Derriford

In the past, medicine was a male-dominated profession and women were not allowed to train as doctors in the UK until the late 1800’s. Before this time, women who wanted to train as doctors were rejected from British universities and advised to purse different careers in nursing or midwifery. Women who wanted to train as doctors were often ridiculed by male doctors and there was a general attitude that women were not capable of being doctors.

There was a widespread outcry when women were allowed to train as doctors and orthodontists in the UK; many male professionals thought that women were not capable of doing the job and thought that they would crumble under the physical and emotional stress of the medical profession.

Increasingly, women became an important part of the medical team and now there are more women doctors than ever before.

Modern gender issues

All employees in all industries should be protected by laws, including both male and women doctors, which prevent prejudice and inequality in the workplace. But some medical professionals may experience inequality as a result of their gender. This usually involves comments about women’s ability to do a ‘man’s job’ but this attitude is largely a thing of the past and gender issues are not nearly as prominent as they were in the past.

There have been suggestions that there is still a gap in salaries between male and female doctors. A study conducted in 2009 revealed a pay gap of around £15,000 between male and female doctors. Some cases were put down to a different level of experience, while others were said to be down to discrimination.

The eradication of gender issues in medicine has also promoted an increase in the number of males choosing to pursue a career in nursing or midwifery, which were previously seen to be ‘women’s jobs.’

There are several health conditions, illnesses and disorders which are specific to women, but it is not only women doctors who participate in these specialist areas. Such areas include:

Infertility

Infertility affects a small percentage of couples and may be caused by a range of different factors. A couple is advised to see a doctor if they have been trying to conceive for more than a year without any success. Both males and females can be infertile and there may be issues which can be easily treated; the most common reason for female infertility is ovulation disorders, while the most common cause of male infertility is problems affecting the production or movement of sperm. In some cases, the cause of infertility remains unknown despite examinations and tests.

There are treatments which can be used to help infertile people to conceive; possible treatments include surgery to correct defects, repair damage or remove obstructions, medication to control or encourage ovulation and therapies, such as IVF and IUI (intrauterine insemination) to help couples conceive artificially.

The Menstrual cycle and the menopause

Many women experience problems or irregularities with their menstrual cycle from time to time and this may be indicative of an underlying health condition or the development of a new infection or illness. Common problems include heavy periods, irregular periods and severe pain during menstruation.

The menopause often causes unpleasant symptoms, which can be difficult for women to cope with (almost half of women find their symptoms difficult to handle); common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, disturbed sleep patterns and urinary tract infections. The menopause usually affects women around the age of 52.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be very challenging and enjoyable at the same time; many women have uncomplicated pregnancies but others suffer with unpleasant symptoms. All pregnant women will come into contact with a range of health professionals both during their pregnancy and after their baby is born; the multi-disciplinary team aims to ensure that both the mother and baby are fit and healthy during the pregnancy and after the birth.

Female cancer

There are forms of cancer which only affect women, including ovarian, cervical and breast cancer (in rare cases men can also develop breast cancer but the disease is 100 times more prevalent in women than men). Women’s cancers have a high media profile and as a result, most people are aware of the symptoms of specific forms of cancer and survival rates are improving as a result of early diagnosis, improved technology and routine screening programmes.

Gynaecological conditions

Gynaecologists deal with the detection, diagnosis and treatment of conditions which affect the female reproductive system and are largely specific to women. Many women experience gynaecological problems may include abnormal uterine bleeding, problems related to the menstrual cycle and pelvic pain.

Women doctors and patients

Some women may prefer to see a woman doctor as they may feel uncomfortable discussing their problems or undergoing a physical examination with a male doctor; this is not a problem but patients are advised to ask for a female doctor in advance to allow arrangements to be made

Modern medicine is fast-paced, exciting and hugely innovative, and women doctors need to keep up with this fast pace in order to succeed. Medicine continues to be a hugely rewarding and challenging career and is still considered one of the most important and impressive professions.

Science and technology

Science and technology play a very instrumental part in modern medicine. Technology is used every second of every day throughout hospitals and health clinics across the UK and has helped improve treatment methods, cut costs, save time and enable professionals to identify developing conditions and arrange treatment much earlier and faster.

Science is very important and forms a solid foundation for many of the decisions made by professionals on a daily basis. Science is used to test new treatment methods, trial new medications and find new ways of dealing with specific illnesses. Science is also used to research existing health conditions, find out the reasons why illnesses develop and identify and detect early warning signs and existing symptoms of illnesses and health conditions.

The NHS

The NHS is a universal health system that provides free healthcare for all citizens in the UK. The NHS has revolutionised medicine in the UK. In Britain today, any patient can turn up at an NHS hospital or clinic and receive treatment free of charge. The NHS provides a huge range of treatments to a vast number of patients every year and is one of the UK’s largest employers.

The future of medicine

As science and technology evolve, so does medicine and techniques and treatment methods are developing and advancing all the time. In the future, it looks as though technology will play an increasingly important role in medicine and research which is currently being conducted will probably have a significant effect on some of the ways illnesses and conditions are treated in the future.

Modern medical professionals

Medicine has changed so much over the course of history. For instance, nowadays, female medical students outnumber male students and women doctors are expected to outnumber male doctors within the next ten years. Medical students are now given a more interactive learning experience and many universities start sending students out on placement from day one of the course. Students are also provided with a range of different learning resources, including books and journals, computer programmes, internet sites and even iPhone and iPod ‘apps’.

Modern medical professionals also depend heavily on technology and use gadgets and devices for a range of everyday activities. Medical professionals are now highly trained in different treatment methods and techniques and are required to complete continuous training as a means of staying up-to-date with the latest treatments, technology and protocol