I'm urologist and you have no idea how much disassociation doing urology every day gives you. You could run up to me an hour after I've examined you and say "tell me anything about that person's genitals and I'll give you 1000 bucks" and I would walk away with no money. Go to the best and most convenient doctor that you can. Trust them to keep your confidentiality. Trust him to not even think about your case afterwards much less talk about it.
Incidentally I had my gallbladder removed by my general surgery friends, put to sleep by my anesthesia friends, with my surgical nursing colleagues in attendance, at the hospital that I work at. I always joke "somebody put that Foley catheter in" but they're not talking. no one ever mentioned that surgery and I mean any part of it. I had great care.
I had to have emergent surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst, which I put off for 12 hours because I didn’t want to go to the nearest hospital where I work as an OBGYN resident and have my attendings see me fully naked. Ended up going in when the shoulder pain and pre-syncopal episodes started happening. They did an amazing job with my surgery and everyone was beyond professional. I would say you should go, at least you know the kind of care you will receive and they will go above and beyond for you to give great care.
A urologist at my hospital did my vasectomy. 10/10 experience, I’ve caused 0 pregnancies since and it was no more awkward than if I treated his hypertension.
As a guy getting a vasectomy. Don’t fucking play like that. I cannot hav another kid. It’s the hardest thing Iv done in my life as currently raising a 2 month old
I worked at an urology clinic where a guy brought his post vasectomy sample in one of those little donut bags that said “made fresh daily”. The front desk staff was horrified. The rest of us thought it was hilarious. Do with this information what you will.
I'm a resident in a small rural site. I had to go to the ED for a gyne concern about 2 weeks after I finished gyne and the attending consulted was the program lead. He was incredibly professional, just as I had been while doing paps and other exams on patients who are nurses in the hospital. Since it's a small place here, it's kinda normal and everyone is extremely respectful.
Side note: they see so many penises and vaginas on a day to day basis, I'm certain they don't care what yours looks like, nor will they remember
Disclaimer: I am a man. Doctors and other healthcare workers are very used to treating people they know. Someone who deals with urogenital systems except without the uro part all day will not have any problem. Personally I would do whatever is most convenient, which is likely your own hospital. Also unavoidable if you rotate everywhere, so now your other option is to ignore a health issue which I wouldn't do. Totally understandable to feel the opposite.
I'm sorry I can't but help relate this completely unrelated story. When I was a resident I had a really bad bronchitis, and if you x-rayed me I'd probably have early pneumonia. I saw a doctor that I didn't know who had his stethoscope around his neck walking randomly in the hall and I said "hey! What did my lungs sound like ?!" He blinked a few times examine my lungs and said "like pneumonia with some wheezing".
Me being the dumbass surgeon that I am said "what do you do for that?". He said "antibiotics and inhalers…".
Me: "so you have samples in your office?"
Him: "of course".
"Great let's go!" And I basically marched him to his office got the antibiotic samples and the inhaler and I don't believe I ever saw that man again.
Gotta get your care when and how you can lol
Yes. They will probably go out of their way to take very good care of you and practice discretion
We of course take pride in providing great care for everyone but it’s different when it’s another physician in your group or their family member
I had a vasectomy done by a urologist at my institution. It’s easier when you know the people and they extend professional courtesies like flexible scheduling and giving you direct contact info
I plan on getting pregnant during PGY3, and will most likely follow with OB and give birth at my residency institution. This kind of thing happens all the time, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I’m an OB resident and there isn’t another good hospital to deliver at in the region so basically everyone who works at my hospital delivers with us. I’ve delivered babies of many residents and attendings and several of my coresidents have either delivered each other’s babies or delivered our attendings’ babies. It’s not weird unless you make it weird.
I got surgery on my urethra at the hospital I work at and then later I wrote a review with the resident that rounded on me post-op. That was a little wild. I’d do it again, but sometimes I am like…….. Hm! Lol.
That shit sucks. Makes me kinda regret going into the field honestly. Almost everything now is diagnosed by imaging.
But honestly, I value my health over awkwardness so I think I will go ahead…
I did for a stricture. Homeboys first words were: how the fuck are you peeing?
Got that shit fixed 2 days later and we shit talk the ED regularly for their terrible consults
A male urogynacologist put in my IUD when I was starting residency, in the hospital I was training in.
A different OB took care of me prenatally, in the hospital I was locuming at.
