LADIES - Frog leg position

@shaomi Was there a reason you needed such examinations at that age? That seems very invasive for the UK!

@shaomi Was there a reason you needed such examinations at that age? That seems very invasive for the UK!

@Testy_Paul_a I do not think she grew up in the UK, she said she had a pediatrician but you would not have one of those unless something had been wrong with you.

When I was 14, I had an exam where the doctor at the pediatric's office asked me to get into the frog legs position. I had to fully lower my slip and leggings, which made me feel extremely exposed and anxious. My heart was racing, and I kept wondering if I was doing everything right or if I looked awkward. It was hard not to tense up completely from the vulnerability.

The doctor looked at my vulva and spread my labia, but they stayed calm and professional, explaining what they were doing step by step. That helped a little, but I couldn’t fully shake the nervousness.

Afterwards, I felt a huge sense of relief, mixed with some embarrassment.

@SanfteSpur did they explain why they needed to do this?

I've never had an exam in frog leg position at the gyno or the pediatrician. The only times I get in that position is to get a Brazilian wax.

@Testy_Paul_a I do not think she grew up in the UK, she said she had a pediatrician but you would not have one of those unless something had been wrong with you.

Yeah, that would make sense

Once yea. I was in the ER in a bed that didn’t have stirrups at the end of it. I was asked to put one of those pink plastic bin things under my hips/ butt bring my knees up and let them fall apart. Doc then inserted a speculum and kinda leaned over to look in with a pen light… lasted less than 2 minutes. Afterwards he put 2 fingers in.. felt around inside, felt around on my belly (my cervix, uterus and ovaries with the internal hand too) and that was it.

Not at the doctor’s but this is the usual position to get a Brazilian wax. At the place I go to they call it Butterfly pose.

When I was a little girl going to the pediatrician, I would periodically be given an exam in the frog leg position. I imagine that the purpose of this exam was to check and examine all my female bits to see if everything was developing as it should be. Other than getting my rectal temperature taken, it was the only other time that I was naked from the waist in the doctor's office. Before the doctor begin the exam, he would prepare a small stainless steel bowl filled with warm water. There were cotton balls in the water and the doctor would use them to wash me before he would examine me. I remember how strange the warm cotton balls felt as I was being cleaned. After I was washed, the doctor would thoroughly examine my outer female parts. I remember lying there on my back while in the frog leg position while his fingers moved around and examined me. It felt so strange at the time.

I vividly remember these exams and would think about them a lot after my appointment was over. I never used to be embarrassed about them, however after I stated getting enemas, I was really embarrassed and humiliated about being in such a vulnerable position and having my doctor wash and then examine my private area. However, even when I was a little girl, I would think about my doctor doing that exam and also imagine him giving me an enema while I was up on the examination table.

The frog leg position was always used by my pediatrician when examining my sister at her checkups. We stopped going together once I hit puberty and started receiving physical exams so I'm not sure if he used them in her physical exams or if he used the stirrups.

I had both the GYN exams and smear tests I have had (one every 5 years in uk from age 25 here) in this position. My doctor’s office hasn’t got stirrups just an exam table.

I have never been asked to adopt frog leg position at the gynecologist; even from my first visit the examination was performed llithotomy position with the stirrups.

My exams prior to that at the pediatrician and family droctors office were performed in the frog leg position.

I have a hormonal condition that causes some dermatology issues-- hidradenitis suppurativa. Two years ago I went to a dermatologist for a proper dx of this condition and how to treat the dermatology issues around my cycles. There weren't any stirrups and he needed to check my external vaginal area and had me assume the frog leg- butterfly position. No other time for gyn needs have I been asked to be in this position.

Yes, and I absolutely loathed it - in fact, I still get a bit of the stomach ache anxiety feeling just thinking about it.

I had chronic recurring UTIs throughout my childhood, and obviously I now understand the purpose was most likely to check for signs of sexual abuse; unfortunately that doesn’t do much to ease the deep-seated dread and horror when recalling how I felt during those exams.

Funny enough, I have never had any similar qualms about stirrups at the gynecologist in adulthood - prior to every gyn appointment, part of me gets a bit nervous that I might enjoy it (given my medical “interests”). Perhaps it’s because I’m actually electing to go to the appointments myself and knowing what will happen - less of the loss of control and medical-subject feelings.

But for me, it’s very professional, and if anything I do my best to keep talking throughout it with the provider… and it is over before I know it! Even my IUD insertions haven’t given me that same sense of dread - and thankfully so, as I would really hate to risk my health due to what I truly consider traumatic experiences as a child.

I enjoy the thought of this position for fantasizing, but I’ve never been asked to get into the frog leg position by a doctor.

I vaguely remember it at the pediatrician office for “a quick peek down there”. Never for a pelvic exam though.