How Gender Bias Affects Specialty Choices in Medicine

Why Some Patients Prefer Female Doctors in Certain Specialties (and Males in Others): What’s Really Going On?

Ever had a patient walk in, glance at you, and say, “Oh! I thought you were a woman”? Or, worse, ask if they can switch to someone else—based on your gender? Welcome to the not-so-secret world of patient gender preferences, a subtle but powerful force shaping clinical interactions more often than we talk about. For many doctors, especially during training, this is a reality check that feels awkward, unjustified, and sometimes even a little funny in retrospect.

But let’s be honest—patients are not always driven by conscious bias. Sometimes it's cultural, sometimes it’s emotional comfort, sometimes it’s deeply personal. And sometimes…well, it's just vibes. Let’s dissect this phenomenon specialty by specialty and explore what’s going on behind those preferences. Because understanding it can help us be better doctors, even when it feels a bit like gender roulette.

1. Gynecology and Obstetrics: The Female Fortress?
This one’s almost expected. Many female patients prefer female OB-GYNs. Why?

• Comfort with intimate exams: There’s a level of perceived understanding and reduced embarrassment.
  
  
• Shared lived experience: Patients often feel a female doctor might better understand menstrual pain, pregnancy struggles, or even menopause.
  
  
• Cultural/religious norms: In many communities, having a male doctor perform a pelvic exam feels like crossing a boundary.
  

But male OB-GYNs? They still exist—and many are highly respected. The key difference lies in how they approach care. Male doctors in this specialty often need to work harder to gain trust, and those who excel tend to display high emotional intelligence and impeccable communication skills.

Real talk: Some women say they prefer male OB-GYNs because they’re “gentler.” Interpret that how you will—but it shows assumptions cut both ways.

2. Pediatrics: The Nurturing Factor
Female pediatricians tend to be the majority in many healthcare systems, and they are often preferred by parents for young children. Why?

• Perception of nurturing and gentleness.
  
  
• Ease of communication with mothers (who often accompany the child).
  
  
• Association of pediatric care with maternal-like traits.
  

That said, male pediatricians—especially the kind who can transform a reflex hammer into a toy—can absolutely win hearts. It’s less about gender and more about warmth, playfulness, and ability to connect at a child’s level. But culturally, when someone says, “He’s a pediatrician,” many still raise an eyebrow as if expecting the role to default female.

3. Surgery: The Last Male Stronghold?
Now flip the script.

Many patients—yes, including female patients—tend to prefer male surgeons. Even now. Why?

• Perceived strength, precision, and “decisiveness.”
  
  
• Societal biases about men being better in “high-pressure” or “technical” roles.
  
  
• Historical dominance: Patients are more used to seeing male surgeons, so it feels familiar.
  

But this is changing fast. Female surgeons are busting myths left and right. Studies have even shown that patient outcomes under female surgeons can be equal or better in some cases. Yet the bias lingers. Ever heard a patient say to a female surgeon, “Are you sure you’re the one doing the operation?” Cringe.

4. Psychiatry: The Listener Stereotype
Psychiatry is one of those fields where gender plays to communication stereotypes.

• Female psychiatrists are often perceived as more empathetic, better listeners, and more approachable.
  
  
• Male psychiatrists are sometimes preferred by male patients, particularly in issues like addiction or anger management, where they seek a “firm guide.”
  

This is one of the few specialties where the emotional tone of the physician is a core part of the therapy. So, patients often pick who they feel they’ll be safest with emotionally. And that safety often tracks with gender stereotypes.

5. Dermatology: Where Looks and Gender Intersect
This one is tricky. Female dermatologists may be preferred when it comes to cosmetic procedures like Botox or acne treatment in women. Why?

• Shared aesthetic concerns: Female patients might believe a female doctor “gets it.”
  
  
• Body image issues: Patients may feel less judged discussing skin problems with someone of the same gender.
  

However, for more medical dermatology cases (e.g., psoriasis, skin cancer checks), gender seems to matter less. The deeper the medical concern, the less room there is for gender preference to play a role.

