Language used to initiate genital exam
How have your current and past doctors conveyed to you that it's time to begin a genital exam? In other words, what language and instructions did they use to get you into position?
My pediatrician was always very calm yet direct when it came to genital exams. Throughout the exam he announced each part that he was going to do, and when it came to the genital exam he didn't change his tone. When I was younger for example, he would have me lie down and announced he was going to check my stomach. After palpating my abdomen, he announced he was going to "check my privates" and proceeded to unfasten my pants and lower my pants and underwear to perform the genital exam. His tone and manner in which he commenced the genital exam was very effective in making the genital exam feel like any other portion of the exam - no more, and no less important. The manner in which he exposed the portion to be examined was also similar to every other part where he had to raise my shirt or take off my socks - sensitively done, but quick and efficient. There was never a bigger deal made about genital exams than any other part.
As I got older, I saw the same pediatrician and started standing for my genital exams. Although the position I was in changed, the manner in which he conducted them didn't. He announced the exam and the instructions to lower my pants in the same manner as every other part of the exam. The instruction to lower my pants was delivered in the same way as the instruction to take off my shoes or stick my tongue out.
After "graduating" from my pediatrician, I've had 2 doctors since. They both have performed genital exams at all of my physicals but I have noticed that although the exam itself may be complete, there was a bit of a hesitate, maybe even apologetic tone, when announcing the genital exam.
The first adult doctor I had I only saw once before he moved on. I stayed fully clothed in literally everything except shoes (yes, even my belt and the contents in my pockets). I was doubting I'd even get a genital exam but at the very end he said rather softly something to the effect of "I like to do a testicular exam for males your age. Could you go ahead and stand?" There was no further instruction. Mind you, I was dressed from head to toe, so I stepped forward in front of the seated and gloved doctor and quite awkwardly began what felt like undressing directly in front of him. I don't know if anyone else has experienced being fully dressed and having to unfasten a belt, undo a button, pull down a zipper and lower both your pants and underwear in front of someone who's just sitting there in silence waiting, but it's not the most natural thing to do. In this case, the silence was quite uncomfortable and it singled out the genital exam as something awkaward and embarrassing.
My current doctor is much more straightforward in announcing the genital exam though there is a hint of that "sorry I got to do this" voice. He also doesn't give instructions to lower my shorts but when he's gloves and ready and I'm standing up, he'll give a clear "ok" as a signal to expose the area.
I personally don't need any special tone when it comes to genital exams, but maybe some of you appreciate that doctors recognize the genital exam as perhaps more uncomfortable than the rest of the exam? How do your doctors announce they need to examine your genitals and what instructions, if any, are given?