I`ve been having trouble finding a urologist who has male assistants on his team for male patients who prefer same sex assistants. Most urology practices have a female only team, despite the fact that the urologist is the primary provider of reproductive health for male patients. My PSA is steadily rising faster than what is normal indicating a possibility of prostate cancer. I have held off for more than a year in getting diagnostic treatment due to a lack of male assistive staffing in my local urology practices. I finally discovered a urology practice in a nearby town who had a male Family Nurse Practitioner on staff. I got a referral and made the appointment. I arrived at the Prostate Evaluation Center in Lady Lake, FL and discussed my situation with the Urologist. he is the most experienced doctor in the world using the Rezume procedure to help with the symptoms of BPH. He also does cancer screenings including prostate biopsies, which is looming in my future. When I informed the doctor of my abuse history and the need for an all male team, he said that he employs a mostly female team and that they would be involved in my care. I was crushed. I knew I had come to another dead end. I think he sensed this and consulted the Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The FNP said he would help in any way he could and a series of tests was scheduled using the FNP. The first was the Urodynamics test. The FNP was not familiar with this as it was mostly performed by the nurse, an LPN. She had been advised of my abuse history and stepped up to help. The day of the test, the FNP performed all the actual functions which included a straight catheterization, a second catheterization and the insertion of a rectal catheter and positioning of electrical leads in very highly sensitive areas. The LPN ran the computer for the test, being very careful to not expose me and faced away from me the whole time. I was constantly covered with a gown and a large disposable blanket. She never turned around without first asking if I was covered. At the end to the test, she left the room and the male FNP removed the catheters and leads and allowed me to dress. The LPN never once came close to exposing me and was fully supportive and caring. I have come to appreciate her professional manners and I sense her genuine respect for her patients. Even though she is only an LPN, she is truly a professional. The next test is the prostate ultrasound which will likely result in a biopsy of the prostate. The FNP is scheduled to be present for this and says he will need the LPN to handle the specimens. The most I will be exposed is my backside, which I don`t have any problem with. We will see how that goes this coming week.

- 58Flyer ( Male ) From Ocala. Florida
Date Submitted: 5/12/2019

I was recently admitted to the hospital because I had sharp abdominal pains that would not go away.

One evening while my daughter was visiting, my two nurses came in to do a survey - they said. They asked several questions, than they said due to certain problems that had occurred in their hospital, they were required to give each patient a thorough skin exam - "head to toe" they emphasized on two occasion. I got the message and said directly to them, "In other words you want to examine my entire body, including my genitals?" They said ,"Yes." I was puzzled over this procedure and questioned one of the two nurses, while the other one went across the room to talk to my daughter. I overheard their conversation and at one point, my daughter, who can be blunt like me when provoked, said very positively, "This ain't gonna happen."

I continued to talk to the other nurse, who said that the hospital had problems with patients who had open sores and rashes, and these condition had spread to other patients, and this had prompted the extreme measures. I told her that I thought the hospital administrators should try a more careful cleaning of the room rather than ask patients to submit to such indignities. At that point I was very annoyed. I realized that most patients had no intellectual or emotional defense against these nurses and had no choice really. So in my anger, I baited the one nurse. I said, " So you want me to get nude so you can examine my genitals. Well, how about his: if you get to look at mine, can I get to look at yours?" On that note, they both left the room and I heard nothing more from them.

- Don ( Male ) From Emory Hospital at Johns Creek
Date Submitted: 5/1/2018

Like millions of men, I suffer from BPH. The prescription drugs have unwanted side effects, as does most surgery. A new technique called UroLift installs permanent implants within the prostate that open the urethra. I decided I wanted this procedure. Many practitioners offering this procedure insist on general anesthesia which entails an operating room full of people and there is zero modesty associated with the lithotomy position. I found the doctor, Dr. Steve Gange, a urologist in Utah, served as the lead investigator during the trials leading to FDA approval. He’s done almost 400 procedures since 3/2011 and is now the primary instructor for the manufacturer and travels all over North America lecturing and teaching other urologists how to perform the procedure. As a result, he has participated another several hundred UroLift procedures. He was the first urologist in the world to perform the procedure under strictly local anesthesia, and he continues to offer UroLift under strict local in his Salt Lake City office. It only takes 20 minutes for the local anesthesia to take effect and ten minutes for the procedure itself. I reported to his office at 8:30 am and was back in my hotel at 9:30 AM.

