We don't in the UK, really.  If there is a female nurse on, there is a 
female nurse on, with hospital consultants - but most consultants work 
with a nurse practitioner, regardless of speciality.  But I've had 
vaginal exams with only the male practitioner in the room.

Likewise, I've have male hands on my breasts, with no female in 
attendance.  GPs regularly do cervical smears and breast exams for their 
female patients.  GPs also do penis and testicle examinations.  Gender 
of GP isn't an issue.

You can request a female practitioner, if you want one, or a male one if 
you are male, but in times of need/emergency, you get who is on duty.  I 
trusted my two male GP's at my last surgery, far more than the female 
one!  (She was one of those "I've breastfed and I know everything as I'm 
also a doctor." ones.  In contrast, the two male GPs, fathers both, 
supported my breastfeeding far more than the female one did.)

Morgan Gallagher

Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC wrote:
> In the US, male OB/gyn's do indeed have chaperones in the room when 
> they do a vaginal exam, either a nurse or a medical assistant (someone 
> trained to take blood pressure and temperature, maybe draw blood, and 
> do paperwork around the office).
>

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome