Mammograms and male radiographers

I would prefer not to have a male radiographer do a mammogram.
Having said that a male did my breast ultrasound, and that was OK because he was watching his screen all the time, not pulling my boobs about!

Whitewavemark2

I’ve had breast cancer and my oncologist is a male as was the radiologist and clinician who took the initial biopsy.

They must see thousands of bosoms over their working life time.

Boredom would be the biggest thing I would have thought.

I thought we were looking at this from the patient's point of view not the clinician's?

If the appointment for the mammogram had a tickbox for female or no preference as to radiographer then all those who don't mind could tick 'no preference' and fill the male radiographer slots. I'm lucky, all my mammograms are now done within the hospital in the 'virtual' breast cancer clinic and is wholly staffed by females. Most of the doctors are male and I've had my share intimately examining my breasts but for me that's different. While I've had male gynaecologists I prefer smear tests done by a woman.

Men see female doctors and nurses for very personal reasons, but there isn't the feeling of vulnerability that occurs when things are reversed. Women are raised to feel protective about our bodies in a way men are not and, whilst most of us would bear up if we had to in order to have screening, it's hard to overcome that this would be undesirable for a great many women.

For me it's not about "a few very embarrassing minutes" more a feeling of being exposed and handled behind closed doors

Someone with ill intent would have lots of opportunity to abuse the situation of women in a very vulnerable situation.

I think there should always be the choice. There must be a number of women who have suffered abuse who would feel extremely vulnerable and uncomfortable.

I've just done a quick Google and it would appear that only 30% of radiographers are male. so you're far more likely to get a female practitioner anyway. Only 10% of nurses are male so men are far more likely to have a female nurse involved in intimate procedures which they could be uncomfortable with.

I think it would be arrogant of me to assume that my ageing and rapidly heading south boobs would provide any degree of titillation! (Unintended pun - but thought I'd just leave it!) At the risk of opening a can of worms - radiographers of either sex could be gay. Or have I just added to people's sense of vulnerability?

I think that there must be an easier way of scanning and testing than the uncomfortable intrusive things that the NHS offers.
Surely an all over scan every few years would cut out all the separate appointments, save many lives and the cost would even out?

When my husband had a mammogram it was done by a woman.

eddiecat78

I think the unique feature of mammograms is that the operative stands so close behind you, virtually with their arms around you - all done with nobody else present.
I suppose a male might ask if you want a chaperone but that would negate the staffing issue.
If I was faced with just a male radiographer I would leave.

I had to have an echocardiogram last year. I had to lie down on a couch and the young male radiographer was right behind me, it seemed intimately close with his arm around me. I had no idea what to expect and it did make me feel very uncomfortable but he seemed professional so assumed this was normal procedure but still wasn't sure.

Whilst I wouldn’t refuse to have the procedure done by a male radiographer, I would feel extremely uncomfortable about it, so I would prefer to be offered a choice and go to an appointment when a female radiographer was on duty.
I think it’s because the procedure involves so much manipulation of an intimate part of the body.
The radiographer, no doubt, would be extremely professional, but I’d still feel very uncomfortable.

I wouldn't have any problem with it at all.

Various health things over the years I've found most males are quite gentle, including a male nurse who did a cervical screening test, he knew they can be agonizingly painful so cracked jokes to make me laugh! But I find some women medics can be really quite brutal!

So if a male had to deal with my boobs then so be it!

No, I wouldn’t like a mammogram done by a male radiographer.

Prostate cancer investigations include having genitals handled and taped out of the way, in my brother's case by a female practitioner, although embarrassed he did not question it because she was a medical professional...

keepingquiet

Only if they have been through a similar procedure where they get their whatnots crushed...

👏👏😂!Especially by a woman!!

No way!

Don't forget that some men also get breast cancer so having a few males who are at least trained to do it, even if their main duties are with other types of scan, might be nicer for them.

I totally agree with you, op.

