Question For The Ladies: Rectal Exams from GP/Primary Care Provider?

Let me start by saying that my significant other and I make it standard practice to attend each other's medical appointments and procedures. We believe that two sets of eyes and ears are better than one, and we love each other and are one another's primary support person and advocate for medical care. With COVID-19 visitor restrictions here in the US, it's sometimes more difficult to attend with each other, but we have found that most practices will allow it if you ask nicely yet firmly when setting the appointment.

My significant other recently had her first annual physical from our new Internist/GP. As part of the exam, the doctor did a brief but thorough external genital exam with my SO in the frogleg position, which I have mentioned in other posts. She then had my SO assume the left lateral decubitus position and did a rectal exam. The doc performed a quaiac test for occult blood after she removed her finger, which was fortunately negative. I won't go into the current guidelines for quaiac testing, except to say that a single sample is no longer considered sufficient for an accurate test, but it's better than no test - sort of.

Our previous primary care doctor almost always performed a quick exam of her vulva during yearly physicals, but never did a rectal exam. That was always left to my SO's gyn, so we were both surprised by it - and more than a little aroused, afterwards. 😉

How many of you Zity ladies get rectal exams from your GP/Primary Care Provider? If you get one, what position are you typically in, especially if you don't get a pelvic exam as part of the same visit?

Gentlemen, you are welcome to answer as well, if you were actually in the room with your partner for the exam.

My wife and I also always attend as many of the others doctor appointments as possible. Our primary care doctor retired last year but whenever my wife (who is in her mid 60's) had her annual exam with this doctor, it always would start with the nurse coming in, getting vitals, updating any changes in medication prescribed by a different doctor, and ask about issues she wanted to discuss with the doctor. Before the nurse left, she would get a gown, hand it to my wife and ask her to remove everything and put the gown on with ties to the back. The doctor would then come in and talk about any medication changes, lab results and anything else that needed to be discussed. After checking her head and extremities, she would have my wife lay back and lower the gown and preform a breast exam. After that she would help my wife get into the stirrups and would preform a full pelvic exam. Last but not least, the doctor would change gloves, apply lube and do a rectal exam. She also would do a occult blood test when she was done. The reason I went into so much detail is because an annual exam with our new primary care doctor (who came highly recommended to us) consisted of the nurse checking vitals and asking questions and then leaving. The doctor came in, talked about lab results and other concerns, The physical exam consisted of her checking my wife's head, extremities and a brief neurological test. The most that my wife had to remove was her shoes and socks. We questioned if that was the extent of a normal exam and the doctor said yes it was. She came right out and said that she did not see any need to do a breast exam or pelvic exam. The doctor was told that my wife has not seen a gynecologist in 15 years because our primary care physician always performed a complete women's physical. I believe that because of my wife's age and the fact that the doctor is very young, she will no longer receive any more rectal exams unless there is a definite issue in that area. My wife, on the other hand, is delighted with this news. Sorry for taking so long to answer the question, but I am very disappointed in the exam my wife got this year and may try to get my wife to change doctors if this one proves unable or unwilling to provide the care she deserves.