Dr. Ira L. Gaines, MD

I have been a patient of Dr. Ira Gaines since 1993. He is one of the most patient, empathetic doctors I have ever encountered -- he always makes you feel like you are his only patient. I was with Dr. Gaines through a sad miscarriage, two pregnancies/births and menopause. I will stay with Dr. Gaines until he retires.

My treatment at the hands of Doctor Gaines made me afraid to go to the gynecologist for years after the birth of my son. I have NEVER had a doctor treat me so horribly. He talked down to me, was condescending, and completely ignored my wishes. I was pressured to do things the way he wanted to do them. But worst of all was the way I was treated during my miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies. He didn't seem to see my grief or view my babies as babies. He just assured me that he wanted me to conceive because it was more money for him. He actually said those words to me and then left me sobbing in the hallway. I begged, in tears, not to have to see him again after these instances, and the appointment coordinator did not seem surprised. However they made me return to him for my follow up visit after my son's birth despite my discomfort. I would not return to the office after this experience and couldn't make myself go back to ANY gynecologist without crying for several years afterward.

Dr. Gaines has been incredibly helpful with me. My husband and I were in the process of trying to start a family when I was rushed to the ER to find out what I thought was maybe pancreatitis was in fact an 8cm cyst in my ovary. He saw me the next day and brought me into his office to give me the news of my very bad endo. He performed surgery and told me and my family all the risks including possibly losing my ovaries. He saved my ovary even though the cyst was so large. My pain has no gotten better so he referred me to UNC, but he has been incredibly helpful and caring about my ongoing pain going out of his way to see me every week for the past four months.

Condescending, spoke to me like I was a child incapable of understanding. Didn't respect my choices. Rushed me to make complex and emotional decisions. Paraded me through the office after informing me my baby wouldn't make it. No time to process and grieve. Congratulated himself on how great my scar looked at my follow up appointment. Told me not to worry about losing my baby because it was common, and carrying a baby to term is hard to do. Self-involved, insensitive, condescending, insufferable man. The only doctor at this office I cannot stand, and of course he was on call when my next child was born--and completely ignored my (very simple) birth plan and just did whatever he wanted because he "came in just for me."

The most memorable thing about this doctor, who I had seen for quite a few years, was that he misdiagnosed me after suffering for years with repeated bladder infections. He never referred me to a Urologist, but instead kept me on antibiotics for over 2 years. Then he did an exploratory lap procedure and told me that I was full of endometriosis and would need a FULL hysterectomy, ovaries and all. Surgery was scheduled on Monday. On Friday I started running a high fever. He yelled at me and told me that if he had to cancel my surgery, it would cost him and his assistant physician a 1/2 day of salary. Then, he operated anyway because my temp was okay on monday, however, it spiked right back up after surgery. The nurses were in and out of my room worried about my temp. He never told anyone that I had had a fever of 104 before the surgery. After the surgery, my pain continued. I got my post op report and it said that there WAS NO SIGN OF ENDOMETRIOSIS!! When I continued to come back to him… for help, he ended up telling me that "maybe my pain was all in my head and that I needed to see a psychiatrist instead! He was so insensitive and robbed me of years where I could have been treated by the proper doctor for what I REALLY had which was a chronic bladder disease called Interstitial Cystitis. He robbed me of any possibility of being able to be treated early on and possibly be able to get well. I never saw him after that insensitive reaction. I should have sued him. I would have won, but I was in so much pain and ended up back in the hospital days after I was released following my hysterectomy. I had pancreatitis. Of course, he wanted nothing to do with me after that... after I was re-admitted to the hospital. I will never forget how rude he was to me and how he yelled about possibly losing money if he had to cancel my surgery. He only cared about his precious money and didn't care about how sick I was. I will never forget him. I would never recommend him to anyone. He never followed up after my appointments.

I am very happy with Dr. Gaines. He is knowledgable and I feel at ease and comforted considering the condition that I am dealing with. I think that he has the right amount of caring and also an ability to give me the facts without scaring me. I would highly recommend him.

Dr. Gaines has been my physician for many years now and has helped me with various problems. He has delivered my 3 children. One of my pregnancies was very difficult and he delivered my baby with ease. He loves seeing their pictures and I would recommend him to my friends. He always takes his time and I do not feel he rushes me.

I first visited this doctor based on a recommendation from a friend and have been a patient for several years now. Dr Gaines has always listened, spent plenty of time with me, and has been great with both gynecological and obstetrical appointments. Dr Gaines was able to diagnose a condition of mine when many doctors before him had not. He has provided me with information and articles whenever he has made a treatment recommendation. I am very comfortable with him and feel he is extremely knowledgeable.

It seemed like he had an agenda and had little interest in listening to what I wanted unless it coincided with his opinion.