"Intimidating and impersonal"

Anything else?

I had a first ever appointment with a gynaecologist earlier this month and had only a vague idea of what might be done to me and why. After enduring an extremely painful smear test and a 3rd degree tear some years ago, I was extremely apprehensive and hoped I would be fully informed of every step of the way. The waiting room was full of men, that I initially thought I'd walked into a male clinic by mistake, then realised that these men were the partners of the women being seen. I felt very uncomfortable being alone in a waiting area which was virtually all men. When I was called, I didn't feel the gynaecologist was at all sympathetic and he told me the ultrasound would "be bound to ruffle my feathers". This was a fast track appointment, where I felt I was being rushed into a series of potentially serious and painful investigations. So I picked up my coat and walked out.