What embarrassing things have happened to you during a gynaecological exam?

I've been complimented on a tattoo while a gynaecologist was sat directly infront of my vagina... i was panicking until i realised she meant the one on my ankle.

During a transvaginal ultrasound, I was also gently told off for my semi-full bladder which is a very invasive and cringey thing to have happen

I was told I had a “textbook gorgeous cervix” I sat myself up a bit and replied, “thank you! I don’t think she gets the credit she deserves” my doctor didn’t understand my humor but the nurse cracked up

2 different visits with 2 different patients I was witness to having a student/resident be present for her exam and do most of the work. Another time she was nervous and put the gown on backwards (should have opened in front but had opening in back) this made the breast exam more exposing than normal…they went ahead with it on backwards instead of removal and proper placement

I recently had to have a work up including a vaginal sonogram. I got the “Oh it’s a perfectly normal reaction” comment I was so wet.

I was joining with my partner for her exam and before the nurse left she instructed her to undress and put on the gown. She remained in the gown for easily 15 minutes waiting patiently for someone to come knocking. While waiting she had to pee so she hopped off the table barefoot, clutched her gown in front and went to the restroom. By the time she came back the doc and nurse/chaperone were waiting on her

Got told that my vagina was “accommodating and moist” for someone who has been on testosterone so long.

My wife has had surgery a couple of times in her bladder which means that there are several pre and post op visits. My wife is very meticulous about cleanliness and grooming the hair in that area. When the urologist pushed the sheet back on one of these visits she remarked "Always so pristine". I guess they see bits in all kinds of conditions. I wonder if saying something positive is okay because would you want to hear "Well that's certainly a mess".

Nothing yet thankfully.

I've not had any, thank God; however, I've maybe experienced a pass of air, really during sex rather than an exam. I'd rather it be with someone intimate than the doctor. That way, I can determine how to coordinate and maneuver my next move, if you will. I've been in situations, at least during play, whereas I have air in my vagina due to playing, which produces the passing of gas sounds...but it's just air. Queefing, if you may ask...

Nothing, but I was examined by 2 male proctologists in hospital, one spreads cheeks, other came with finger 😃

A nurse opened the door during my pelvic exam. The doctor jumped to block the door but he stumbled and fell, grabbing the drap that was covering me, and I ended up naked, my legs in the stirrups, speculum in me.

It gets worse, in the door was my neighbour with her 14 year old son. He has never looked at me the same way since.

The stirrups end of the table was facing the door? Oh man.

A nurse opened the door during my exam. The doctor jumped to block the door but he stumbled and fell, grabbing the drap that was covering me, and I ended up naked, my legs in the stirrups, speculum in me.

It gets worse, in the door was my neighbour with her 14 year old son. He has never looked at me the same way since.

And you haven't sued them for unnecessary exposure? The door could have been locked - that is gross negligence

@DoctorMichael What are the actual damages? For a lawsuit you need to prove negligence - this would be simple negligence not gross negligence if locking the door is the standard of care, once you prove that now what are the actual damages? Sure some emotional damage maybe, quantify it? Put a 4 amount on it. Did it cuase the patient to be unable to work? Never date agian?

Filing a lawsuit is not so simple.

I would imagine they will have turned the tables away from the door after that incident though!

@DoctorMichael What are the actual damages? For a lawsuit you need to prove negligence - this would be simple negligence not gross negligence if locking the door is the standard of care, once you prove that now what are the actual damages? Sure some emotional damage maybe, quantify it? Put a 4 amount on it. Did it cuase the patient to be unable to work? Never date agian?

Filing a lawsuit is not so simple.

So, you are saying that it is acceptable to have a gynecological exam in a parking lot ? She did not consent to other people being in the room and the fact is other people were admitted into the room without her consent.

From what I understand, @at77 should have a case of at least negligence with the doctor/ care team not ensuring that the room was not accessible to non medical staff, a definite invasion of privacy and emotional distress. The fact that she is unable to interact the same way with a neighbor's kid is a testament to that.

So, you are saying that it is acceptable to have a gynecological exam in a parking lot ? She did not consent to other people being in the room and the fact is other people were admitted into the room without her consent.

From what I understand, @at77 should have a case of at least negligence with the doctor/ care team not ensuring that the room was not accessible to non medical staff, a definite invasion of privacy and emotional distress. The fact that she is unable to interact the same way with a neighbor's kid is a testament to that.

First of all, yes. Secondly, doctors regularly do much worse than that in the name of medicine. All this 'consent' thing does is give people more reasons to be uncomfortable. But thirdly, all she said was he looks at her differently now. Don't project and catastrophize like that. It's a silly anecdote about harmless embarrassment.

Just to point out a bit of reality here - exam rooms, especially in smaller office settings may have the head of the table in various directions. It's really not that uncommon to have a situation when entering the room that you are in fact facing the stirrup end of the table. It's a reality of how the sink plumbing, computer workspace, chair arrangement, and so forth affect how opposing or adjacent exam rooms are layed out. You are not going to turn the table around just because, as that would alter the entire configuration setup of the exam room.

Now if events rolled out entirely as described, and a doctor performing a pelvic exam, or any exam for that matter, jumped off the exam stool trying to block a door while grabbing a sheet cover, taking it with him , stumbling and falling - this is not a medical office or physician - this would be called a clown show.

Next - you would never for any reason lock an exam room door from the inside, even if it were for some bizarre reason possible to do so. This would be a complete violation of safety protocol. In the event of a fire, a tornado, a bizarre equipment failure sending sparks flying, anything at all - you have just put a patient and yourself at serious safety risk up to and including death. No this will never happen in real life.

I'm not being dismissive, weird things happen, though I've never once had anyone open an exam room door during an exam of any kind. Patients do not get to peek into an exam room where the door was closed, there are protocols in place when an exam room is occupied and flags that it is.

Almost every exam room in long time has had a privacy curtain which should be drawn for any kind of intimate exam or procedure, but in reality even in the ER curtains are left open or non existent so more care should be taken.

For people to judge the incident as simple embarrassment is biased. What’s simply embarrassing to one person can be traumatic to another. However I do think a lawsuit would probably not make it because there was no negligence. They should make things right by apologizing and adding curtains if one was not there to prevent future occurrences. If they don’t I would light them up in online reviews.