Physicians' gender and clinical opinions of reproductive health matters.

ABSTRACT

PIP: To determine the effect of gender on the type of reproductive health treatment offered to women in a setting where half of the physicians are female, this study reanalyzed data collected from five surveys in Finland. The surveys were originally conducted to investigate the views of physicians (74% of 500 responding) and medical students (74% of 125 responding) about menopausal hormone replacement therapy, the attitudes of medical students about prescribing hormones, obstetric practices (83% of 90 responding), and contraceptive counseling (74% of 480 responding). It was found that the number of menopausal patients was highest for female gynecologists, followed by male gynecologists, female physicians, and male physicians. Female and male gynecologists offered similar recommendations for hormone replacement therapy, but female physicians were more likely to prescribe hormones for prevention only. Results for medical students were not influenced by gender. The only significant difference in obstetric practice was that female obstetricians were three times more likely than males to induce labor for convenience. While equal numbers of female and male physicians prescribed oral contraceptives and IUDs, females were more likely to prescribe condoms, implants, and diaphragms. It is concluded that professional identification among these physicians was stronger than gender influences.