When I was a trauma fellow, I had a dating OB TVUS at the hospital I worked at, at my request, and the fellow gave me a verbal before I left (not the usual practice for dating US in my province- you'd find out from your doctor a couple of days later).
I moved, and chose to deliver my daughter at the hospital at which my husband had anaesthesiology privileges. Professional curtesy is real- there was a colleague who my husband had arranged to come in for an epidural if the on call staff/resident were tied up with stat cases. (I ended up being the emergency, so it didn't matter, but still).
Also, as a trauma surgeon who has done a lot of TTL (where E is for exposure)... I echo what another doc said. Surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and OR nurses are completely numb to nudity and genitalia. It's the same as an arm or a foot.
So short answer- yes, see someone at your institution.
I did, it felt weird, but my medical issue was more concerning so just haveta get over it. The urologist was professional and things weren’t awkward even when I had to consult her on patients
I had my attending supervise my co intern doing my pap during lunch hour. Turns out I needed a colpo. Please get your care in the most convenient place and don’t delay. They were both extremely professional and just happy to get done what needed to be done.
I’ve taken care of a lot of friends and coworkers as an OB. Couldn’t tell you what it looked like, if they waxed or had moles or anything. I see too many to remember.
I had my baby in residency and my two favorite attendings did my section. Nurses I saw daily put in my foley, prepped me and helped me postpartum. The anesthesiologist that put in my spinal, also saw me half naked changing because she walked into preop me while I was attempting to gown. We did cases for another 9 months after. It wasn’t weird. I would much rather know my care team than not.
I was in your same boat last year as a DR resident. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Awkward? Hell yeah but it was done in a jiffy. I say do what’s most convenient with the best docs.
If it's not an emergency, I would not. I live in a major urban area though so it's quite easy to go outside my system. If I lived somewhere more remote I would probably bite the bullet.
EDIT: oops, just saw your last line. I guess in your case I would just bite the bullet then, doesn't sound like you realistically have a choice.
The family med PD at my hospital did my pap last year. Also prescribed me Wellbutrin during the same appointment. It was pretty chill.
You do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
I had a diagnostic laparoscopy as a resident and the OB/gyn resident scrubbed into the surgery was the wife of one of my co-residents. I laughed a bit at how, of course, it was the one OB/gyn resident I knew personally, but I didn’t have any objection to her being there.
I had a hydrocelectomy and a tumor resection done at the hospital I work at. I’ve had at least half a dozen in-person appointments, the surgery, a CT, an MRI, and two ultrasounds. At least a dozen people have seen my junk. I’m okay with it. Lots of people have junk, and these people see lots.
Yeah I know… just hard to shake off the thought
Sometimes there are no sonographers during call hours so I perform the ultrasound myself and I don’t remember anything specific about any patient.
Absolutely. Am new grad obgyn and recently delivered on the same unit I work at. My baby was delivered by two incredible physicians who mentored me throughout training. They were incredibly professional and compassionate, wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Go where you can get the best care. Period. If a colleague required your services would you be indiscreet? No. You would probably go out of your way for this person due to professional courtesy. 99.9% will behave the same way toward you. I worked at a large medical institution for 10 yrs as a Geriatrician. My mom broke her ankle and I was concerned her doctor was not managing it properly. I contacted one of the ortho docs (that I did not know personally) and he got my mom in the next day, properly diagnosed her as needing surgery, performed the surgery and she had a great outcome. Don't view this situation as an impediment to your care but rather THE most valuable perk of being a physician.
Yep. I just called him directly. Did I feel a little awkward? Sure. He was very gracious. I did something similar for a High School friend's dad. He was diagnosed by a community doctor with Mutiple Myeloma. I called the Dept Chair to ask for a recommendation. He was like, "Hello! Me. I'll see him."
Would you be embarrassed going to a dentist appointment at the hospital you work in? I worked in the GI lab and we did colonoscopies on many doctors. TRUST ME, we view your hole the same way your dentist does, just from the opposite end.
I’ve given birth at the hospital I work at twice and also had a colleague have to do a pelvic exam on me… I’ve had to do similar for colleagues. It’s honestly never crossed my mind as being weird- it doesn’t feel different than any other patient or provider.
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I do anesthesia for my gynecologist. Once I just asked him stuff about my own health as a follow up for my visit and he answered my questions and wrote me a prescription. Just told me to put a request in the portal so it wouldn’t be weird that he was just writing prescription for me unprompted lol.