6. Urology: Male Patients Want… Not to Be Judged
Urology is an odd space. Many men prefer male urologists, especially for conditions like erectile dysfunction, infertility, or prostate issues. It's not because they think male doctors are better—it’s because:

• They’re embarrassed.
  
  
• They want to talk man-to-man.
  
  
• They think female doctors might not understand their “plumbing.”
  

However, female urologists are gaining ground, especially among younger patients who don’t carry the same baggage. Interestingly, some female patients with urinary incontinence prefer female urologists for the same reasons women prefer female OB-GYNs.

7. Emergency Medicine: Gender-Blind by Crisis?
Emergency departments are high-stress, high-turnover places where most patients don’t have the luxury of choosing. Yet still, patterns emerge.

• Patients sometimes assume male doctors are the ones “in charge,” even if a female doctor is leading the team.
  
  
• Female doctors are often mistaken for nurses, even when they’re the trauma lead.
  

Does this affect how much trust patients give? Sometimes yes. But when someone’s unconscious or bleeding out, competence beats gender—at least in theory.

8. General Practice: Your Family Doctor, Your Choice
This one’s more mixed.

• Female patients often prefer female GPs for things like sexual health, menstrual issues, or mental health.
  
  
• Male patients may also prefer female GPs for emotional issues—but may avoid them for urological problems.
  
  
• Older generations often default to trusting male doctors more, while younger patients seem more comfortable with either gender.
  

The longer the relationship, the less gender seems to matter. What patients really want is someone who listens, remembers their name, and doesn’t rush the appointment.

9. Anesthesiology: The Unseen Influence
Most patients don’t meet their anesthesiologist until 5 minutes before surgery. But when they do, preferences can surface:

• Some patients, especially women, report feeling more reassured by a female anesthesiologist, particularly in OB anesthesia.
  
  
• Others assume a male anesthesiologist is more “expert” simply due to unconscious bias.
  

Again, this has more to do with perception than skill.

10. Dentistry: A Surprisingly Gendered Field
Many anxious patients (especially children or needle-phobic adults) may prefer female dentists, assuming they’ll be gentler.

But for surgical extractions or implants, some patients (especially older males) have said they prefer male dentists for perceived “strength.”

Yet plenty of patients find female dentists more reassuring, particularly when the procedures are long or involve aesthetic work.

So… Why Do Patients Really Care About Doctor Gender?
Let’s summarize the underlying drivers:

• Cultural norms: Many societies assign certain qualities to each gender, which shapes expectations.
  
  
• Embarrassment or body image issues: Patients feel less self-conscious with same-gender doctors in intimate exams.
  
  
• Stereotypes about skill: Men = technical, decisive; Women = nurturing, empathetic.
  
  
• Personal history: A past trauma or comforting memory can shape gender preferences unconsciously.
  
  
• Generational shift: Younger patients tend to be more open and gender-neutral in preferences.
  

Clinician tip: Don’t take it personally. Sometimes it’s not about you—it’s about what the patient needs to feel safe.

When Preferences Hurt Doctors
While patient-centered care is important, gender preferences can impact:

• Training: Female residents in surgery often get fewer cases because patients “want the male surgeon.”
  
  
• Confidence: Being second-guessed because of gender can affect performance.
  
  
• Equity: It’s hard to build equality when your identity changes how patients treat you.
  

There’s a fine line between respecting a patient’s comfort and confronting bias.

What Can Doctors Do About It?

• Be aware: Don’t ignore that gender bias exists—even when it works in your favor.
  
  
• Communicate early: If a patient seems hesitant, ask gently what’s making them uncomfortable.
  
  
• Build rapport: Gender preference often fades after a good conversation.
  
  
• Support colleagues: Advocate for your peers if you see them being sidelined due to their gender.
  

And remember: Medicine is a team sport. Whether you're a male OB-GYN or a female orthopedic surgeon, patients care more about how you make them feel than what’s on your ID badge.