same-sex doctors - men please answer, too!
my2monkeyboys wrote: I have been wondering lately whether I should switch Will to a male doctor, and, if so, when. I am concerned that as he gets older he may be more comfortable talking to a male doctor, as opposed to his female doctor now. He seems to really like his ped now, I'm just trying to figure out the future, I guess. If I do switch him I'd like to do it in the next year or 2 so it will give him time to get to the know the new dr. before he gets to puberty and all. I asked a few male friends and they all said they'd rather see a man, citing various reasons.
What do you all think?
Maddy'sMommy replied: I don't know about boys... but as for me... I would rather see a woman doctor. Also when I was younger I was uncomfortable around male doctors esspecially around puberty. I choose a woman doctor for my doctor based on that also. 
my2monkeyboys replied: The biggest problem I have is that I actually have always gone to a male ob/gyn. The one time I had a fm (my dr. was called out on an emergency) I was rather uncomfortable.
I don't want to change his dr. if he'd feel fine with her, but I don't want to not change if he'd feel better in the long run, either.
Thanks for the help, BTW!
ediep replied: thats a good point. I never thought of that. Jason does go to a ped prectice with 4 males and 2 females, but I don't like either of the females, so I never make appointments with them, My OB practice has 5 males and I am not uncomfortable with any of them
McKenna replied: I did once have a scare for testicular cancer when I was around 15, my regular doc was a bloke but as I made an emergency appointment I didn't know who I was seeing, ended up it was a female doctor, imagine my ultimate worry being a young man around that age... things act completely of their own accord lol.
I think in the end I was more comfortable with the woman doctor even at that age.
But then my mom gave me the 'talk' as you guys tend to call it, when I was 2 and a half years old when she was pregnant with my younger brother, and so I've never been concerned about with anything like that, and the sex of the doctors I see now is completely random in the aspect I see whoever I can get an appointment with I have a doc I am registered with but I've never seen him, I think things are a bit different here in UK.
punkeemunkee'smom replied: I would think in puberty it may be easier for a male to see a male and I know that I would want Taylor to see a woman-I just think in that age group the same sex is going to be less intimidating as well as maybe a little more knowledgeable about what is taking place-you know BTDT  As for me, I have a male OB and the few times I have seen a woman r he has had a woman resident I have been very uncomfortable...I think it is all personal preference in adulthood but I imagine for a pre-teen/teen same sex may be a better choice
C&K*s Mommie replied: I would think a male seeing a male during puberty would be better, too. If after he is an adult that is when he can make his own decisions as to who to see, but I agree male to male. As a female I prefer seeing males for gyn visits, but for my pg's my midwives were female.
mom21kid2dogs replied: Where we live we certainly don't get choices (gotta love a rural area) but if one did, I would assume a male might prefer a male doc. Probably will have more to do with his (Will's) personality than anything else, I think. Some kids are comfortable in any setting, others not so much. If you have a read on that with Will, you'll likely have your answer.
kristy-n-chad replied: I think a pubescent boy would prefer a male. My boys have a male, but I didn't choose him for that reason, he is just good. I had a male dr growing up and never minded much....for "girly" things I saw an OB anyway, and she was a girl. When I got older and had the kids, I didn't really care, and had male drs.
redplaydoh replied: I say if he's happy, why switch? I'd leave it up to him and ask if he'd prefer to switch, or let him know if he ever WANTS to switch to let you know.
mom2my2cuties replied: I think I would watch your son for subtle hints that he is uncomfortable. And maybe when he gets old enough ask him -
TheOaf66 replied: I personally was always more comfortable with a male Dr. Especially when I got into Jr High and such when I had to start doing physicals and things like that so I would go with the male Dr, I would ask your son first but more than likely he will say he wants a guy.
Boo&BugsMom replied: Tanner has had a male doctor from the strat for this very reason. Myself personally as a female, I feel more comfortable with a female doctor too as far as the OBGYN thing is concerned, but my regular physician is a male. I have stayed with him because he's just a really awesome doctor and I like him a lot. Don't know if that helps, but I think there are quite a few people who would say they feel more comfortable with the same gender doctor once they reach a certain age, like around puberty.
my2monkeyboys replied: So do you think it would better to switch him in the next couple of years, or wait until he actually asks to switch?
Boo&BugsMom replied:
I think I would go with what Tish stated. I think you will also know when the time comes.
skinkybaby replied: Grace's pediatrician is a male. We love him. His partner is female so if/when she ever needs to see the doctor for puberty reason I'll just ask her if she'd prefer to see the female doctor for those times. They're both wonderful doctors.
MyLuvBugs replied: Well, I know that I feel more comfortable with a female Dr. My reasoning though is...how is a man supposed to "know" what its like to be female and go through female issues? So, I like women Dr's. And my girls see a female Ped.....maybe you should switch him, but he's still pretty young....
sparkys2boys replied: I think that for now you go to whoever make you comfortable and you think is giving you the best medical care and advice. When your child gets older then they can make that decision by themself
gr33n3y3z replied: Its funny that this came up bc my girls have had a few problem and our family Dr consits of 2 males and 2 females in the practice so if its a cold they will see who ever same with the boys but if its a problem for other reasons they have a pick of Dr's for their problems.
Calimama replied: I choose doctors for MYSELF on how good they are.. and etc. But for Bella I would choose a female for gyno appointments when she's older that way she feels more comfortable.
hawkshoe replied: My son has always seen a male Dr. but a few years ago a female joined the practice. We have used her for all kinds of appointments and have been very happy with her. However, this is the first time we got her for a physical and my son (who is 12) was in tears when she had to examine his privates. I felt awful. From now on, I will request only the male Dr. when it comes to exams that will require checking his privates.
redchief replied:
What Lisa said, and I wanted to add that I'm perfectly comfortable regardless of the gender of the doctor who's seeing me in the office.
ETA: At work I'm most often with a male partner, but on the occasions I have a female partner, if we're on a sensitive call we usually try to match genders of patients.
My3LilMonkeys replied: We have a female general practitioner, she has been DH's Dr. since he was a kid and he has had no problem seeing her for most anything.
I had a female OBGYN for a few years and I now have a male and was comfortable with both.
my2monkeyboys replied: Thanks for all the advice guys! I think I will just keep the doc we have now and let him choose to switch (if he wants) later on.
Thanks again! 
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