Ranks of female surgeons on the rise

More convenient

In some departments where nearly all the patients are women, female doctors are understandably needed more than males.

Yin Wenjin, 40, a chief breast surgery doctor at Renji Hospital in Shanghai, said she often meets patients who tell her they are looking specifically for women doctors.

"They find it more convenient to talk with female doctors, as many of the questions these patients have are quite private. For example, they may ask what factors in daily life influence the recovery from breast cancer, or increase the chance of a recurrence and metastasis. And these factors involve sexual activity," Yin said.

Many breast cancer patients voice their frustrations with life, Yin said, adding that this prompted her to learn psychology to better communicate with them.

Eight of the 12 doctors in her department are women. Of the doctors in the hospital's obstetrics and gynecology departments, women account for more than 80 percent.

"More women nowadays have ambitious career plans, which give them spiritual satisfaction. Women doctors are no exception. During clinical practice, we aim to prolong patients' survival chances and improve their quality of life, which gives us a sense of career achievement," Yin said.

"The success of female role models also helps guide us in pursuing our goals," she said.

Yin encouraged more women to study medicine and become surgeons.

"As long as a person is passionate about and suitable for the job, he or she should be given an equal right to choose their career, regardless of gender," she said.

Some women doctors have entered fields where male patients significantly outnumber their female counterparts.

Liu Li, 39, an associate chief surgeon of urology at Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai, said she chose this field as it involves several bodily organs, and various types of medical devices are used. She believes these factors help provide her with a fulfilling career.

The variety of medical procedures in her department, such as open, minimally invasive and robotic surgeries, also influenced her choice. When Liu started work as a resident doctor in 2008, robotic surgery was a rarity across all departments.

"I really enjoy performing surgeries. I feel silky smooth throughout a surgical operation, and for me, performing surgeries is like making an artwork," she said.

Liu's interest in surgery dates to her childhood. Her father is a surgeon, and her mother is a senior dentist.

Liu also enjoys working with her hands. "I used to use fish and chickens to perform anatomy. It was a great experience," she said. "Even when my pet hamster died, I performed anatomy to determine the cause of death."

Adept at kidney cancer surgeries, Liu said she never gets the impression from patients that gender is a factor when they look for the right doctor.

"Many patients said they check a doctor's background, and that they have seen my papers on kidney cancer studies," she said.

"Sometimes I have to tell them the prognosis is not that good, but many patients say they recognize my skills and capabilities and are happy to trust me," she said.

Although Liu never tells patients that she specializes in sexual dysfunction, she finds men who experience erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are keen to seek her advice. She receives more such patients than her male colleagues.

"Some patients tell me that as I am the only woman in the department, they are keen to hear a female doctor's views," Liu said.