Examination | Language used to initiate gen…

Views: 9370 Created: 2017.06.26

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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?

Nurse Phillips

Moderator

181

Nurse Phillips

Moderator

My GP as a child would say “lay back and let’s take a quick peek”. I remember it well. I’d be sitting on the exam table, usually in underpants but I recall being naked a few times. It was the last thing he’d do. I’d lay back, he’d pull them down and would spread me open with his thumbs for a bit. It was always just looking until one time when I was in 6th grade and it wasn’t just looking.

Now the only person who sees me like that is my Gyn. The initiation is something like “ok let your knees fall open please”

spbb

182

spbb

I wonder how many of you guys have had their genitals examined without any announcement by the doctor that it was coming.

That's usually how it went for me. But no such exams in 20 years now. I need to switch to your doctor!

Botsiebuddy

183

Botsiebuddy

I’ve been to the same doctor for almost 40 years so I really didn’t need any clues as to when the penis and prostate portion of the exam was imminent. However, the last two years that portion of the exam was missing. Apparently, “guidelines changed” and unless there is an issue, the exam ends before the genital exam.

Robbo

184

Robbo

Growing up the pediatrician didn’t really say anything to start the genital exam. His hands would just get lower on my body and eventually slide down my stomach and into my underwear. One time, his hands slid up my inner thigh and into the leg opening of my underwear to feel my scrotum then slid his other hand into the waistband, which I still get hard thinking about…

Wrestler67

185

Wrestler67

By stating that a doctor needs to do a hernia check, he/she can examine the penis, testicles on route without using the word genitals, when they still do those areas.

Kid89

186

Kid89

I love hearing the different ways the doctors initiates going into your underwear or having to drop your underwear.

You would think it would all be the same but it’s interesting to hear the different things the doctor would say or do.

Reminds me of my exams growing up or visiting the doctors office in general whenever I was sick and still got examined.

rapide040

187

rapide040

I can't remember any Doctor giving an explanation of what was going to happen or what was to be examined in a general medical examination. At School in underpants and socks the doctor just pulled down the front of my white underpants without warning. My first employment exam was also in underpants and socks and whilst laid on the exam bed told me to 'slip my underpants down and turn my head towards the wall' my second employment exam was in the same state of undress, but this time stood up and asked if I had any 'lumps or swellings down there' pointing to my groin area and without warning or explanation just pulled the front of my pants down, the third exam which I can remember was for a commercial licence with my gp, this time it was just underpants only, blue and white striped briefs, I was standing in front of him and told me to 'take my pants down & when on the exam bed he also had them partially down again, by that time I had a bit of an erection. In each of the exams there was a varying degree of feeling around my genitals and the obligatory cough.

Language used to initiate genital exam

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