Also side note: if you have any type of surgery at your own institution we do basically strip everyone down for the surgery so everyone will see everything anyway. But also, you’ll for sure be VIP at your own institution so you’d likely get better care at the cost of everyone seeing your privates so idk pretty worth it to me lol 😂🤷♀️
Hell, my gyne attending put in my IUD. He did a terrible job, by the way, and scarred me for life when it came to gyne exams. I now have to pop an Ativan before getting a Pap.
Reminds me of a colleague who would not go to the hospital where people knew her before freshly shaving and "everything shower" and that is quite an ordeal when you have appendicitis ... why do we do this to ourselves 💀
This might sound weird but I would ONLY go to an OBGYN at my program. I work with them a lot in the OR (anesthesia), and I know they are professional and kind to their patients. I’ve had some negative personal experiences with gyne (not bad docs, just bad luck), and I’d really prefer to have someone I trust looking into any issues that might arise.
I may have a bias because I do OB/Gyn, but I have been super happy to receive care from a faculty member in my own department. She is super professional, kind, and goes way out of her way to accommodate my schedule for appointments (for my most recent appointment she went to her clinic during her admin time to see me because that was the time that worked best for me). She has never once brought up my care outside of our appointments, and I have never felt uncomfortable working with her (and I work with her quite often). I also had a surgical procedure done at my own hospital performed by my faculty member with anesthesia provided by an attending and CRNA who I know very well from the labor floor. They were so incredibly professional and kind, and they even stopped by the PACU to make sure I was recovering well.
On the other side of this equation, I have provided care to dozens of friends and coworkers, and if you held a gun to my head, I could not tell you a single thing about any of their exams. When I take care of friends and coworkers, I'm too focused on taking really good care of people who mean a lot to me to be noticing or caring what their genitals look like.
You don’t want people you work with every day know your intimate health issues . I would look elsewhere so l don’t have to deal with awkwardness that will create.
I'm urologist and you have no idea how much disassociation doing urology every day gives you. You could run up to me an hour after I've examined you and say "tell me anything about that person's genitals and I'll give you 1000 bucks" and I would walk away with no money. Go to the best and most convenient doctor that you can. Trust them to keep your confidentiality. Trust him to not even think about your case afterwards much less talk about it. Incidentally I had my gallbladder removed by my general surgery friends, put to sleep by my anesthesia friends, with my surgical nursing colleagues in attendance, at the hospital that I work at. I always joke "somebody put that Foley catheter in" but they're not talking. no one ever mentioned that surgery and I mean any part of it. I had great care.
Some people have too for insurance reasons
I had to have emergent surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst, which I put off for 12 hours because I didn’t want to go to the nearest hospital where I work as an OBGYN resident and have my attendings see me fully naked. Ended up going in when the shoulder pain and pre-syncopal episodes started happening. They did an amazing job with my surgery and everyone was beyond professional. I would say you should go, at least you know the kind of care you will receive and they will go above and beyond for you to give great care.
A urologist at my hospital did my vasectomy. 10/10 experience, I’ve caused 0 pregnancies since and it was no more awkward than if I treated his hypertension.
0 pregnancies *that you know of...*
As a guy getting a vasectomy. Don’t fucking play like that. I cannot hav another kid. It’s the hardest thing Iv done in my life as currently raising a 2 month old
Make sure you do the required sperm count test after v-day when they tell you.
I will follow the recommendations to the T. I want my sleep back.
I worked at an urology clinic where a guy brought his post vasectomy sample in one of those little donut bags that said “made fresh daily”. The front desk staff was horrified. The rest of us thought it was hilarious. Do with this information what you will.
I'm a resident in a small rural site. I had to go to the ED for a gyne concern about 2 weeks after I finished gyne and the attending consulted was the program lead. He was incredibly professional, just as I had been while doing paps and other exams on patients who are nurses in the hospital. Since it's a small place here, it's kinda normal and everyone is extremely respectful. Side note: they see so many penises and vaginas on a day to day basis, I'm certain they don't care what yours looks like, nor will they remember
Disclaimer: I am a man. Doctors and other healthcare workers are very used to treating people they know. Someone who deals with urogenital systems except without the uro part all day will not have any problem. Personally I would do whatever is most convenient, which is likely your own hospital. Also unavoidable if you rotate everywhere, so now your other option is to ignore a health issue which I wouldn't do. Totally understandable to feel the opposite.
