Mammograms and male radiographers

grow stuff I think you are very unusual in not having been touched by the mammographer. I'm small busted and get my boobs repositioned several times, then my arms adjusted, sometimes even my hips moved - all by the mammographer standing right behind me with her arms surrounding my torso.

Of course radiologists are medical doctors with a speciality - I expect breast screening is done by a radiographer.

I'm suddenly not sure what we are short of? Both probably.

Obviously with the increase in AI and medical imaging techniques it seems likely that radiologists will be in short supply - and as this is an area of medicine with a lot of "gadgets" and maybe more isolated(?) it will attract people with an interest in this.
They may be performing all sorts of imaging-guided procedures such as tents and angioplasty - maybe this appeals to more men?

I don't know a lot about the training of radiographers... maybe they train in a "speciality" within the field?

M0nica

I am not'shocked' by the idea of male mammographer, but the handling of the breasts and the intimate closeness of the mammographer when undertaking the tests, makes me feel that this is just not suitable role for a man.

I have had, for health reasons, quite a number of vaginal and anal examinations by doctors, as far as I can remember, all male, but for such examinations to be equated with the problems that are presented by men doing mammograms, the doctor would have to be lying a longside me on the examination couch while carrying out these examinations, and of course they never are. They are standing alongside the couch and only their hands go anywhere near your body.

I don't know what kind of mammograms you've had, but no mammographer has ever touched any part of my body apart from my breasts - and certainly not been that close to me. I had a mammogram a couple of weeks ago and the mammographer didn't touch me at all. Maybe I've had so many mammograms over the last couple of years that I know exactly where to place my breast. I don't find having a mammogram remotely sexual - if any male ever wanted to squash my breasts between two plates, he'd end up with a punched nose (or worse).

Oreo

growstuff

Oreo

Jacksgrandma123

Most other procedures carried out by a man are always done with a chaperone or several other medical staff present. I would not be comfortable with only a male for my mammogram. Men are also more likely to be sexual predators so it cannot be compared with a woman nurse carrying out any medical care with a man’s bits!

Has to make you wonder why men want to do the job of carrying out mammograms, the radiologist who was discussing this possibility of men coming in to address the shortfall said that male radiologists were ‘eager’ ( her word) to do this job.

The same reason as a woman, I would imagine. It's a reasonably paid, secure job without too much stress. I don't suppose anybody (male or female) thinks of breasts as anything other than a body part when they're doing their job.

😂you can’t possibly know that about men wanting to do the job.

That's why I wrote "I would imagine" and "I don't suppose".

I know you like having a go at me Oreo, but do try to be accurate.

I am not'shocked' by the idea of male mammographer, but the handling of the breasts and the intimate closeness of the mammographer when undertaking the tests, makes me feel that this is just not suitable role for a man.

I have had, for health reasons, quite a number of vaginal and anal examinations by doctors, as far as I can remember, all male, but for such examinations to be equated with the problems that are presented by men doing mammograms, the doctor would have to be lying a longside me on the examination couch while carrying out these examinations, and of course they never are. They are standing alongside the couch and only their hands go anywhere near your body.

growstuff

Oreo

Jacksgrandma123

Most other procedures carried out by a man are always done with a chaperone or several other medical staff present. I would not be comfortable with only a male for my mammogram. Men are also more likely to be sexual predators so it cannot be compared with a woman nurse carrying out any medical care with a man’s bits!

Has to make you wonder why men want to do the job of carrying out mammograms, the radiologist who was discussing this possibility of men coming in to address the shortfall said that male radiologists were ‘eager’ ( her word) to do this job.

The same reason as a woman, I would imagine. It's a reasonably paid, secure job without too much stress. I don't suppose anybody (male or female) thinks of breasts as anything other than a body part when they're doing their job.

😂you can’t possibly know that about men wanting to do the job.

Rosie51

icanhandthemback did your husband request a male and was refused?
If men want same sex care then it's up to men to request and campaign for it. So many people infantilise men. Women have had to fight for every right and privilege they have, men are just as capable of doing the same.

