Current State of Physical Exams

I think nowadays the GP , in my view, only assesses general health issues, not entering much into detail. The general practice is to refer you to another specialst doctor if you need an exam.

I think across the board at all ages and specialities, exams seem to be giving way to patient self reporting and self exams/self swabbing as doctors. I have probably had about 15-20 annual physicals in the last 25 years and only twice was in a gown, only once had a quick rectal exam and once (my last physical) did I have an genital and hernia exam and that was with a pa not an md I would assume an me wouldn’t have taken the time on that.

Evidently even pediatric exams these days don’t regularly include breast or genital exams any more unless there is something acute indicated or other special circumstances. There’s no more standing in front of the doctor as a 14yo with your underwear around your ankles as your dad and brother watching on. Is that good or bad? I don’t know. We survived. But a lot of the touching and nakedness, looking back, feels a bit excessive

I am surprised, or maybe actually not, with 'reports' of recent 'full physical' taking place here in US and involving whole body exams including genital and rectal exams. I think those are just pure fabrication based on fetishes.

Medical 'industry' in US is highly regulated by procedures from regulators, insurance companies, various boards and companies providing those services. No one is going to do anything extra and outside of procedure. There reasons are liability and costs.

Things like hernia checks may happen every given number of years, but definitely not every year. Rectal exams for prostate are thing of the past replaced by PSA (blood test), and MRI, if PSA not in norm.

It does depend on the doctor, but the full "old school" head to toe annual physical is definitely going the way of the dinosaur. Doctors have such a high turnover of patients, especially in a group practice or HMO, that they can't block out more than 30 minutes for a full exam, and 15 for a follow-up/wellness check. They rely on tests more than examination, and insurance compensates them MORE for tests than examination, so, unless you have a specific complaint when you go in, you will more than likely have just a cursorily exam.