Visual anal exam instead of digital rectal?

I had a couple of exams years ago when I was in my 20s where the doctor had me bend over after the hernia and testicle exam so he could look at my anus. No rectal exam, just a look while I was bent over with my shorts down. One doctor said that I would eventually "get the finger but not today." The other doctor just said something about "just taking a look and that's it for now." Anyone get a look only but no finger? How long did that last before you got the real thing?

That is an interesting question. The absolutely thorough, head-to-toe internist I went to starting at the age of (14?) went from a drop your shorts hernia check to jumping jacks for a racing heart measure and then I was told I could get dressed. Since he did visual inspections, he would have checked from the spine down, but no digital check. Ditto the pediatrician. And osteopathic doctors do visual but not digital in my experiences.

When i was a teen growing up my dr would ussauly spread my cheeks and look at my hole. this was usaauly done after the hernia check with my underwear off after having me bend over and touch my toes he would check my spine and then sit on the stole and pull my cheeks apart and just look, he never told me what he was looking for.it was very akward as a teen.

I've had a few exams like that as an adult. The first in my early 20's then another a few years later. I also had a visual anal when I was 10 o

Sorry - had one when I was 10 or 11 by our family doc - not the pediatrician. Now it's all finger all the time.

Does anyone know what the DR. would be looking for?

In addition to external hemorrhoids, there are a number of other conditions that may be diagnosed by external examination. The most common is Pruritis, an external irritation accompanied by itching, often the result of inadequate hygiene after a bowel movement. Other less common conditions include Anal Warts, Fissures (a tear in the anal canal), Skin Tags, and Fistulas (infected anal glands which form their own outlet to drain abscesses).

In my mid 20's after i got a external hemorrhoid that occasionally flares up my doctor would have me also bend over the exam table after the hernia/testicle exam and he would also just look at my rectum without the rectal exam. It wasn't until i turned 30 that he asked if i wanted the rectal exam as i was bending over the exam table.

The first I remember was when I was 12 and the doctor asked me to turn over after examining my penis and testicles. Once on my stomach, I felt his hands spread my cheeks wide for what seemed like forever. It was both very embarrassing and extremely exciting. He did not touch my anus. Since then, I've had the finger a few times.

This was related to me by a friend in college in the 1970's over a few beers. We were talking about visits to the doctor during our teenage years.

This young man came from a conservative background in the Northeast. When he was 13, he went to his doctor for a sports physical. With his pants down around his thighs, his doctor did the traditional hernia exam. He then had my friend bend over the table for a visual exam of his anus. When the doctor checked my friend's anus, he noticed it was very red and sore. My friend knew why , of course, because he had been itching back there for a couple of weeks.

The doctor performed the tape test for pinworms and it came back positive.

A nurse took over the proceedings from there. He was taken back to a procedure room. The treatment he received I had never heard of before or since. The nurse entered the room with a disposible enema bag with maybe a pint of bluish fluid in it. She had my friend lower his shorts and briefs to his ankles and lay on his left side. She inserted the hose a few inches and let the fluid flow into him. He said he had never cramped like that before. After he released the blue fluid, he was given two rinse enemas by the nurse.

His mom had to wash all of his clothes and bed linen in hot water and she had to bleach the toilet at home.

He returned for a visual exam of his anus a week later and a repeat of the tape test with the results being negative.

When I was a late preteen and teenager my pediatrician would have me turn with my back to him and spread my cheeks for a visual exam only. He did this immediately after the genital and hernia exam.

Only had the look so far and that was to check for hemorrhoids.

I have almost always had the doc take a look, if not actually do a digital check. I'm 24, so I have only had a couple actual rectal exams.

Dr J58 provided a pretty good list of lesions on the anus apparent to inspection. In addition to warts, fissures, external hemorrhoids and signs of pruritus ani (the $50 term for itchy anus,which is very common for a variety of reasons). Also should consider chancre (syphilis) and, rarely, types of skin cancer. Digital exam is for entirely different purposes: checking for masses of the anal canal and rectum as well as the prostate and, in women, palpating the posterior aspect of the cervix and vagina. Both forms of exam are important, for different reasons. Whether or not a doctor does a digital exam, it wouid not be a thorough exam if he/she didn't look.

Thanks rayme and DrJ58. Lots of great information in your posts.

How common is this? I've never had this done...

Thanks rayme and DrJ58. It's great to learn from such professionals.

Usually mine does first a visual check then digital

I imagine they do a quick visual before the DRE but I cant tell as I have my back to them.. my GP commented the other day that my hemorrhoids cleared up nicely (I had some a month ago) so at least I know she took a more detailed look that time.