Anonymous wrote:We've been seeing the same pediatrician since my son was born. When he was 12 or 13 he mentioned that he was kinda embarrassed to be having a woman see his boy parts, to which I reminded him that she's been seeing his boy parts for so long that she's literally who did his circumcision as a baby. That shut him up LOL

Our pediatrician pointed out the same fact to my son

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My boys at 12 felt uncomfortable having a female doctor checking the private parts. We changed to a male doctor.

Same here. My son, um, rose to attention, the last time a female doctor checked his privates and was so embarrassed that he refused to go back to the doctor unless it was a man. A couple years later he realized it wasn't a big deal and decided to switch back, but those early puberty years are rough.

You can “rise to attention” whether it’s a man or woman. It’s not about being attracted to the doctor, it’s about the, oh God, I’m going to embarrass myself here, it’s about the nervousness and attention and exposure and all that stuff. And yes, it can still happen. But you just try to ignore it and don’t make stupid comments, and they don’t say anything, at least while I’m there.

—Totally straight (hetero) dad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've been seeing the same pediatrician since my son was born. When he was 12 or 13 he mentioned that he was kinda embarrassed to be having a woman see his boy parts, to which I reminded him that she's been seeing his boy parts for so long that she's literally who did his circumcision as a baby. That shut him up LOL

Would you have responded that way if it was your daughter who mentioned being uncomfortable having a male doctor? I feel like the bottom line with this issue, boy or girl, is to let your kids decide whether they prefer a male or female doctor and not to downplay any discomfort they express. If my daughter said to me she was uncomfortable with a male doctor checking her private area my response wouldn’t be well he’s been seeing them since you were a baby so deal.

Honestly, no, I probably wouldn't. Sorry if that makes me sexist or whatever, but a girl being genuinely uncomfortable with a male doctor is different then a boy thinking it's a little awkward that a woman's the one making him turn his head and cough.

Anonymous wrote:We've been seeing the same pediatrician since my son was born. When he was 12 or 13 he mentioned that he was kinda embarrassed to be having a woman see his boy parts, to which I reminded him that she's been seeing his boy parts for so long that she's literally who did his circumcision as a baby. That shut him up LOL

Would you have responded that way if it was your daughter who mentioned being uncomfortable having a male doctor? I feel like the bottom line with this issue, boy or girl, is to let your kids decide whether they prefer a male or female doctor and not to downplay any discomfort they express. If my daughter said to me she was uncomfortable with a male doctor checking her private area my response wouldn’t be well he’s been seeing them since you were a baby so deal.

We've been seeing the same pediatrician since my son was born. When he was 12 or 13 he mentioned that he was kinda embarrassed to be having a woman see his boy parts, to which I reminded him that she's been seeing his boy parts for so long that she's literally who did his circumcision as a baby. That shut him up LOL

Mother of two teen boys here with female pediatrician.

I asked both if they wanted to switch and they both (separately) looked at me like I was crazy and asked why?

We didn't switch but I was asked to step out of the room when they became teens. Only doctor and nurse allowed. Not mom. lol.

I'm switching my oldest to my practice this coming year as he's turning 18.

My kids happen to have an amazing male pediatrician and I have had the opposite thought. My daughter, who is only 8 now, loves him. Zero plans to switch. I have an older son and yes it's been nice he's a guy. But not necessary.

I grew up with a beloved male pediatrician and never thought twice about it. I also personally never cared about a GYN/OB being a man or a woman, but some people do obviously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My boys at 12 felt uncomfortable having a female doctor checking the private parts. We changed to a male doctor.

Same here. My son, um, rose to attention, the last time a female doctor checked his privates and was so embarrassed that he refused to go back to the doctor unless it was a man. A couple years later he realized it wasn't a big deal and decided to switch back, but those early puberty years are rough.

Oh god that poor kid

To the pp with the son,

Please tell him not to worry about it at all; you could remind him the doctor is a professional, and she has seen this same situation countless times; probably daily. Tell him that as a professional, she isn’t going to tell anyone. Plus, for boys it’s not controllable and completely normal for that to happen without warning. And that all doctors know this and they do not give it a second thought.

She did say that a couple years later he realized it was nothing to be embarrassed about and switched back to the female doctor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are parents still require to be in the room when the boy turns 16? 17?

I personally think our female doctor is aware or notices any big changes in our son as he grows. Not just physical changes but the behavioral changes that parents might not pick up on. She mentions things we have questions about. Yes, they do take notes on what our discussions are about but she seem to mention things that I never thought she would bring up again. Perhaps she is just a good note taker.

It's not required. My 17 year old just had his annually check-up last month. I was there for most of the appointment and then she asked me to step out for the last part. She asked him about sex and drugs and probably some other stuff.

I think every practice has slightly different rules. At ours, I step out for her to have a private conversation with him after the exam, but for the actual physical exam itself (boy bits included) they require a chaperone, and he prefers it to be be me in the room instead of a nurse. The first year the choice was offered, he picked the nurse, but she was quote "so hot" and it made it more embarrassing than if I had just stayed, so from that point on, it's always been me.

My 15 year old has never expressed any problems with his female pediatrician.

Anonymous wrote:Are parents still require to be in the room when the boy turns 16? 17?

I personally think our female doctor is aware or notices any big changes in our son as he grows. Not just physical changes but the behavioral changes that parents might not pick up on. She mentions things we have questions about. Yes, they do take notes on what our discussions are about but she seem to mention things that I never thought she would bring up again. Perhaps she is just a good note taker.

It's not required. My 17 year old just had his annually check-up last month. I was there for most of the appointment and then she asked me to step out for the last part. She asked him about sex and drugs and probably some other stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just asked my son who's 14 and still sees a woman (and she's thorough) if it bothered him and he said "I'd rather have a girl feeling my junk than a guy" so take that as you will.

Do boys regularly get their "junk" felt at the pediatrician? That's never happened for my daughter.

That’s because she doesn’t have junk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My boys at 12 felt uncomfortable having a female doctor checking the private parts. We changed to a male doctor.

Same here. My son, um, rose to attention, the last time a female doctor checked his privates and was so embarrassed that he refused to go back to the doctor unless it was a man. A couple years later he realized it wasn't a big deal and decided to switch back, but those early puberty years are rough.

Oh god that poor kid

To the pp with the son,

Please tell him not to worry about it at all; you could remind him the doctor is a professional, and she has seen this same situation countless times; probably daily. Tell him that as a professional, she isn’t going to tell anyone. Plus, for boys it’s not controllable and completely normal for that to happen without warning. And that all doctors know this and they do not give it a second thought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My boys at 12 felt uncomfortable having a female doctor checking the private parts. We changed to a male doctor.

Same here. My son, um, rose to attention, the last time a female doctor checked his privates and was so embarrassed that he refused to go back to the doctor unless it was a man. A couple years later he realized it wasn't a big deal and decided to switch back, but those early puberty years are rough.

Oh god that poor kid

I don't think this would be a problem. Certainly if they get to puberty age and say they're uncomfortable, would switch to a male doc, but pediatricians are likely not going to be doing much with private areas except a quick cursory check for normal development/anatomy. By the time they need to check sexual health stuff they'd probably be at an adult GP. Or more likely the campus health clinic in college!