Nurse during gynecologic examination

Hello,

When you go to a gynecologist (especially a male doctor), a nurse assists him or you are alone with the doc?

Thank you.

I'd be highly shocked to hear of a male doctor doing a gyn exam on a patient (in the USA at least) without a nurse or chaperone in attendance the entire time.

Doctor Geoff

I think that there are rules or maybe even laws that say that a male Dr. must have a nurse or someone else in attendence during a gyno exam. I might be wrong but I think these laws do exist.

In Germany it is common that male gynecologists can work alone. I think that a patient can ask a female assistant to be present, but this is not the norm.

N.

I think especially in this day and age if the female wants a female nurse in the room. while being examined, it's good for her and the Doctor.

In this lawsuit crazy country it would be crazy to do a gyn exam w/o a chaperone present in the room

It’s been my experience that there is always a nurse in the room during the pelvic exam regardless of whether it’s a male or female doctor.

In my country (Poland) I thought that 80-90% of gyno are male. Second thing is that's very common that they are working alone, also on the hospitals. They are very rarely midwife/nurse help (during advanced treatment).

When I have had an exam from a male doctor, which isn't often now, there was a nurse present. When I see my female doctor the nurse often is there to make sure I get ready and to do preliminaries like measuring me, urine, review of history, temp, and to make sure i have undressed! She will leave most of the time or return if further assistance is required. Clearly she gets to see all of me!

When I worked at an OB/GYN clinic none of the doctors would go in without a nurse. It protects the doctor and you. Even the doctor I go to now has a nurse in with her. It makes it easier on the doctor as well. The nurse can hand the doctor equipment and also write for him/her.

I'd be highly shocked to hear of a male doctor doing a gyn exam on a patient (in the USA at least) without a nurse or chaperone in attendance the entire time.

Doctor Geoff

Doctor Geoff,

Interesting statement you so forcefully make. You are incorrect. I have never had a chaperone or nurse present for my well woman appointments and various GYN procedures. I have always been asked if I would prefer someone in the room. I’ve always declined. My GP and GYN have always coincidentally been male. I have many female friends who will state the same whether or not the physician/provider is male or female. We are all in the United States of America.

Having accompanied my wife to many appointments over the years, I believe there is a (possibly justifiable) double standard at play, at least in the USA. I have seen my wife examined by female doctors on more than handful of occasions and there was rarely a nurse in the room. In fact, I have seen female nurses perform pelvic exams on my wife without anyone (aside from me) being present. But on all but one occasion, when she has been examined by a male gynecologist there has always been a female chaperone in the room. I suppose society believes, and maybe rightfully so, that men are more likely to be sexually aroused and take advantage...?

Interesting statement you so forcefully make. You are incorrect. I have never had a chaperone or nurse present for my well woman appointments and various GYN procedures. I have always been asked if I would prefer someone in the room. I’ve always declined. My GP and GYN have always coincidentally been male. I have many female friends who will state the same whether or not the physician/provider is male or female. We are all in the United States of America.

I am not in the USA but I've only had a chaperone once, which was my last time having a gyn exam (and I swear it will be the last time in my life), a couple years ago. I attributed it to the changing times and how people are more litigious these days.

As a patient I am normally on my own and the same goes for when I examine women professionally. The only time I have a fellow nurse with me is if the patient is overly anxious, it is an technically incense procedure or the patient wants someone to literally hold her hand.

I have not had a chaperone. I've been offered one, but I declined. Having the doctor see my private parts is embarrassing enough. I do not want someone else there, too.

I think Ive always has a nurse in the room with both male and female gynecologists. I've never been asked, the nurse either is already there or comes back in for the pelvic exam at the doctors request. Not a big deal, they are just doing their job.

Julie13 do you like being naked in front of the nurse? Would you like her to take your bra and panties off

I probably would say that during most of my gynecological exams with male or female doctor I had female nurse. That of course does not mean that every time nurse was present she would observe the actual exam fully or even parts of that. It does happen sometimes that she simply is sitting at the computer and typing and then just prepares the gyno chair for next patient. I feel more comfortable with nurse being present in exam room.

Nurses do not take a patient's clothing off. The patient does that herself.