No, of course he didn't, he's more pragmatic than that. To him treatment is far important than the gender of the practitioner as it is for me. He was offered a chaperone when he had his prostate inspected but his thought was why take 2 people to do a job when you only need one.
My point was that somehow women expect same sex treatment, men don't tend to and I suspect there would be little sympathy if they did. I think that historically nurses were women and men thought nothing of it whilst women became to think of it as the norm. I can't help thinking that whilst it seems shocking to the Gransnet population to have a male doing the mammograms, the next generations coming through won't think much of it unless there is religion involved.
I do think that we need to be absolutely sure that anybody doing the job has been properly screened though. There have been some shocking stories in the press about predatory medical professionals in the higher echelons.

I've had BUPA for 4O+ years, and I'm sure all the leaflets state that mammograms will be carried out by a female healthcare professional. Out of interest I just saw a BUPA job advert for a mammographer, stating:
Applicants must be female. This is a Genuine Occupational qualification and is exempt under section 7 (2)(e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

A survey was carried out in 2020 to assess the impact of introducing male mammographers. I don't have access to the full results, but this is from the abstract:

"Over half, 53.4% stated they would attend a routine mammogram if the mammographer was male, 15.3% said they would attend if a female chaperone was present, and 31.3% stated they would refuse to attend. The face-to-face interviews suggested women view routine breast screening differently to other healthcare interactions because it is an optional service and not a treatment. As a result, participants had higher expectations both in terms of expecting a choice over the gender of the mammographer and a need to feel comfortable. Conclusion and implications for practice: The findings indicate that the percentage of eligible women attending breast screening may decrease if male mammographers were introduced. This impact of introducing male mammographers would need to be carefully weighed up against the potential gains in workforce numbers in opening up mammography to male practitioners."

Presumably mammographers work in teams, so (depending on shifts) it should be possible to give a choice.

I would refuse, even though I have had breast cancer in the past. The idea of some man handling my breasts is odious and agree that having male radiographers would lead to cancers being missed.

Oreo

Jacksgrandma123

Most other procedures carried out by a man are always done with a chaperone or several other medical staff present. I would not be comfortable with only a male for my mammogram. Men are also more likely to be sexual predators so it cannot be compared with a woman nurse carrying out any medical care with a man’s bits!

Has to make you wonder why men want to do the job of carrying out mammograms, the radiologist who was discussing this possibility of men coming in to address the shortfall said that male radiologists were ‘eager’ ( her word) to do this job.

The same reason as a woman, I would imagine. It's a reasonably paid, secure job without too much stress. I don't suppose anybody (male or female) thinks of breasts as anything other than a body part when they're doing their job.

Jacksgrandma123

Most other procedures carried out by a man are always done with a chaperone or several other medical staff present. I would not be comfortable with only a male for my mammogram. Men are also more likely to be sexual predators so it cannot be compared with a woman nurse carrying out any medical care with a man’s bits!

Has to make you wonder why men want to do the job of carrying out mammograms, the radiologist who was discussing this possibility of men coming in to address the shortfall said that male radiologists were ‘eager’ ( her word) to do this job.

Grantanow

Given the state of the NHS I just want any procedure to be done competently whoever the practitioner is.

Don't we all, but the one shouldn't preclude the option of the other. Surely the aim should be intimate procedures always have the option of same sex where that's desired by the patient? In the rare event of that not being possible the patient then has a choice, wait a bit longer or accept opposite sex care.

Given the state of the NHS I just want any procedure to be done competently whoever the practitioner is.

icanhandthemback did your husband request a male and was refused?
If men want same sex care then it's up to men to request and campaign for it. So many people infantilise men. Women have had to fight for every right and privilege they have, men are just as capable of doing the same.

Magenta8

Women have had no choice but to be treated by male doctors for as long as I can remember. My memories of maternity and gynae care involve quite a lot of "intimate handling" so I personally can't really see why having your breasts handled by a male radiographer is such a big deal.