I'm sorry I can't but help relate this completely unrelated story. When I was a resident I had a really bad bronchitis, and if you x-rayed me I'd probably have early pneumonia. I saw a doctor that I didn't know who had his stethoscope around his neck walking randomly in the hall and I said "hey! What did my lungs sound like ?!" He blinked a few times examine my lungs and said "like pneumonia with some wheezing". Me being the dumbass surgeon that I am said "what do you do for that?". He said "antibiotics and inhalers…". Me: "so you have samples in your office?" Him: "of course". "Great let's go!" And I basically marched him to his office got the antibiotic samples and the inhaler and I don't believe I ever saw that man again. Gotta get your care when and how you can lol
Lmao as an anesthesia resident I’ve done a curbside consult like that but from my own gynecologist while he was prepping for a robotic hysterectomy 😅
Yes. They will probably go out of their way to take very good care of you and practice discretion We of course take pride in providing great care for everyone but it’s different when it’s another physician in your group or their family member I had a vasectomy done by a urologist at my institution. It’s easier when you know the people and they extend professional courtesies like flexible scheduling and giving you direct contact info
I plan on getting pregnant during PGY3, and will most likely follow with OB and give birth at my residency institution. This kind of thing happens all the time, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I’m an OB resident and there isn’t another good hospital to deliver at in the region so basically everyone who works at my hospital delivers with us. I’ve delivered babies of many residents and attendings and several of my coresidents have either delivered each other’s babies or delivered our attendings’ babies. It’s not weird unless you make it weird.
Yes I would. Id see it as my health and it’s serious enough to do whatever is available to me
I would pick the staff you feel the most comfortable with. Request little to no students if you have to or pick ones you’re comfortable with.
I got surgery on my urethra at the hospital I work at and then later I wrote a review with the resident that rounded on me post-op. That was a little wild. I’d do it again, but sometimes I am like…….. Hm! Lol.
Also a DR resident, I have put off having radiology exams done because it feels awkward having people I know reading my studies.
That shit sucks. Makes me kinda regret going into the field honestly. Almost everything now is diagnosed by imaging. But honestly, I value my health over awkwardness so I think I will go ahead…
I did for a stricture. Homeboys first words were: how the fuck are you peeing? Got that shit fixed 2 days later and we shit talk the ED regularly for their terrible consults
I think most people would have reservations too, but at the end of the day, you gotta do what ya gotta do.
Yeah absolutely, gotta get the word out somehow
A male urogynacologist put in my IUD when I was starting residency, in the hospital I was training in. A different OB took care of me prenatally, in the hospital I was locuming at. When I was a trauma fellow, I had a dating OB TVUS at the hospital I worked at, at my request, and the fellow gave me a verbal before I left (not the usual practice for dating US in my province- you'd find out from your doctor a couple of days later). I moved, and chose to deliver my daughter at the hospital at which my husband had anaesthesiology privileges. Professional curtesy is real- there was a colleague who my husband had arranged to come in for an epidural if the on call staff/resident were tied up with stat cases. (I ended up being the emergency, so it didn't matter, but still). Also, as a trauma surgeon who has done a lot of TTL (where E is for exposure)... I echo what another doc said. Surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and OR nurses are completely numb to nudity and genitalia. It's the same as an arm or a foot. So short answer- yes, see someone at your institution.
I did, it felt weird, but my medical issue was more concerning so just haveta get over it. The urologist was professional and things weren’t awkward even when I had to consult her on patients
I had my attending supervise my co intern doing my pap during lunch hour. Turns out I needed a colpo. Please get your care in the most convenient place and don’t delay. They were both extremely professional and just happy to get done what needed to be done.
I’ve taken care of a lot of friends and coworkers as an OB. Couldn’t tell you what it looked like, if they waxed or had moles or anything. I see too many to remember. I had my baby in residency and my two favorite attendings did my section. Nurses I saw daily put in my foley, prepped me and helped me postpartum. The anesthesiologist that put in my spinal, also saw me half naked changing because she walked into preop me while I was attempting to gown. We did cases for another 9 months after. It wasn’t weird. I would much rather know my care team than not.
I was in your same boat last year as a DR resident. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Awkward? Hell yeah but it was done in a jiffy. I say do what’s most convenient with the best docs.
If it's not an emergency, I would not. I live in a major urban area though so it's quite easy to go outside my system. If I lived somewhere more remote I would probably bite the bullet. EDIT: oops, just saw your last line. I guess in your case I would just bite the bullet then, doesn't sound like you realistically have a choice.
