GYNO!

You are correct Britwife, I can and do go private......maybe I shouldn't care that other women can't if they would prefer to do so...but it does bother me.  

I suppose there are other things to worry about in life and this one I can't change.

I agree it would be better if we had more choice but it should all be on the NHS.  I would still choose a female GP over a male gynaecologist.  I was examined several times by male obs/gynaes when I was pregnant and they were all useless.

Sorry as a woman not having a GYNO even for routine checks is a real problem for me.  I remember in the states back in the 80's HMO's were trying to make women have their annual's at their GP office. Luckily I had a non HMO so wasn't affected but thank goodness legislation came through to allow every woman the right to have one exam by a GYNO every year.

A GP is just that....a general practitioner, not someone who should see babies (they should be seeing a pediatrician) nor deal with women's health. In my book, it stretches them too thin. Kind of the jack of all trades...master to none...kind of thing.  

I know I will get a lot of back's up but that's just my opinion. Sorry, I feel very strongly about this.  Great if folks feel they are getting great care and I am sure some are....I am just very leary about it.

Jules I felt EXACTLY the same way you do when I first got here!! EXACTLY the same. In fact I had a raging fit when I was preg and was told I would only see a midwife and a midwife would be delivering me. I cried to the midwife that my first two pregnancies were high risk and I NEEDED to be under the care of the OB. She assured me there are OBs on the delivery ward in case of emergency but I wasnt happy with that. I WANTED my OB! I WANTED my GYN! But when in Rome....
I had two babies here via c/section. The care was wonderful and I have no complaints. As far as pap tests go I dont think you really need do be a doctor to do one. Its just a swab test so why not have the nurse do it. I came to terms with all this stuff real quick. Im quite happy the way things are here  

Sorry as a woman not having a GYNO even for routine checks is a real problem for me.  I remember in the states back in the 80's HMO's were trying to make women have their annual's at their GP office. Luckily I had a non HMO so wasn't affected but thank goodness legislation came through to allow every woman the right to have one exam by a GYNO every year.

A GP is just that....a general practitioner, not someone who should see babies (they should be seeing a pediatrician) nor deal with women's health. In my book, it stretches them too thin. Kind of the jack of all trades...master to none...kind of thing.  

I know I will get a lot of back's up but that's just my opinion. Sorry, I feel very strongly about this.  Great if folks feel they are getting great care and I am sure some are....I am just very leary about it.

I agree. I've had first hand experience that this kind of approach to women's health care just doesn't work here all the time. But that is the system here and you need to inform yourself about what is available and seek out the best. I learned this the hard way!

I can understand someone wanting a specialist if they have a history of problems, but luckily i dont have problems, so im happy with things the way they are.

Just my opinion.

My CINII/Moderate dysplasia was discovered from a Pap sample taken by a nurse practitioner.  The colposcopy that accurately pinpointed where the cell abnormalities were was performed by a nurse practitioner.  

My child's malposition during labour was discovered by a midwife.  

I owe my life and my child's life to the knowledge of experienced health professionals, that includes nurses, nurse practitioners and midwives - all of whom doctors and specialists depend on heavily to do their jobs.

It's a smear test, not neurosurgery. 

Like Peebles, I've only seen one OB/GYN here, and that was when she showed up to perform a forceps delivery and stitch me up.  

I agree Britwife I prefer a woman too!

When it comes to the NHS I always say to my husband since we have private insurance, even for a routine check (male/female) for anything, we should have a private GP to go to so we don't cause the bottlenecks within the NHS.

It would free things up for those that don't have private insurance and require the NHS.

Jules I felt EXACTLY the same way you do when I first got here!! EXACTLY the same. In fact I had a raging fit when I was preg and was told I would only see a midwife and a midwife would be delivering me. I cried to the midwife that my first two pregnancies were high risk and I NEEDED to be under the care of the OB. She assured me there are OBs on the delivery ward in case of emergency but I wasnt happy with that. I WANTED my OB! I WANTED my GYN! But when in Rome....
I had two babies here via c/section. The care was wonderful and I have no complaints. As far as pap tests go I dont think you really need do be a doctor to do one. Its just a swab test so why not have the nurse do it. I came to terms with all this stuff real quick. Im quite happy the way things are here  

Pebbles, I am so glad to hear that your pregnancies/delivery's were good ones! I can only imagine I would have been the same way at the begining of your experience! 

