Two Situations In Which You Should Choose A Female Doctor
Here are two situations in which, whilst visiting a health clinic, you should request that you be treated by a female doctor.
You are from a culture or follow a religion in which receiving treatment from a doctor of the opposite sex is frowned upon
If you are from a culture or if you follow a religion in which it is frowned upon for a person to receive medical treatments from a doctor of the opposite sex, and you prefer to abide by this cultural norm or religious rule, then it is perfectly reasonable to ask for the doctor who examines or provides you with treatment at the clinic to be female. Unless you require emergency treatment and there is no other doctor available but a male one, the clinic's staff will almost certainly be able to accommodate you.
Making this request will not inconvenience the staff (although, depending on the female doctor's availability, it may result in you having to wait slightly longer to be treated) and is something you should feel comfortable doing, without feeling as though you must give a detailed explanation of your cultural background or religion. By asking for a female doctor in this situation, you won't have to experience any emotional turmoil about getting medical help when you need it or have to be worried about dealing with the disapproval of those in your life who are also from this culture or who follow this religion.
You are still affected by being assaulted by a man in the past
If you have been assaulted by a man in the past, and this experience is something that still affects you today, you should ensure that the clinic you attend provides you with a female doctor. If you don't, you may find the process of undergoing any physical examination either distressing or traumatising, even if the male doctor who performs the examination is accompanied by a chaperone, is completely professional and makes every effort to respect your bodily autonomy. This could then result in you being too distressed by the experience to return to the clinic for further treatment, which could cause a decline in your physical health.
Conversely, if you ask for your examination and treatment to be provided by a female physician, this experience will be less likely to stir up your memories of the assault and cause you distress. This, in turn, should ensure that you feel safe and calm whilst getting the treatment you need.
For more information, contact a female doctor in your area.