Thank you ladydocisin and srg rik. Ladydocisin i'm afraid i'll have become aroused by the genital exam. Do you think the doctor would skip over or preform a shortened genital exam if i'm aroused? Because every female doctor i've ever had in the past has turned me on, and in my early teens they would barely touch my genitals if i was aroused. 😢
Nick-You're most welcome. I think any medical professional would tell you that becoming aroused while at the doctor is something they've all seen before. They don't make a big deal out of it, and neither should you, it happens.The only reason that I can think of that a genital exam might have been abbreviated with a younger person is to avoid any accusations of inappropriate behavior. Now I'm afraid you'll just have to cowboy up. The exam is likely to be brief anyway given your age. Again, if you do become aroused, I wouldn't worry about it.LadyDoc
LadyDoc,I found it interesting how thorough and detailed the physical exam you described was. I have insurance coverage from a major insurance provider and always use in network doctors, but I am lucky to be weighed and have my blood pressure checked, let alone any type of physical exam. I have heard this blamed on everything from time constraints, to lawsuits, to insufficient reimbursement from insurance companies. What is the real reason that doctors provide only a cursory exam even on the first visit? Is there a proper way to request a more thorough physical be preformed? Thanks.Sensei1980
Sensei-Good question! Wish I could answer it for you, but I'm not a real doc, I just play one. Perhaps one of the medical professionals on the board could give us some insight.I will say that I think insurance physicals are cursory by their very nature, as are MOST employment physicals. I can tell you from personal experience that one way to get a thorough going over is to develop a life-threatening condition. That will get you the kind of attention you never wanted to have!Play On!LadyDoc
I have had physicals from quite a few doctors. I only do physicals that are required for employers or insurance companies (life or disability), so every exam I have is with a new doctor since I have to go to the doctor to whom I am sent. This means I have experienced a lot of different physicians both in family practice and internal medicine. They vary a bit, but most are fairly similar. The most common way I have been prepared for the exams is stripped to underpants, briefs in my case. I had one for which I was instructed just to take off my shirt to begin. I have had one for which I was told to strip down completely and wear an exam gown and another in which I was told to go down to shorts and put on a gown. But at least 75% were in briefs only. Most of the time the exam begins with me sitting on the edge of the exam table with my feet dangling. The doctor usually examines eyes, ears, throat and neck at first. Next is usually neurological, reflexes, heart,lungs and axillae not always in the same order. Then I am usually told to lie on my back and the abdominal exam is done. This is usually auscultation and palpation. Some doctors have then checked peripheral pulses in feet, ankles, behind the knees, inguinal and wrists. Then come the embarrassing parts. Most often the doctor will sit on a stool and have me stand and face him or her and slip down my briefs. Each doctor has his own little phrase to instruct me for that and I enjoy recalling the exact words later on. He takes each one of the testes between his fingers and feels for any abnormal mass or discomfort. Then he uses his index finger to push up from each side of the scrotum into the inguinal canal on that side and feels for a hernia. He usually says "turn your head away from me and cough." Then comes the digital rectal exam. I have usually had this done as I bent over the table, but I have had it done up on the table on my side with knees pulled up toward my chest. A lubricated finger is inserted into the anus and the anal canal examined 360 degrees for abnormal masses and the prostate is palpated for abnormalities. This is usually about a 30 second process. He will wipe his gloved finger on a little card and drop a developing solution on it to check for blood on the glove. I then get to pull my briefs back up leaving a lot of my dignity behind.
I think the 'best' was a new doctor on Cape Cod. His assistant/nurse/whatever did the temp., blood pressure, pulse, weight (in the common hall, of course). I never undressed. He 'went over' me by sitting in a chair and reading what his computer stated given my sex and age.
You should expect a cold room with many cold instruments in the room, and the docotr will enter an ask you to uinfdress and take off your clothing to see what is wrong with you and to eamine your body
Late to the party, here, I have been following posts of another member and found this thread. Way back, the ideal physical would start in the new doctor's office, not the exam room. You might or might not have filled out a history, but he would go through one with you, asking you about each system of the body, any problems you might have. The last time this happened for me was in the mid 1990's. This doctor, like those before him, would then take me across to an exam room 'to have a look' or something to that effect. In the norm today, you fill out a history in the waiting room, hand it to the receptionist who gets it to a nurse who takes you into the exam room, usually getting your weight out in the common hallway fully dressed, and checks your vital signs. She then states the office policy, whether everything off/put a gown on or.... The exams themselves have been well covered by others.
I had my yearly exam today. I had to undress to shorts and put on a gown. Unfortuanelty all she did was check BP, listen to heart and lungs, and push down on belly. That was it! bummer
I had my yearly one this morning. I was asked to strip to my boxers and put on a gown. The female dr. took my BP and checked hear and lungs and abdomen. That was it. I was expecting at least a hernia check, but nothing. There was a tray with gloves and lube but it wasn;t used on me today. Would have loved to had a complete head to toe one.
When you hit 40 expect to get a Digital Rectal Exam at every annual checkup. If it isn't done then they are not doing their job.