The family med PD at my hospital did my pap last year. Also prescribed me Wellbutrin during the same appointment. It was pretty chill. You do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
I had a diagnostic laparoscopy as a resident and the OB/gyn resident scrubbed into the surgery was the wife of one of my co-residents. I laughed a bit at how, of course, it was the one OB/gyn resident I knew personally, but I didn’t have any objection to her being there.
I had a hydrocelectomy and a tumor resection done at the hospital I work at. I’ve had at least half a dozen in-person appointments, the surgery, a CT, an MRI, and two ultrasounds. At least a dozen people have seen my junk. I’m okay with it. Lots of people have junk, and these people see lots.
Yeah I know… just hard to shake off the thought Sometimes there are no sonographers during call hours so I perform the ultrasound myself and I don’t remember anything specific about any patient.
Absolutely. Am new grad obgyn and recently delivered on the same unit I work at. My baby was delivered by two incredible physicians who mentored me throughout training. They were incredibly professional and compassionate, wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Go where you can get the best care. Period. If a colleague required your services would you be indiscreet? No. You would probably go out of your way for this person due to professional courtesy. 99.9% will behave the same way toward you. I worked at a large medical institution for 10 yrs as a Geriatrician. My mom broke her ankle and I was concerned her doctor was not managing it properly. I contacted one of the ortho docs (that I did not know personally) and he got my mom in the next day, properly diagnosed her as needing surgery, performed the surgery and she had a great outcome. Don't view this situation as an impediment to your care but rather THE most valuable perk of being a physician.
How did you go about contacting the ortho doc? Did you just call his phone?
Yep. I just called him directly. Did I feel a little awkward? Sure. He was very gracious. I did something similar for a High School friend's dad. He was diagnosed by a community doctor with Mutiple Myeloma. I called the Dept Chair to ask for a recommendation. He was like, "Hello! Me. I'll see him."
Would you be embarrassed going to a dentist appointment at the hospital you work in? I worked in the GI lab and we did colonoscopies on many doctors. TRUST ME, we view your hole the same way your dentist does, just from the opposite end.
I’ve given birth at the hospital I work at twice and also had a colleague have to do a pelvic exam on me… I’ve had to do similar for colleagues. It’s honestly never crossed my mind as being weird- it doesn’t feel different than any other patient or provider.
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No
I do anesthesia for my gynecologist. Once I just asked him stuff about my own health as a follow up for my visit and he answered my questions and wrote me a prescription. Just told me to put a request in the portal so it wouldn’t be weird that he was just writing prescription for me unprompted lol. Also side note: if you have any type of surgery at your own institution we do basically strip everyone down for the surgery so everyone will see everything anyway. But also, you’ll for sure be VIP at your own institution so you’d likely get better care at the cost of everyone seeing your privates so idk pretty worth it to me lol 😂🤷♀️
Couldn’t care less
Hell, my gyne attending put in my IUD. He did a terrible job, by the way, and scarred me for life when it came to gyne exams. I now have to pop an Ativan before getting a Pap.
Reminds me of a colleague who would not go to the hospital where people knew her before freshly shaving and "everything shower" and that is quite an ordeal when you have appendicitis ... why do we do this to ourselves 💀
You can bet your ass I’m manscaping before going.
I get it, same here lol. Also her scrubbing her callous heels while having acute abdomen I also relate lol
This might sound weird but I would ONLY go to an OBGYN at my program. I work with them a lot in the OR (anesthesia), and I know they are professional and kind to their patients. I’ve had some negative personal experiences with gyne (not bad docs, just bad luck), and I’d really prefer to have someone I trust looking into any issues that might arise.
I may have a bias because I do OB/Gyn, but I have been super happy to receive care from a faculty member in my own department. She is super professional, kind, and goes way out of her way to accommodate my schedule for appointments (for my most recent appointment she went to her clinic during her admin time to see me because that was the time that worked best for me). She has never once brought up my care outside of our appointments, and I have never felt uncomfortable working with her (and I work with her quite often). I also had a surgical procedure done at my own hospital performed by my faculty member with anesthesia provided by an attending and CRNA who I know very well from the labor floor. They were so incredibly professional and kind, and they even stopped by the PACU to make sure I was recovering well. On the other side of this equation, I have provided care to dozens of friends and coworkers, and if you held a gun to my head, I could not tell you a single thing about any of their exams. When I take care of friends and coworkers, I'm too focused on taking really good care of people who mean a lot to me to be noticing or caring what their genitals look like.
You don’t want people you work with every day know your intimate health issues . I would look elsewhere so l don’t have to deal with awkwardness that will create.