Asked to cough during exam

Is there anytime a doctor ask you to cough during a vaginal or rectal exam?

Depends on the doctor and the exam. Most asked her to bare down, at least one to cough.

I think that the doctor instructs someone to cough is they have difficulty bearing down or they can't maintain it long enough for a thorough exam.

Of course, you will ask the patient to cough as you tend to insert a finger for a digital rectal exam... it's easier that way...

Yes I think you're right, it's to check the sphincters and internal muscles

Coughing or bearing down is usually done to check for hernias, most commonly inguinal in men and femoral in women. Sphincter tone is checked by just inserting the finger, and that isn't usually done unless there is an incontinence problem.

No coughing, just a normal rectal exam is done. More for guys I would think

I was told to cough at my first exam

Not for mine

Asking a female to cough during a genital exam is to determine urinary incontinence.

You can see urine drip if there is a problem.

We ask women to bare down to relax the anus for a rectal and also see if there is the possibility of uterine prolapse vaginally.

My wife has not been asked to.

Yes, matter of fact. Many times over.

Hmm, as mentioned, it is routine for a hernia check. I've never done that one, but asking a patient to take a deep breath and cough is part of my routine lung assessment.

Bear down and cough with a finger inserted in the vagina checks two things -

Cystocele - weakening of vaginal wall and bladder support

Rectocele - pelvic floor support issues that allows the front of the rectal wall to bulge into the vagina

Slightly off topic ...no coughing...but digital rectal exam is sometimes used during a Valsalva manoeuvre during diagnosis/treatement of atrial fibrillation

I remember the girls in my class returning from their school physical asking how a doctor checks girls for a hernia. Apparently, the doctor had them cough with her fingers pressed into their groins and then again with a finger inserted into their vaginas. I don't know if this was a hernia check or something else, but I was definitely aroused.

I only got asked to cough when the doctor removed my IUD, both times.

I had quite a bit of being told to cough, and mainly at awkward moments with a finger or probe inside me, when I participated in an anal manometry research study, I wrote about it here https://en.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;msg=939397;nox=1815420

When I saw the urogyn, he asked me to cough while he observed my urethra, he also had me cough while “milking” my urethra. Then I had The “swab test” where he inserted a swab into my urethra and had me cough again.

@Interestedmed I’ve had to do that too

I've seen the squeeze my finger, and then cough routine a couple times. But there was one that really stood out. My wife thought she might have a bacterial infection, symptoms were a bit different from a UTI. So after a complete pelvic the doctor puts her on her right side, pulls up one leg and angles the knee upward with her foot on the table. He then does a sort of internal exam with her on her side and he has two fingers deep in the vagina and brings his other hand up on the outside similar to a bimanual exam. But then he manipulates her with both hands and tells her to cough. He changes positions a bit and has her do that again. He was definitely pushing against her bladder and pelvic muscles vs her uterus. Obviously it wasn't about prolapse uterus or anything like that. More about pressure on the bladder and anterior part of her pelvis. Only time I've ever seen that done in that manner.

Yes, many times.

He placed his fingers under my testicles and asked me to cough.

Some former partners were asked to cough when the speculum was inserted. Think about hearing those stories often.

I remember the girls in my class returning from their school physical asking how a doctor checks girls for a hernia. Apparently, the doctor had them cough with her fingers pressed into their groins and then again with a finger inserted into their vaginas. I don't know if this was a hernia check or something else, but I was definitely aroused.

Interesting. I didn't know school physicals consisted of finger in vagina. Had I known this in high school, I might have masturbated even more than I did, if that's even possible.

I’ve been asked to cough while placing a tenaculum.

Yes, of course.

every time they listen to my lungs with a stethoscope.

They also asked me to cough during some genital or testicular exams, and every time I had a prostate exam

I’ve been asked to bear down multiple times at exams, but only asked to cough once ever.

During those early pedi and adolescent years having a genital exam required "turn your head and cough" as my testicles were handled. I never understood why and it was slightly unpleasant depending upon the pressure applied by the doctor. Not all docs were gentle. During adulthood and the DRE, I have been asked to cough at some point. Not sure why but I am compliant and just want to get dressed!

@Vermontstace what was the context?