2010-2024 physical exam experiences?

I feel like physical exams have changed a lot since before the 2000s. Based on a lot of what I read here, doctors barely undress and check their patients thoroughly. I’m in my mid 20s and luckily I found a young doctor that is pretty old school in that he offers: no gown, just underwear and strips me naked for checking my genitals and rectum. Anyone else have doctors similar to this? Any recent physical exam experiences they can share?

Haven’t undressed for a physical exam in at least 20-25 years. My doc covers everything, history, concerns blood work and refers me to specialists as needed. Did undress down to my shorts and was given a gown for my dermatology checkup.

My wife's annual Well Woman exams have changed completely in the last ten years. Doctors used to be super thorough. Exams often took over an hour. One of the first complete exams i saw, her doctor said, "I need to see everything. Every nook and carny." He gave her that warning cause it was her first complete exam. But they always did honestly look at EVERYTHING.

All of her doctors have always looked at everything. and touched everything. but the national recommendations have changed significantly.

they now don't believe that there is much value in an actual exam of her vagina unless there is some indications.

no more routine pelvic exams. and her new doctor is trying out a different HPV test that does not require a speculum.

they also don't think there is much value in a Clinical Breast Exam. so no more feeling her up and gazing at her mounds.

She hasn't gotten undressed for an annual in like five years.

for a voyeuristic pervert this is a sad state of affairs.

I started seeing my current doctor in 2014. The first time I saw him for a complete physical he had me come in a week prior to my appointment for labs. The day of the actual physical after introducing himself he had me strip naked and put a gown on and then proceeded to give me a very thorough physical checking everything. As he was putting his exam gloves on before checking my genitals he looked at me and told me this is the part where I get to know you, I think he thought he was being funny. After the exam he gave me a list of tests he had ordered that he wanted done before I was to see him again in a year. Minus the humor this is the way he has examined up until right after COVID-19 then he stopped having me strip naked and put on a gown. He didn't put me in a gown again for a couple of years following Covid-19 but the exams were just as thorough and complete. Now this past years physical he had me naked and in a gown again. He has been very thorough even when I seen him for other things. If it's not his field of medicine he will send me to a specialist. This is the only doctor I have seen in the last ten years other than one physical therapist. My wife sees the same doctor I do and he is just as thorough and complete with her. I don't think it's the clinic he works for making him be as thorough as he is. I think he genuinely cares about his patients health and this is his way of taking care of them. From what others post on here I feel pretty confident I have a good doctor and if there's something wrong he will find it.

According to others:

Removing shirt, pants, underwear and removing a gown has gotten less common

Removing shoes and socks have gotten more common

According to others:

Removing shirt, pants, underwear and removing a gown has gotten less common

Removing shoes and socks have gotten more common

Looks like TSA agents posing as doctors !

Prior doctor before COVID would always do skin exam (I'm very light skinned) and testicular check. Once did DRE. Things became more hands off for COVID, then that doctor moved. New doctor didn't do anything but heart and lungs and bloodwork (which did include PSA). I'm concerned about the lack of a skin check - I can't do a very good job with a mirror. I can see value for the other stuff, but at the same time it's not critical - I'm over peak testicular cancer years, and a DRE probably wouldn't give too much information on size change to a GP.

I understand many doctors have modified the examination procedure over the past few years. I have heard a few things for this happening from Covid 19, the ACA (here in the USA) to time management pressures from insurance companies and managed care organizations. Regardless a health care provider is now being strong armed into doing more with less. The annual physical has been reduced to the annual wellness exam. A shiny new name and a simplified more efficient way to do things which (IMO) may put a patient at risk. I dread the possibility of finding out I have testicular cancer or something else because my provider kept me in my street clothes, had me in the exam room for 10 minutes and sent me on my way. Listen to my heart and lungs with my shirt and tie on then it is out the door with a requisition for some blood and urine tests. To me that is s not good patient care.