Having said that, I do feel that women generally should have more rights when it comes to being medically treated and not just be expected to put up and shut up, regardless of their beliefs and feelings.

But would we be as sympathetic to men if they had to have their prostate checked or their gonads checked for lumps. My husband's vasectomy took place with a female surgeon where they shaved him and handled his penis. He was given no choice whatsoever.

Women have had no choice but to be treated by male doctors for as long as I can remember. My memories of maternity and gynae care involve quite a lot of "intimate handling" so I personally can't really see why having your breasts handled by a male radiographer is such a big deal.

Having said that, I do feel that women generally should have more rights when it comes to being medically treated and not just be expected to put up and shut up, regardless of their beliefs and feelings.

argymargy

missdeke

To be honest I'm past caring about who is carrying out procedures with my body parts. Just so long as they keep on keeping me alive. Had a bit of a scare with the results of my scan on Monday, my doctor said everything was reported as ok except there were anomalies in my bones which he said were signs of bone cancer, I've already had breast and bladder cancer. But my GP said they had made no further mention of this in the conclusion they had written. He was suspicious that they had left out a vital word on the report so he wrote back to the radiologist to check. My GP texted me today and said that he had heard back and that they had left out the word NO in the report as in 'no' anomalies in the bones. Bit of lack of care by whoever wrote the report but so glad my GP is so thorough.

This is ridiculous! Well done to your GP anyway.

No-one cares about being accurate any more. Anyone who suggests accuracy is important gets accused of being a tiresome joy-sucking pedant. And yet that person’s carelessness could have had serious consequences. At the very least it caused the GP extra work that he surely doesn’t have time for!

Sorry, this is off-topic. There's an article about inaccurate health records in today's Guardian:

www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/01/one-in-four-patients-in-england-find-errors-in-medical-records-watchdog-says

I don't care if I'm a tiresome joy-sucking pedant, but I go through my Patient Record once a month when I order my repeat prescription and I send the practice a message when I spot an inaccuracy, which is on average once every three months.

My grandaughter wants to be a radiographer, however, she had a nightmare getting work experience, a week needed by her 6th form, eventually she has got just one 1 day, the excuse given they couldn't afford to give a week! Considering the shortage how blinkered is this.

You're not alone. I prefer a woman to handle all my bits, and hate being alone with a man in a room touching me. I know it's not always possible to get a female, and I just have to put up with it. It's a shame.x

Septimia

Because of the manipulation involved, I wouldn't fancy having a male radiographer do my mammogram. Too much opportunity for them to "enjoy" it!!

I can’t imagine any man deriving enjoyment from manhandling my 76 year old boobs.

Iam64

I expect this would be an absolute No for Muslim women. I understand the staffing issues but I believe women have to be given the choice, not when they arrive but beforehand

I agree. I definitely wouldn't want my breast manipulated by a male.

missdeke

To be honest I'm past caring about who is carrying out procedures with my body parts. Just so long as they keep on keeping me alive. Had a bit of a scare with the results of my scan on Monday, my doctor said everything was reported as ok except there were anomalies in my bones which he said were signs of bone cancer, I've already had breast and bladder cancer. But my GP said they had made no further mention of this in the conclusion they had written. He was suspicious that they had left out a vital word on the report so he wrote back to the radiologist to check. My GP texted me today and said that he had heard back and that they had left out the word NO in the report as in 'no' anomalies in the bones. Bit of lack of care by whoever wrote the report but so glad my GP is so thorough.

This is ridiculous! Well done to your GP anyway.

No-one cares about being accurate any more. Anyone who suggests accuracy is important gets accused of being a tiresome joy-sucking pedant. And yet that person’s carelessness could have had serious consequences. At the very least it caused the GP extra work that he surely doesn’t have time for!

If they’re having problems recruiting women then needs must. I don’t really see the problem; as has been said we’ve all had men poking around our downstairs so I’d just suck it up. We can’t blame the NHS so if you’d rather risk your health it’s up to the individual.

No. I wouldn't accept it either