them done by probably a dozen doctors (4 different GYNS, an internist and 7 ER docs) and regardless of gender of the doctors, there was always a nurse (or 2) in the room.

Maybe it is required in some states I do not think it is a federal law or anything. I did find oer the last 10 to 15 years more and more doctors do bring a "witness" into the exam room (presumably to protect themselves from lawsuits) but some still did not pretty recently for me (in the USA--here in Germany there was definatly no extra person, no paper "dress" to wear, etc. No one gets that worked up about seeing parts taht doctors have to see to make a diagnosis).

 

[mjkacmom]

Maybe it's a state thing, or just varies by practice? My gyn is required to have at least one other person in the room with him during my exam. It's written on the form they give you when you check in, and there is a sign in each room.

I've seen signs that say you can request this, but even in my state of overgovernment (NJ), there is no law.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Interesting - I've never had a nurse in the room, and have had MANY exams by both male and female doctors.

When I was in my late teens/early 20's the GYN I saw had someone in the room. I hated it. I felt like I was the 3rd party, and I didn't appreciate when he said to her at a most awkward time "What does it look like to you?"

I moved and switched OB/GYNs and have been with the same group for 23 years. Never a nurse in the room, whether I've seen the doctors, midwives, nurse practitioner. I prefer it that way.

 

[aprilgail2]

Maybe it's a state thing, or just varies by practice? My gyn is required to have at least one other person in the room with him during my exam. It's written on the form they give you when you check in, and there is a sign in each room.

Sure isn't a law here- my gyn never has anyone in the room except for me and him and I sure prefer it that way!! One time there were 2 med school students there with him and I when they asked if I minded them observing I said that I sure did- this was my medical exam and I didn't need it to be a group effort!
I don't care male or female Dr's other than my OB/Gyn- that Dr has to be a male....I was always more comfortable with a male poking around down there than a female!

 

[dodukes]

Maybe it is required in some states I do not think it is a federal law or anything. I did find oer the last 10 to 15 years more and more doctors do bring a "witness" into the exam room (presumably to protect themselves from lawsuits) but some still did not pretty recently for me (in the USA--here in Germany there was definatly no extra person, no paper "dress" to wear, etc. No one gets that worked up about seeing parts taht doctors have to see to make a diagnosis).

I have to tell you i feel the same way about it. I mean really, they are looking and poking everywhere why bother with the paper stuff, its uncomfortable anyway!...lol

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have to tell you i feel the same way about it. I mean really, they are looking and poking everywhere why bother with the paper stuff, its uncomfortable anyway!...lol

Oh I agree. I think the paper gowns and blankets are silly. BUt I know many Americans would be uncomfortable. Of coruse oterh things are different here too. DD12 came out of her dental check up having had a babytooth pulled as the permanent was comming in next to it and it was getting loose. It needed to happen and I was fine with it, but she and I were talking about how in the USA jsut asking the 12 year old if she wanted to take care of it now and then giving her novacain and doing it without running it by mom would have lots of people in an uproar--here it is just normal (like no paper gowns). Another difference is no HIPPA laws. DH travels frequently for work so his doctor happily gives me all the reults of his tests, etc. to email him. I have no issue with any of this--but it is a little different

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't think that it is a law so much as it is probably required by their insurance policies.

 

[disfan07]

huh...so i guess it must be a state by state thing...or even a hospital by hospital thing

Everytime I have had one done the doctor (hospital or doctors office) has said that they cannot do a pelvic without a second person in the room. It has made for some veeerrry long waits in the ER sometimes.
I really don't mind....seriously...what's one more person.

 

[kilee]

My son is 16. It depends on what he is seen for. If it's for a physical, then he's been going alone since about 11 yrs old. He just went to have stitches removed not too long ago, I went in. If it's for a checkup on his ADHD meds, then I go in.

 

[pennst8r]

I have 3, oldest is DS14. I still go back with him. But his dr does ask me to leave for the "turn your head and cough" part. And takes that time to see if there's anything DS wants to talk about without me in the room.