Female Gyne more understanding of Menopause?

Do any of you have a female Dr. treating you? If so, do you think she is more sympathetic and understanding of our issues?

Seems that she would, especially if she is older. Because if you've been there, you can certainly sympathize, I would think.

I'm going to a new one in a few days, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. She is doing a physical to begin with. She's only in her 30's, I think though. No older ones around here. LOL

Oh yes, also another question: What do you consider to be a complete physical, for say a woman over 50? I don't think my primary is giving me all the tests I need to be up to date on my health.

He usually does, routine bloodwork, mamo., pap, breast exam. I did have a colonoscopy not too long ago, as he felt everyone should have one after age 50. Is there more nowadays to stay up to date?

Thanks for bearing with a newbie!

I have a female gyno........ LOVE her......

Had never had a female before...... Always figured a female gyno would be less sympathetic, especially if they had never had any issues.... But my Dr has got one of the best bedside manners I have ever seen in a Dr.... She is very gentle, takes the time to explain everything and has been very open.......

Those sound like all the tests tht my Dr did.... I am 49....

Good luck with your new Dr.

Hi Isis498. Female doctors are not always more sympathetic or understanding of our issues. I believe a lot depends on their training and their associates and their own personal experiences. I finally found a really great gyn who is very familiar with hormone therapies and with women's issues. My new gyn is a man in his mid fifties.

I'm not really familiar with what would be considered a complete physical. Hopefully, some of our other sisters can share this information.

I think compassionate DRs come in both sexes, as do insensitive ones.

I have a female GYN. I confess I chose a female on purpose when I started with her 17 years ago, because I was pregnant and wanted someone who'd been through childbirth herself (I was !). She's been wonderful through two deliveries, my hyst, breast cancer and various other more "routine" issues. However, her partner, who's male, is equally wonderful - I had the opportunity to meet him when I was having complications after my hyst. I would recommend either of them equally.

Nowadays (I'm four years post hyst), I see four DRs pretty regularly -- my GYN, an Internist (who is generally my primary), a general surgeon (who has done a wonderful job of removing some *bad stuff* as well as helping me with decisions about follow-on treatment) and an oncologist. Three out of the four of them are women; one is male. I respect and appreciate all of them equally.

A complete physical means different things at different points in your life. The last time I had one, it included all the basic cursory stuff - height, weight, body fat %, listening to the heart & lungs, looking in eyes, ears, nose & throat, allover inspection of the skin, breast exam (would have also included a pap but my GYN had just done one), as well as blood work (hormones, minerals, lipids, liver function, kidney function), urinalysis and EKG. And, the most important part, an hour long discussion where she asked me a million questions about my personal and family history, and HRT's as well as supplements (she keeps a list of what I'm taking on her computer). My DR is exceptionally thorough, especially since I've had a number of health problems in recent years, so I imagine the "average" physical might not be quite so detailed or time consuming (I was there 3 hours!).

I hope this helps.
s,
-Linda

In addition to what has already been mentioned, have you had a bone density scan done yet? I think that test is one that is important to have done, too. I had my first done shortly after my surgery, and then one 2 years later. My doctor wants me to have one done every two years. I have osteopenia which was found at the time of the first scan.

My doctor is male and is far more caring than three women doctors I have asked about hormones. I wouldn't say one sex is any better than the other. It has more to do with their training and knowledge.

s