I agree Britwife I prefer a woman too!

When it comes to the NHS I always say to my husband since we have private insurance, even for a routine check (male/female) for anything, we should have a private GP to go to so we don't cause the bottlenecks within the NHS.

It would free things up for those that don't have private insurance and require the NHS.

I've had male and female ob/gyn's...maybe I just lucked out, but the two men I had were excellent! I've also had midwives (which I prefer.) I think paps should be offered more often than every three years. When do they take a baseline mammogram? I can't remember what I was told, but it was quite late (in my opinion. I had a cousin who had breast cancer at age 39...they wouldn't have caught it here as early because it was too small to feel.) I think women have to be informed no matter what health care system they're involved in. I used to be a La Leche League leader...my pediatrician admitted to me that he knew next to nothing about breastfeeding (they did like a 2 week course during med school or something)...

Pebbles, I am so glad to hear that your pregnancies/delivery's were good ones! I can only imagine I would have been the same way at the begining of your experience! 

  We all survive. I know everythings seems very primitive at first but really. Why do we need an OB/GYN poking around in all areas of our bodies once a year? Its just not necessary

Sorry Ex-pat, forgot to comment....I am sure the mid-wifes are great! Actually I don't believe that profession gets enough credit in the states!

Glad you had great GYNO care as well, its nice to hear the good things!

After having four kids I dont really care who does my exams. When I was in labor with Jordan I didnt care if the Marine Corps Marching Band marched through when I was spread eagle!

After having four kids I dont really care who does my exams. When I was in labor with Jordan I didnt care if the Marine Corps Marching Band marched through when I was spread eagle!

I had a VBAC for my second...it was the first one performed at that hospital. I was a week over, so I went in and they broke my water. I already had extra docs etc. around and they asked if I minded if the ob nursing class at the local uni could come (the nurse who asked me was so cute...she was like, "well, there are some male nursing students too") anyway, I said sure...once they got there I was way into labor and I didn't care WHO was standing around...didn't know anyone else existed outside of myself and my baby at that point!

I was given a referral to a gyn the first time my GP gave me a pelvic exam. I have a fibroid that is currently the size of a 14-week fetus. It does not cause me any problems, but I was referred to a gyn anyway. The point being that if you have an unusual situation that needs special care, you will see a gyn. Getting a pap smear does not constitute an unusual situation that needs special care.

I prefer this to the US, when I had to wait for months to see a gyn, even when I was having problems, because I was always being bumped behind women having problem-free pregnancies who, in the UK, would have been cared for by midwives.

I had a very sexy anesthetist to max out my epidural before the OB could start the forceps procedure.  And there I was w/all my bits out.  Like I cared after no sleep for 32 hours and 24 hours of labour!  

The OB asked if I minded students in the room.  Nope.  They gotta learn somehow, and it was a chance for them to observe a forceps procedure where the baby was not in any distress so the OB could really teach them.  So there were four junior docs at the biz end.  They were all really thankful and kept coming by to see us whilst we were on the ward and even brought flowers and chocolates.  One in particular was hoping to work in Africa, which has a really high maternal death rate, and was so grateful for the chance to learn a procedure that may save many womens' and babies' lives.  

I had a very sexy anesthetist to max out my epidural before the OB could start the forceps procedure.  And there I was w/all my bits out.  Like I cared after no sleep for 32 hours and 24 hours of labour!  

The OB asked if I minded students in the room.  Nope.  They gotta learn somehow, and it was a chance for them to observe a forceps procedure where the baby was not in any distress so the OB could really teach them.  So there were four junior docs at the biz end.  They were all really thankful and kept coming by to see us whilst we were on the ward and even brought flowers and chocolates.  One in particular was hoping to work in Africa, which has a really high maternal death rate, and was so grateful for the chance to learn a procedure that may save many womens' and babies' lives.  

hee hee he....OK. this is a bit off topic but when I was preg with Jack I was in my 6th month and having bad cramping. I was told to go straight to the A & E. A very young female GYN said she wanted to do an internal just to make sure my cervix was still closed. She asked me if I minded if a medical student watched. I said no not a problem. The medical student was a very young, very attractive, Asian guy. I couldnt even look him in the face he was really gorgeous. So while the GYN went to get the HUGE flashlight I asked how long he has been a med student and how many times he has seen procedures like this one and he said "This is my first" UGH! for some reason I really felt ill!