What’s your man doing at the gynaecologist?

GYNAECOLOGISTS world over are referred to as “women’s doctors” simply because they specialise in the sexual and reproductive health of women. But at least two local gynaecologists said it is common for them to treat men as well, who come to them for help.

Local obstetrician/gynaecologist, Professor Horace Fletcher, said this practice is not uncommon here, although urologists or andrologists are the doctors specifically trained to deal with medical issues relating to the sexual health of males.

“Men are seen frequently by gynaecologists, usually for the work-up of a couple with infertility, sexual dysfunction or sexually transmitted disease,” he said before adding, “In many cases we counsel couples for the above problems.”

“Some gynaecologists also do procedures on men such as semen analysis, testicular aspiration of spermatozoa for invitro fertilisation, and also vasectomies,” the OB/GYN noted.

Dr Lloyd Goldson, who has been an OB/GYN in both the public and private health care sector for over 35 years, said he too has treated male clients over the years.

“Commonly it would be for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and low sperm count that they would come to you for,” he said.

He said males also come to him to discuss issues such as premature ejaculation or to get prescriptions for Viagra, which is highly sought after for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

OB/GYNs are usually the doctors called upon to treat issues such as infertility, infections of the vagina, cervix and uterus and painful periods in women. They also carry out surgical procedures such as hysterectomies, diagnostic laparoscopies, tubal ligations and caesarean sections, among others.

But Dr Goldson said at least 10 per cent of his patients are males who do not seem to have a problem waiting along with a roomful of women to see him.

“Sometimes men can suffer from yeast infections or they might have gonorrhoea or other issues too,” he said. However, the majority of his male patients, Dr Goldson, said are men who accompany their wives or girlfriends to come in about a sexual or reproductive matter.

“If the wife is having difficulty becoming pregnant, they might come to you first before they go to the urologist,” said Dr Goldson, who studied urology for six months while doing his postgraduate studies. He said he sends them to the urologist once there is a structural problem or a blockage of their sexual organs.

Men have often been teased for toughing it out rather than going to the doctor to seek help for their medical conditions. This love/hate relationship with their medical practitioner has been partly due to the fact that men were socialised to act macho.

“Men fear doctors more than women. Men are not as proactive as women about their health. They are more non-compliant with doctors and doctors’ medication than women because of their ignorance to health concerns and challenges,” said general practitioner Dr André McDonald.

But while they might not care much about their general health, he noted that they usually become concerned about their sexual health.

Although he admits to being one of those guys who don’t like going to the doctor, accounting executive Jason Reid said he would have no issue visiting a gynaecologist.

“I am very much interested in what is happening to my wife’s body, so I would go to a gynaecologist to get information and while I am there, I would just get information for myself too,” he said.