British medicals

British women growing up did your school medicals involve a genital exam? If so what age did they start, and did the exam change over time?

No we did not even have school medicals really, just except one when I was in my last year, I think I was nearly 16. Really it was not a lot more than an interview anyway with a few questions about my health. I just needed to open my blouse for a check of my heart and I got my eyes and ears looked at but that was all.

My wife did have a school medical examination just before leaving school at the age 16, although that's now nearly 60 years ago. We have often talked about it and compared exams. She had to take everything off except her knickers, but put her blouse back on after removing her bra. When called into the doctor she had a very thorough exam, opening up the front of her blouse to have her chest and back examined, although no actual breast exam. Whilst laid flat on exam bed the female doctor pulled the front of her knickers down just to have a look but no touching, She was really embarrassed made even worse because she was accompanied by her mother who was also in the room. This type of exam appears to be the normal routine back then, same routine for the Boys, but stripped to underpants.

I got them at primary school (early to mid 80's) from a fairly elderly lady we called "the nit nurse" it involved being ushered into a mobile and being asked to strip down to our pants. I think height and weight, a brief eye test and then we did various exercises whilst she checked our spine. The boys had a genital test involving a wooden spoon but luckily, girls got to keep their pants on. Finally she checked our hair "for nits". The medicals were always done privately apart from the fact that they were in a mobile with poor fitting curtains and other kids messing around outside who always said they could see you stripping off.

There was a longer more detailed medical just before I left school at about 16 but again, pants and bra were kept on.