I elected to fly to Salt Lake City from Maine for this procedure because of my desire to maintain my modesty and Dr Gange’s expressed willingness to accommodate my concerns. Although we had emailed about this prior to my travels, to my surprise on the day before my scheduled treatment I got a message from the office manager that Dr. Gange would be assisted by a female nurse. I contacted Dr. Gange regarding this and reminded him of my concerns his response was immediate: he arranged to have a male PA assist in the administration of anesthetic and the procedure itself. And that is what happened. In the end, Dr. Gange shared that he would be happy to accommodate requests honoring male modesty for other male patients. I was very pleased with my experience and particularly how Dr. Gange accommodated my wishes for modesty. I strongly recommend him for any male patients who are modest. It was certainly worth going all way to Utah.

For more information about UroLift see www.UroLiftDrGange.com.

- BH ( Male ) From Maine
Date Submitted: 10/13/2017

Recently my wife was admitted to one of the local Hospitals in the Pittsburgh. At that point she was is very critical condition with no hope of recovery. After she was situated in her room I talked to her nurse privately and told her that I want no male nurses or techs etc. attending to my wife.. The nurse proceeded to tell me that my wife was in a teaching hospital and that...at which point I told her again that there were to be no male nurses,and techs permitted in any part of her care.I told her to make note of it on her chart and followed up at the nurses station with my request. Nothing happened the first night but the second night while I was out of the room I heard her nurse call for assistancewith my wife when a male nurse went quickly into the room.I followed him in to see what he was doing there. He was stopped just as quickly by the nurse in the room and she told him he was not to step past the drawn curtain.He reluctantly left. Another female aide came into the room as he was left and my wife was attended by two FEMALE personnel. i have always put my wife`s privacy ahead of anything else especially when dealing with any doctor or hospital setting.Unfortunately my wife passed a few days later but at the time she was admitted I saw no need for anyone violate her privacy.

- Ed ( Female ) From Pittsburgh
Date Submitted: 8/5/2016

I stood up for my rights to require that I would not permit any males to be involved in my treatment or be present in the examination room. I also refused to allow any medical or nursing students to be involved in my care or to have access to my medical records without my specific written authorization. As a result of my assertions, I was notified by the medical director of a family practice group that I was discharged as a patient. I made my requirements for gender specific care providers and no students clear up-front when I went for the first appointment. The female PA who participated in the first appointment made note of my requirements and have no issue with them. Needless to say, when I received the certified letter advising me that they would not honor my requirements, I was surprised. I firmly believe that until medical groups and hospitals recognize that we are not patients, but paying consumers who have a right to determine who sees and touches our bodies, this type of arrogant behavior will continue.

- Kay ( Female ) From New York
Date Submitted: 5/30/2013

I had varicose vein surgery (stab phlebectomy) to remove a vein from my inner calf to half way up my inner thigh. I was getting conscious sedation, not general, but a word of warning to people who have never had conscious sedation...in addition to the sedation, they give you drugs so you don't remember anything so basically to me it's the same as having general... they can do anything they want to you against your will and you won't remember any of it. Anyway, I told the doctor and every nurse I came in contact with, that my underwear was staying on and that it was not to be removed. I also wrote it in several places on the consent forms as well. In addition, I stated that I did not want the amnesia drugs and I was to be awake during the entire prep procedure, right through the sterilization of my leg...no drugs until after the sterilization was done. This way I could personally keep an eye on them during the prep to make sure they didn't remove my underwear, insert catheters, etc or anything else. The anesthesiologist gave me some attitude but I was not budging on what I wanted. Believe me, if you budge, you will regret it (give them one inch, they will take a mile)! Once they have already sterilized the surgical site, they will be less likely to try and remove clothing unless they want to contaminate the sterilized surgical site. As a backup, I also physically cut off their access to my private area by using a lot of sports tape under my underwear so I would know if they even tried anything should I go unconscious...and I could care less what they think...it's my body and I will not allow doctors and nurses to violate it for any reason ever! For women out there who don't already know, hospitals, especially teaching hospitals like to let student doctors and nurses basically line up in operating rooms and "practice" pelvic exams on women under anesthesia WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT! I'm not making this up, google it. This has to stop!!!

