2 years overdue on my smear, as the nurse they always give me is a ****ing butcher. Leaves me bleeding and sore for DAYS afterwards and tells me to 'man up' (seriously!
)
The only tolerable smear I ever had was done by a male doctor. But I feel a bit iffy asking for a man specifically. In my experience though, men are better at female intimate exams, maybe as they worry about hurting us because they..well dont have the equipment themselves? I have found female staff to be very 'oh its nothing, dont be silly'..possibly because THEIRS is nothing, so they assume thats universal or something?
Obviously that wont go for all male/female HCPs. Just my experience.