Women's preferences for male or female gynaecologists

Abstract

This study examined women's preferences for referral to male or female gynaecologists. One hundred and sixty Caucasian females completed a questionnaire in which they were asked to make a choice between two equally qualified gynaecologists — one male and one female. While only 7% of the women stated preferences for a male gynaecologist, 59% preferred a female and 34% expressed no preference. When asked to write explanations for their choices, women who preferred a female gynaecologist tended to be concerned with doctors' abilities to provide sympathy and understanding. These women also emphasized the importance of personal experience of female biology. Furthermore, many of these women mentioned feeling less at ease and more embarrassed with male doctors during intimate examinations and discussions. Incontrast, women who expressed no preference were more concerned with doctors' qualifications: they emphasized the importance of doctors' professional experience. Some implications of the results are outlined.