- Alison ( Female ) From Nashua, NH
Date Submitted: 4/4/2011

First off, I am a healthy 23 year old male. The flu had been spreading around my work so my boss offered to send all employees to the doctors office for preventative medication. I decided that it would be a smart move and made as appointment that day and went it. I politely informed the doctor right away that I was very uncomfortable around doctors, she acted like she had never heard this before and told be she was not going to take “attitude” from me. She then told be to take off all of my clothes. I told her I was not comfortable getting naked for her and asked her why such as intrusive physical was needed for preventative flu medication. She told be she was the doctor and my work was paying for it “so what should it matter.” She stated that I needed a genital and rectal exam or I could go somewhere else. I told her no again and she left the room, expecting that I would undress with her absent. I could hear her talking with the nurses out side the door about how rude I was. When she came in again I was still dressed, and she was visibly agitated by this. She was incredibly intrusive and disrespectful, but I got my way. A prescription with clothes on. My work wasn’t to happy to hear about my experience. Do not let doctors try and intimidate you into doing things that are both unnecessary and against your wishes.

- J ( Male ) From Tucson, az
Date Submitted: 2/8/2011

Both of my children were born by cesarean. During the last one I was in with my wife while they were prepping her. (My wife had a female gyn and female Anesthesiologist) They asked me to leave the room while they gave her an enema. As I was waiting just outside I observed a male in blue scrubs start to enter into the room where my wife was. I had seen him coming in and out of other or rooms as I was standing outside my wife’s room and I noticed that he was just bringing in supplies and didn't seemed to be of any real medical value. As he started to enter into my wife’s OR room I asked him why he was entering the room and he told me that he was the surgical tech. Well, I stopped him right there and told him that I didn't want him in there. He said ok and stayed outside. A few moments later the OR nurse came out to get me and asked the Tech why he was outside. The Tech told her that at my request he was not going to enter. She just looked at me and said that's weird. I told her I didn't really care if she thought it was strange or not and I asked her if the level of care that my wife and baby were receiving would be any less if he stayed outside. She just said well, I guess not. Please do not assume that everyone who has on scrubs has to be present when these procedures are taking place. The medical community thinks so little of us that we are made to feel like they all have the right to see us and our loved ones exposed. I wonder if it was that nurse that was there having the c- section if the tech would of felt the need to be there during her enema? I think not but then again we are just the little people.

- William Ferrone ( Male ) From Laredo, Texas
Date Submitted: 8/25/2010

In this same hospital, I had a case several months earlier where I awoke from surgery to find a catheter inserted - something that I had vocally and firmly refused many times. There are no witnesses for my side of the issue and nothing in writing, so it's my word against theirs. It would be a difficult case. I had another scheduled surgery. I made an advance directive, stating, among other things, that I refuse a catheter in all instances, and I may only give my consent in writing at least 72 hours after I've been given any mind-altering drug. They argued with me, saying that "emergencies" could arise where they'd need to. I stuck to my wishes, and did not let this fear-of-death talk sway me. I wrote on the consent form, in the block, that I specifically withheld consent for urinary catheterization. My husband wrote on my leg using a "skin marker" "Do not catheterize". He then took a picture of my upper leg with the writing on it, and my wristband. Put the refusal in writing, preferably on several forms. Tell everyone who you come in contact with. Write it on your body if you will be unconscious. Have someone with you with a camera to prove this. If a procedure is done which you refused, get a picture of it. Keep the implied threat of lawsuit if you are violated in sight. It makes it less likely that they'll risk the lawsuit, and easier to make the case or prosecute if they do.