On a personal level my providers still do complete annual physicals on me. Perhaps they have not changed their policies or due to the fact I am asthmatic or have had a few exercise injuries. I am offered a gown but I discard it. I am comfortable enough being examined in my underwear and the providers at my clinic are highly skilled professionals. My doctor encourages me to keep healthy and fit.

I have read my share about these so called wellness visits. I do not hold them in high regard nor do I like this new level of (or lack thereof) patient care.

Yeah, it's not much different than the vitals chec when you come in the door. Fortunately I see a uro 2x/yr and he does the genitals and rectal exam

My exams as a child shaped my love for this type of play. Though at the time I didn’t know what to make of them.

My exams in adult life have seldom even touched skin. Perhaps all those years of me wishing the doctor would leave me alone have caught up to me lol.

A shiny new name and a simplified more efficient way to do things which (IMO) may put a patient at risk. I dread the possibility of finding out I have testicular cancer or something else because my provider kept me in my street clothes, had me in the exam room for 10 minutes and sent me on my way. Listen to my heart and lungs with my shirt and tie on then it is out the door with a requisition for some blood and urine tests. To me that is s not good patient care.

MedFet aside, I hate that I cannot get a thorough exam. I haven’t had my testicles checked for cancer in years and I am terrified of asking for that to be examined out of fear I’d be labeled a pervert. Same for a prostate exam. My dad’s side of the family has all sorts of issues: prostatitis, enlargement, cancer and they don’t offer a DRE.

My annual dermatology exam is the same. She will check everything except my genital and anus area. It’s always like “any concerns in this area?”

How about you check?

Only once was undressed. It would be awesome if there was a way for us to track what providers do by city, but that would be quite difficult I imagine

The only time that I have had a testicular exam was in 2018. I have a family history of prostate cancer and BPH on both my mother's side and my father's side. When I started seeing a urologist in 2022, they automatically said that my urinary issues were from prostatitis. I was treated for prostatitis fo four months. After getting fed up with two urologists not doing anything about the fact that I would get the urge to urinate and not be able to for 12 hours or more, I changed urology practices. The most recent urologist diagnosed be with BPH and scheduled me for a prostatic urethral lift. I still have some issues with not being able to empty my bladder completely, but I have much less problems with urinating than I did. After all of that, three urologists, a scare with my PSA doubling, and the family history, all of the doctors are depending on the PSA test. I have never had my prostate checked by a DRE. And I'm currently 53 years old.

Most doctors are very rushed in this day and age. I luckily found a old school internist who has me gowned and does a thorough head to toe examination not missing a thing.

Last two physicals I didn't have to take anything off. Exposed part of my shoulder to have her take a look at a small bump. Going to ask about skin checks next physical since I work outside a lot.

My physicals usually include a prostate exam and genitals. My doctor asks me to umbuckle my belt and fly and lower my pants slightly. He then manoeuvres things around so he can examine. At the end he asks me to roll onto my side for the prostate check. I have never been fully naked or asked to undress.

To add to this.

I have a gay male doctor and I am gay and male. I wonder if gay male doctors are more likely to be thorough with gay male patients?

Anyone have any thoughts here?

I would agree things have changed greatly, used to strip down to the underwear and then those came off as well, now the farthest ive been asked was to take my shirt off and even that doesnt happen often. Maybe its a rush for time thing, or maybe the dr's just dont believe in the benefit.

My doctor does gown and just underwear on. He moves the gown down to see the top of the body then up to see the lower body including genitalia.

@Medfetplayer Given that your provider is a gay male and you too are a gay male, do you believe that he treats you any differently as far as your examinations go? It would be interesting to know if any/all of his other patients receive the same treatment. Given the thoroughness that you're describing, maybe there is some covert lust/desire to view/examine you in the nude but that can be disguised as a medical provider giving a "thorough" exam, all the while, he is receiving a pleasure from it too.

Maybe, but I have no way of knowing