Every exam I’ve been able to witness in person or heard recaps of there has always been a nurse present for male and female doctors. They’re always assisting in the procedure and at the foot of the exam table, to the side

I have only been to female gynecologist. In the earlier city my sister used to be there but no nurse. Now in the new city this gynec has a female nurse. She acts as the doctor's helper and notes taker of doctor's observations. Doctor speaks out her observation.The nurse observes the whole exam but it's ok. I have no objection. The whole gyn exam including breasts doesn't take long anyways.

Moreover i don't have to visit gynecologist that often.

In fact as a play doctor I would also like to imagine a female nurse taking down notes for me during the exam

If I was a girl, I would not want a chaperone in the room.

I mean, honestly, what does a chaperone add? The doctor would be looking at my private parts either way. He would be sticking his finger inside of me either way. If he gets excited by doing that, he will get excited whether or not there is a nurse in the room.

Speaking as a physician, however, I would never do an exam without a chaperone. I wouldn't even give a patient the option of saying no. It's not for her protection -- its for mine.

Where I am from, we can request a female chaperone, but it is not a given and there is no nurse present during routine exams.

I think it could be kindof erotic to have another male nurse, but I wouldn't want a female nurse.. it could ruin the intimacy of the exam. but then again, I love the exposed feeling so maybe it would be nice to feel open for view of more people.

I think this is an unpopular sentiment on this site, but truth be told I'm quite young and I know I'm hot. it's part of the fun for me, knowing that whoever touches me will really enjoy my soft supple skin and just looking at my slender body.

Speaking as a physician, however, I would never do an exam without a chaperone. I wouldn't even give a patient the option of saying no. It's not for her protection -- its for mine.

That is exactly right. It will keep you from getting accused of anything inappropriate. I don't ever get in a situation at work where I am behind a closed door with a female other than my sister. She is mean enough to take care of herself

There has been an assistant with the exams that I have had

In response to Doctor Geoff, times have definitely changed. I am in my 30s and all my doctors practice in big office parks or clinics, things are much more generic and less personable now.

When I was 17 and started visiting the gyno, it was one doctor with his own private office. That's rare in my area in New York now. When I would go for my exam, there was no chaperone. He had one nurse at the front that would take paperwork then another that would take vitals, weight, urine sample, etc and ask you to get undressed.

After that, I'd usually wait at least 15-20 minutes in the gown by myself for the exam. The whole time thinking, oh my gosh this doctor is in the next room looking at another girl's vagina. Waiting for the knock at the door is so nerve wracking when you know what's going to happen next.

Once the doctor did enter the room, he never was accompanied by anyone and would conduct a full breast exam and would leave my chest exposed for the pelvic. The gown was pretty much resting on my belly by the end of the exam but I never felt uncomfortable. The doctor was always caring, asked about my health and how I felt. Now its just a poke and prod and these doctors don't seem to care.

I actually get some anxiety visiting the gyno since my original doctor retired. I haven't found anyone that makes the visit so easy.

I always have a nurse present at my Gyn exams

In France, the presence of a nurse or an assistant is not usual.

This is only the case if you go to the hospital and not always.

A gynecologist performs his private consultation on his own. Eventually, it is his secretary who intervenes between two patients to prepare the examination room, put the instruments (speculum in particular for decontamination and prepare the sheet on the table).

We do not live in a situation of suspicion, the relations between a gynecologist and his patient are deemed to be honest and healthy. It is not essential that an external person comes to play the role of chaperone and to supervise that the practitioner does not have any inappropriate gesture.

My gynecologist's medical assistant has always been in the room for every visit I've ever had with him. And that's with my significant other being with me. She does the preliminary vitals and update of history and medications in the electronic medical record. Then he comes in and we talk through the reason for my appointment, new issues, changes to my meds, etc. They both leave and I get changed into the exam vest and drape and get situated on the table. Then they both come back in and the exam begins. The MA enters his findings into the EMR system as he does the exam and hands him instruments, etc., as the exam progresses.

It's probably a cumbersome, cost-ineffective system, but it seems to work. Now that I think about it, I spend more time with the MA than I do with the doc.

I'm actually going to see a male gynecologist tomorrow for the first appointment. I will find out what is going to be tomorrow!