Having 48 internal stitches put in after a forcepts delivery by a male doctor I think my dignity was well and truely lost many years ago - though not ideal having male radiographers I'd rather that than any delay in getting one!

Makes sense to me. Used to medics examining those little personal places, so what's the difference. Presumably they will have undergone the Isis police checks etc.

I can understand that some women might find this a difficult situation, but personally I don’t think it would bother me. I would be grateful that somebody was giving me vital screening that I needed, regardless of whether they were male or female. I have had a follow-up after an abnormal mammogram to my breast care centre, where I was examined by a male consultant. He had to examine my breast and palpate to produce a discharge from the nipple, to mimic some bleeding that I had. He showed far more respect and dignity towards me than some female doctors I have seen. I had a chaperone at all times and felt perfectly safe.
As a nurse I put catheters in male patients frequently, if there are no make nurses on shift to carry out the procedure. I imagine they might feel the same awkwardness, but again if the procedure is carried out with dignity, respect and professionalism there is usually just gratitude from the patient for the care given.

Prefer a woman but as with so many things it's not just whether it's a man but what they are like, how they come across. Definitely give the choice if it's at all possible of course.

Just wondered - there has always been a female nurse present -how would people feel if they had the option of the female nurse doing the "arranging" bit? Is this an acceptable compromise?

My worse experience, which would never happen now, was 1970's. I had some kind of an unusual vaginal infection so for some reason the GP reffered me to the sexual health clinic which in those days was in a dark gloomy old place which felt punitive in itself. Alone, stirrups, male doctor. It wasn't relevant at all for me, but how they treated women back then clearly suspect of being "loose".

Have to admit that it’s not something I’d feel comfortable with. If I found it was a male I think I’d rebook. In terms of discomfort it’s right at the top with having Pessary changed.

I would object too. I’ve got small boobs and they really have to (wo)man handled into place. I too have had intimate examinations with male consultants and GPs. The last one was the final straw when I thought I was seeing one of our 5 female GPs then discovered it was a male registrar - probably the only male in the building. I requested a chaperone but I now always check who I’m actually seeing.

Having had breast cancer twice and radiotherapy carried out by males sometimes, also various intimate procedures carried out by male doctors and a male midwife for one birth, I have absolutely nothing whatsoever against male nursing practitioners. However, I’m still not sure that I would be comfortable with a male carrying out a mammogram. I’ve been roughly manhandled by some female radiographers, so it’s not a matter of gentleness. It’s simply that the amount of intimacy required during the procedure would make me uncomfortable with it being carried out by a man. I’m not even sure myself why that should be. However, if the choice were that or waiting for another appointment, I’m sure I would just “get on with it” and get it done and dusted.

I have always gone for my mammograms when called for. At my age now I do not get an automatic recall, although I have had two other cancers. I definitely agree that there has always been need for manipulation and moving the breasts round etc. Uncomfortable usually and on a couple of occasions quite painful.

It takes an effort to go, and I think it is very important, and you are always urged to go. If they want to encourage more women to go for these tests, having male staff will definitely not help to get more women to visit. These are often done in the van kinds of places where there is extremely small places to move and change as it is, and whilst you choose to go , it can still feel quite claustrophobic in itself and even more so when someone is moving you about in very close quarters.
I found it difficult and had to remind myself that it was worthwhile.
So I suggest there will be a mixed response but not for the better. Those who have no problems with going will continue. Those who found it difficult but saw the benefits and hopefully peace of mind through this, will probably still go. However those - who they most want to encourage - who were wavering will probably now not go, and for those women with religious beliefs that would not allow them to consider this , they will actually be left with what? Do they have to travel miles to somewhere they are sure to be seen by a woman? Again a disincentive to take the mammogram.

This is a shortsighted view which in the long term will be more expensive through missed opportunities, and yet once again it seems that women are expected to put up with less favourable conditions than men. Training more women quickly and possibly asking retired people to come back in the short term would be a much better idea in my view.