One of the things we have learned from this site, and particularly the gynaecology forum is that there are different procedures, different techniques and different exam positions used in the Americas, Europe, Great Britain and in Asia, particularly Japan.
One thing that has intrigued me and others is the various exam positions, and exam hardware that is used in different cultures. Here in the US the predominant exam position appears to be with the woman, naked in a gown, flat on her back, on an standard examination table, with her heels in stirrups that extend from the end of the table. While this may be gradually changing, I believe this is still the most commonly used technique.
In Europe , particularly on the continent, modern examination chairs seem to be most common and the woman is typically naked from the waist down, no gown or drape sheet, and her legs in support that either go under the calf or under the knee.
In England, and presumably most of the Commonwealth countries, the typical "smear" is done with the woman on an exam couch, often with her skirt on but panties removed, and her feet flat on the couch, ankles together and knees open... in what is often referred to as the "frog position".
And in Asia - or at least Japan - the woman most often will remove her underwear in a private area, sit in an exam chair not unlike the European models, except that once she is seated, and her legs strapped in, the motorized chair swings around 90 degrees to face where the doctor is. The chair is tilted back and part of the seat retracts while a curtain is drawn between her upper torso and her lower extremities.
The following questionnaire - after the great success of my other questionnaire entitled "On a girls first visit to the gynecologist" will focus on the various positions, women's reactions to them, and their preferences. The questionnaire is divided up into four parts... one for women in the Americas, one for British subjects, one for our female friends on the Continent and finally one for women in Asia.
For our ladies in the Americas:
1. Does your doctor still use the traditional exam table with stirrups?
2. Having seen the other examination positions shown in this forum and briefly described above, which do you think you would prefer?
3. Would you be more comfortable at the gyn exam if you did not have to undress completely and put on a paper or cloth gown?
4. Would you feel more embarased/humiliated being naked from the waist down while the doctor examined you (note that no drape sheet is typically used on the Continent or the UK whereas there is a curtain drawn in Japan)
5. Do you feel that the curtain used in Japan removes some of the typical doctor/patient interaction that is so important in dealing with medical situation?
6. Would you feel more relaxed if there was a support of some type either under your calves or knees?
7. With the knee / calf supports, the woman has little control over how wide her thighs are open. Would this make you uncomfortable?
8. Do you feel that you might lose some control if you were in an exam chair that the doctor manipulated and put you into the position that most suited his or her needs or the needs of the particular examination?
For our ladies on the Continent:
1. Have you ever been examined in stirrups?
2. Do you think the examination would be more.. or less comfortable when done on an examination table with stirrups?
3. Would you feel more or less embarassed / humiliated in stirrups?
4. How do you feel about walking, naked from the waist down, from the changing area to the exam chair?
5. Is the doctor typically in the exam room when you come out of the changing area?
6. Do you feel particularly exposed when sitting in the exam chair?
7. What are your thoughts on the stirrup position or the frog position?
8. Is there any movement to the chair in your doctors office.. as compared to the Japanese model?
For our friends in the UK:
1. Have you ever been examined in stirrups or an exam chair?
2. Are you more comfortable being able to stay in your clothing, and only having to remove your panties?
3. What are your feelings about the exam chair and the stirrups used in other areas?
4. Do you feel any discomfort from having your ankles together and your knees so wide apart?
5. Do you get to undress in private or is the doctor in the exam room as you remove your panties?
6. In the other positions, the doctor is typically at the end of the table.. in your doctors office is he / she typically at your side?
7. Does the doctors position (see 6 above) have any effect on your sense of embarassment / humiliation or other feelings?
8. Does the doctor leave the area while you get off the couch and put your panties back on?
For our friends in Asia:
1. How common is the rotating chair?
2. Do you mind being strapped into the chair?
3. Where is the doctor while you are being positioned for the exam?
4. Does the curtain between you and the doctor preserve your modesty at all?
5. Does the curtain preclude you from discussing things with the doctor while the exam is proceeding?
6. What are your thoughts on the stirrups / frog / European chair?
7. Would you prefer to be in a gown for the exam?
8. How uncomfortable is it having the doctor control how far your thighs are open?
Thank you ladies ... if you have any additional comments you'd like to make about any part of your exam, please do so here... we are quite interested in your thoughts and feelings.
Gentlemen .. if you have other questions that you feel fit this discussion, please feel free to add them.
Doc Rob