In a country where conversations around women’s health are already shrouded in discomfort and silence, the idea of a male gynecologist continues to raise eyebrows. Despite decades of medical advancement and countless success stories from male doctors in the field, many women in India still hesitate-or outright refuse-to consult them. Cultural conditioning, privacy concerns, and a lingering sense of awkwardness have made this an ongoing stigma in clinics and hospitals across the country.
To understand the roots of this hesitation and how it impacts both patients and practitioners, we spoke to Dr. Smeet Patel, Endometriosis Specialist, an Endometriosis Specialist at Mayflower Women’s Hospital in Ahmedabad. With years of experience in one of India’s most sensitive medical specialities, he offers a unique perspective on navigating bias, building trust with patients, and the quiet but crucial shift he sees happening in attitudes-especially amongst younger, urban women.
In a country where conversations around women’s health are still considered taboo in many circles, how comfortable are Indian women really with consulting a male gynecologist what changes have you observed over time?
In India, many women still prefer female gynaecologists, especially for consultations and intimate examinations-understandably so, as it helps them feel more comfortable and safe. However, when it comes to surgery, particularly in complex cases like endometriosis, experience often outweighs gender preference. We’ve seen many patients willingly opt for male surgeons when they know they’re in expert hands. After all healing knows no gender.
At Mayflower, we have established a system that respects both comfort and competence: female gynaecologists attend all consultations, while our older male surgeons take care of surgery. This integrated system has served to build confidence and provide the best results. In the end, the larger problem isn’t gender-it’s misdiagnosis. So many women still endure because endometriosis isn’t diagnosed or treated seriously. That’s what we want to change: with both empathy and expertise.
Despite your medical expertise, have you ever faced resistance or scepticism from patients or their families simply because
you’re a male gynaecologist? Have you faced resistance as a male gynaecologist?
Yes, certainly-and I understand that. In a specialty that necessitates deep trust and emotional security, women understandably like to see female physicians, particularly initially. My approach is comfort first: all consultations and follow-ups are from female gynaecologists. When patients feel heard and secure in their care, they’re willing to have the next step done-whether that’s surgery or treatment of an advanced nature, usually taken care of by our male staff. The actual issue isn’t gender-it’s the lag in diagnosis and treatment. Far too many women are brushed off, misdiagnosed, or symptomatically treated. We concentrate on listening with intensity, teaching patients, and treating the source with accuracy. When your care is guided by compassion and outcomes, trust naturally follows.
Why is endometriosis so underdiagnosed in India?
Endometriosis is a chameleon. It manifests as symptoms such as cramping during periods, fatigue, bloating, or back pain-complaints that are familiar and too frequently dismissed as “normal” by doctors and patients alike. This deep-seated cultural trivialization of women’s pain is one of the largest hindrances to early diagnosis.
It takes 7 to 10 years on average for a woman to be accurately diagnosed. Some of the reasons are diagnostic limitations-ultrasound still largely dominates, and it usually misses deep and non-ovarian endometriosis. Although MRI is better at detection, it is highly dependent upon an eye that has been trained, and, alas, many of these radiologists are not trained to pick up the subtle hints.
Worst of all, women are too often told, “It’s all in your head,” or put on cycles of pain medication and hormone pills with no clear diagnosis. This contributes to years of undiagnosed disease, emotional turmoil, and avoidable harm. At Mayflower, we’ve seen far too many women labeled with “unexplained infertility” or “chronic pelvic pain,” only to later discover extensive endometriosis. Raising awareness among both patients and general practitioners is as important as advancing diagnostic tools.
How does endometriosis impact fertility-and what myths do you see?
Endometriosis often damages fertility silently. Nearly half of all women facing infertility may have undiagnosed endometriosis. It’s not a surface problem-this condition causes pelvic adhesions, obstructs the fallopian tubes, creates ovarian cysts (also referred to as chocolate cysts), and interferes with the uterine environment in such a way that fertilization and implantation become impossible. Even the uterus itself can contract improperly, interfering with embryo implantation.
What’s most infuriating is the persistence of myths. “If your periods aren’t painful, it’s not endometriosis,” or “Just have a baby-it’ll go away.” These lies postpone diagnosis and treatment, frequently resulting in irreparable harm. Worse yet, many women try multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts without ever fixing the underlying endometriosis. IVF is not a magic solution-it only works best when the disease is initially treated right. That’s why we stress early diagnosis, full care, and attacking the cause of the disease, not merely pursuing symptoms or quick solutions.
Given the rising awareness but still limited understanding of endometriosis in India, how accessible and affordable are fertility treatments for women struggling with this condition?
Fertility clinics are common nowadays-but extremely few have experience treating endometriosis-caused infertility. The central treatment for such patients is not merely IVF-it’s surgical removal of the disease. Here at Mayflower, with more than 20,000 endometriosis surgeries under our belt, our primary aim is always to return natural fertility. When surgery is performed correctly, many patients become pregnant spontaneously. And for those who still need IVF, the success rate is much better after treatment.Access to the correct treatment, at the correct time, is all that matters. It’s not more procedures-it’s the right way.
– Ends