Two points and a final comment and thought.
With as many woman graduating medical school as men, women should in nearly all situations have the right and ability to seek out a female physician. Having run medical practices for years, this is pretty common. I encourage women that are uncomfortable disrobing in front of a male physician to do so.
Secondly, in order to protect the doctor from women misinterpreting what they are doing, it was the practice in our practices and it is the practice increasingly around the country, for a female medical assistant to be in the room anytime a male physician is conducting an exam requiring he touch her body.
Final comment, there are times where physicians have inappropriately touch patients. Historically, it was primarily male doctor touching female patients, but it has also included inappropriate touching of children. Several high profile cases have involved male physicians inappropriately touching young athletes. So it does happen. I am even aware of situations where male doctors have opted not to treat an extremely attractive female for fear they could not do so without inappropriate thoughts… much less touching. And so they asked their female associate to perform the exam.
Based on your comments, I does not appear the physician did anything wrong. But it is clear you are uncomfortable being touched. Touching is part of good care, so if you are more comfortable with a female doctor, then you should develop “patient physician” relationship with a female primary care physician. Express your fears to this physician and in most instances she should be able to accommodate them by referring you to only female physicians.
Final thought. What you are feeling while a bit extreme is only a bit extreme. I ran a large OB/GYN group. We conducted market research on precisely the issue you have raised and we found especially with respect to OB/GYN physicians 50% of all women preferred women doctors and the majority of the rest did not care among most cultural groups. For cultural reasons, among Hispanic women born overseas there was actually a preference for male physicians, which we attributed to the lack of female physicians in their home countries and so having a female physician for some of them just felt weird.
For men, it is interesting how many men prefer a “male” urologist. Why? Does it matter… or is it important simply that they do.
So for the sake of your health, find a physician whom you trust to touch you appropriately and do not have post exam issues with. Also insist on a medical assistant being present if that helps you to feel more comfortable.