- Beth ( Female ) From Oklahoma
Date Submitted: 2/9/2010

I had a lump on my testicle and my Urologist wanted to set up an Ultrasound exam. I said that would be fine, as long as he arranged for a male Tech to do the procedure. He laughed at me and said it's no big deal and that the females do them all the time. I said either you get me a male, or I'm not getting this done. (My PCP already told me it was just a varicocele anyway, so I wasn't too worried) My Urologist called and requested a male, and sure enough I was given the test by a male Tech. You just have to stand up for your rights and be firm. Another situation: I had an appointment with a Dermatologist for a total skin exam, requiring me to undress down to underwear, and to eventually remove my underwear. I have a male Dermatologist so I don't have to worry about being humiliated. When I was waiting in the exam room, he knocked on the door and then he, a male and a female student walked in with him. he said "strip down" with all three of them standing there. I told him I didn't want an audience and he told the two students to leave. I know there are a lot of guys out there who are intimidated and afraid to say anything, but I work in the Medical field and know my rights. You have to be very vocal and very firm.

- Man Who Needed an Ultrasound Exam On Testicles ( Male ) From Central New York
Date Submitted: 12/7/2009

I needed an ultrasound on my private area so my regular doctor sent me to a local Radiology clinic and I was surprised to have a female ultrasound tech come in after I undressed and was only covered from the waist down by a piece of paper. She announced she would be conducting the exam and to lay down, pull my shirt up and remove the piece of paper. I was flabbergasted. I asked if a male tech could do the exam and she said only women worked in that clinic. I politely asked her to leave the room and after a short argument she left and I got dressed. As I left I saw her standing by the receptionist and another woman at the front desk and when one of them called me by name I reluctantly went back to talk to them. She asked me what was wrong and I asked her "what do you think?" As usual they all acted surprised when I told them I'm not comfortable with a woman doing something like that to me. The third woman (supervisor?) told me that a male comes in from some other clinic and I could come in and he could give me the exam. I finally agreed and a week and a half later I went in and a young male technologist gave me the exam. He also seemed shocked that I didn't want a woman to do it and I got some mean stares from several of the women there. I will certainly never go back to that unethical clinic again but at least I got an ultrasound out of the way (negative) without compromising my morals. How can they not understand how many of us feel? I think they know perfectly well what the problem is but try to make us feel like we are crazy for thinking that way so they can have their way with us. Pretty disgusting.

- Man Who Didn't want a Female Ultrasound Tech ( Male ) From Western U.S.
Date Submitted: 7/24/2009

I do everything with in my power to secure for me and my wife there are no boundary crossings in regards to medical exams. We will see a doctor of the opposite sex for flu/virus type things, but are always cautious of any sights or touches that would violate our intimacy with each other. When I had to have a colonoscopy last year, I talked to the doctor weeks before the procedure and told him under NO circumstances would a female be permitted in the room. He assured me that his assistant and the anesthesiologist were both males. If he could not have given me that assurance I would NOT have had the procedure. Everything went well except in recovery a female assistant wanted to put a tube up my rectum to remove any trapped air from the procedure. I firmly, but politely told her that she could not do it but a male assistant could. Which they accommodated for me! I share this past story to encourage others to let the medical people you deal with know what you will and will not permit.

- Man Who Had Colonoscopy ( Male ) From USA
Date Submitted: 6/12/2009

I had a wrist reconstruction surgery because I broke my wrist in 27 pieces. Before they put me to sleep, I told the doctors and nurses that my pants were not coming off and I made a notch in my belt so I would know if they did anything to me. When I woke up from the surgery, it was still in place. I was firm with them and I got my wish. I had my shirt off.

- Hector ( Male ) From Guatemala
Date Submitted: 5/19/2009

When I was about 14 or 15 years, I had to go to the doctor because I was sick with the flu or something. A Physician's Assistant came in the room and handed me a gown to put on and left the room. I refused to put on the gown. My grandma didn't like my stubborness. I didn't see the point because he could easily listen to my heart and lungs through my shirt. He came back in and just listened to my heart through my regular shirt. I felt like the gown was a little too immodest.

- A Young Woman ( Female ) From North Carolina
Date Submitted: 5/26/2009