Tween/Teen Boys and Female Doctors

[LisaR]

I have lived in this area for 5 1/2 years and switched doctors for my family more times than I have my entire life before. I would say it was just me but I have had the same doctors for years before moving here so who knows.

I took DD to a female family practitioner last year and loved her so much that I switched myself over to her. I have raved about her for so long that DH went to her. He has never had a female for a regular doctor, but he loved he so much that he didn't care.

The only one left is 12 y/o DS. Right now, he says he could care less if his doctor is a female. I just hate switching from his crappy pediatrician if I am just going to end up back there in 6 months or a year when DS feels weird going to a female.

Am I right in thinking that teen boys would want to see a male doctor? My gut tells me that this is the case but I am just so thrilled to finally find a doctor that we really trust.

 

[goofyernmost]

Having been a teenage boy, admittedly ages ago, I think it depends on how YOU feel about it. Since your DH goes there with no problems it seems to me that your DS should be able to do that as well. I know that there is a natural shyness connected but a good Doctor is a good Doctor, male or female. Let him go if he is OK with it and if it doesn't work out, I'm sure there are other Drs. out there that can be approached. A teen boy is a little past pediatrician stage anyway. JMHO!

 

[pixie921]

My son is almost 17 and he and dh both see our female family physician. Ds is comfortable with her, but admittedly she's been his doctor since he was a year old. My dh always says if women can go to male doctors, there's no reason the opposite can't happen.

 

[aprilgail2]

A teen boy is a little past pediatrician stage anyway. JMHO!

- kids here go to pediatrician up through 19- never heard of a teen being to old for a pediatrician
My daughter sees a female- I remember how uncomfortable it was as a child seeing a male Dr and I always said if I had a daughter she would see a female Dr...the practice we go to is ALL female- 3 female Dr's, all female nurses and staff. My mom feels the same way and her Dr's office is all female too.....at this point in my life I don't really care at all so the place I go has males and females and I don't care who I get....only place where my Dr HAS to be a male is my OB/Gyn.....I am much more comfortable with a guy poking around than a female.

 

[PatsGirl]

Neither of my kids have had a pedi since infancy for many reasons but DS had a male GP until he was about 12 and then I switched him to my female GP who only sees patients 12 or older. We were really unhappy with his male doctor but I knew I'd be switching him at 12 and we had already been to several different doctors/practices so we held off. She has been fantastic with him and there have no issues at all. He is now in the USAF so I'm not sure who is seeing him

 

[locolala]

I saw a male pedi for many years.. from age newborn up until high school. I didn't see him on every visit as it was a fairly large practice and had rotating docs, but I never felt uncomfortable with one. My PCP now is a male and I have no issues at all. As far as gyn goes, I prefer a female but I have some history with assault, so it's easier for me to see a female.

Hubby says that in general he would have been comfortable with a female doctor, but if it was something related to the nether regions, he'd be more comfortable with a male.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks everyone! I think we will give her a try. I have struggled so much with doctors since we moved here. I really think it is important to find someone you click with and we really like this one. Since DS says he doesn't care, we will go for it.

 

[pixie921]

Hubby says that in general he would have been comfortable with a female doctor, but if it was something related to the nether regions, he'd be more comfortable with a male.

Mine used to say that; he even mentioned it to our doctor. She winked, held up her (little) hand and said, "When it comes to that kind of exam, would you rather have a hand this size or (she grabbed dh's) THIS size??"

 

[Luv Bunnies]

The practice we go to has 4 pediatricians - 2 woman and 2 men. You can see anyone you want until your child turns 12. After that, they ask you to choose a same-sex doctor for your child. They said it makes it easier for the kids to talk to the doctor about changes they're going through. This only applies to physicals. You can see any available doctor for sick visits.

 

[disfan07]

I had a male pediatrician from when i was born until i was 13 and than my mom switched me over to the same internist she had who was female. In that practice there were 3 doctors (2 female and 1 male) and you usually saw the same doctor unless it was urgent and they were not there.

Right now I have 4 female doctors and 1 male doctor
My cardiologist, dermatologist, internist and GYN are all females and my pulmononlogist is male.

Personally, i usually prefer female doctors because it is easier for me to talk to them and i have had much better luck with female doctors (bedside manner especially) than with male doctors. Except, i have to say i can't complain about what most of the male doctors look like that i have had.

It's really a matter personal opinion. Really, for me the only doctor that has to be female is my GYN, other than that, as long as they are good doctors and have good bedside manner, i'm happy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks everyone! I think we will give her a try. I have struggled so much with doctors since we moved here. I really think it is important to find someone you click with and we really like this one. Since DS says he doesn't care, we will go for it.

Yes, I think trying it out is OK, esp. if your ped is "crappy". That is reason enough to change for me. I have girls and they do prefer women as doctors although we had a male ped for a long time.

My oldest dd (18) currently has a male family doctor and my youngest (13) has a female ped. Older dd doesn't really care so much but younger dd wants a woman doc.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It honestly never occured to me to care about the sex of my doctor (I must be weird). I guess my kids follow my lead in that regard because I just asked them both if they would have a preference and both looked at me like I have 2 heads for asking We move fairly often (DD12 has lived in 5 states of the USA and Germany, DS10 in 3 states plus Germany) so we change doctors more than most people. My goal is always to find a good doctor and both the adults and kids in the fmaily have had doctors of both genders. At the moment we are all seeing women doctors. For the past 4 years in New Hampshire we had an excellent, male, family physician. Kids did fine with both. If your son says he doesn't care that is good. Don't keep asking and make him think he should care I am glad you have made up your mind to try moving your son to a practice you know you feel good about

 

[SydSim]

only place where my Dr HAS to be a male is my OB/Gyn.....I am much more comfortable with a guy poking around than a female.

I think that's the first time that I've heard someone say that...it's usually the other way around

I can understand both sides - a teen boy may feel more comfortable with a man (especially if he wants to talk about stuff), but he may also feel more comfortable with a woman (especially if it's an exam - he may look at her like a mother figure, who he's used to being poked and prodded by for years)

Dh always had a man and recently switched to a woman and feel a little uncomfortable. DD and i have all female practitioners - primary, dentist and my gyn.

 

[Mickeefan]

Only slightly off topic:

Who here remembers the Brady Bunch episode where Peter (and subsequently all the kids) get chicken pox? As soon as I read the thread title, I got the picture in my head of Peter in the bunkbed with the covers pulled all the way up under his chin because the "girl" doctor was trying to examine him.