Why isn't there's a Men's Health NP specialty

[ThatPoshGirl]

I'm interested in eventually becoming a Nurse Practitioner. I've noticed that men's health does not seem to be covered in the specialty areas of Nurse Practitioners. Has anyone ever wondered why that is?

[queenjean]

Thanks for the book recommendation! While I agree that the health care system has been geared toward men for far too long, I do think we need to be careful not to go too far in the other direction.

I've requested my library obtain it; or I'll be ordering it a Borders soon! Thanks again.

[DanFNP]

I'm interested in eventually becoming a Nurse Practitioner. I've noticed that men's health does not seem to be covered in the specialty areas of Nurse Practitioners. Has anyone ever wondered why that is?

Men are just not as interesting or intricate . Nah, but seriously a FNP can cover most of what ails men, then refer to urologists, oncologists, cardiologists, etc as necessary while women have a plethora of issues that are completely gender specific and need people experienced in that field.

[NexLvlDad]

I think in Europe there are such practitioners.

[llg, PhD, RN]

So the aptly named hysterectomy was the procedure originally intended to "cure" this hysteria, I guess. :stone

Yes. That is the type of thinking that prevailed.

Another example I always found fascinating ... was the use of "electical stimulators" as a treatment performed in the doctor's office for women with depression, irritability, etc. The woman's genitals were stimulated by the physician with the "stimulator" until the worman had "paroxyms." Some women needed repeated treatments on a regular schedule before their mood improved.

Of course ... back then, the fact that healthy women might actually have orgasms was not considered.

I'm happy to read that previous posters have pointed out that past medical practice -- and almost all medical research -- was done from a male perspective and with male research subjects.

[Turd.Ferguson]

healthy women might actually have orgasms

They do???

[epiphany]

Another example I always found fascinating ... was the use of "electical stimulators" as a treatment performed in the doctor's office for women with depression, irritability, etc. The woman's genitals were stimulated by the physician with the "stimulator" until the worman had "paroxyms." Some women needed repeated treatments on a regular schedule before their mood improved.

Are you making this up? I need documentation.

[DanFNP]

Are you making this up? I need documentation.

No, it's the truth. We learned this in a gender class I took in college. Way back in the day, women who were having mental problems, etc. were stimulated "down there" and it was thought to help make them more cheerful and happier. Yeah, I bet it did .

[TiredMD]

Are you making this up? I need documentation.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/m/maines-technology.html?_r=1&oref=login

[epiphany]

Thank you!

- The job required skill and attention; Nathaniel Highmore noted in 1660 that it was difficult to learn to produce orgasm by vulvular massage. He said that the technique "is not unlike that game of boys in which they try to rub their stomachs with one hand and pat their heads with the other."

Best quote ever.

[Music in My Heart]

Well, one could argue that the clinics specializing in male sexual dysfunction are essentially practicing "men's health"

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I think in Europe there are such practitioners.

We have Andrologists here in America too. But they aren't physicians. They usually have a BS or Masters in andrology. They are plentiful in the infertility world.

[bekindtokittens]

Another example I always found fascinating ... was the use of "electical stimulators" as a treatment performed in the doctor's office for women with depression, irritability, etc. The woman's genitals were stimulated by the physician with the "stimulator" until the worman had "paroxyms." Some women needed repeated treatments on a regular schedule before their mood improved.

Kind of off topic, but this subject was mentioned in the book and the movie The Road To Wellville, by T. Coraghessan Boyle. It's about a "health spa" run by John Kellogg, cereal guru. Hilarious read.