Physical exam for 28 year old male

I'm in the process of setting up an appointment with a new doctor now that I'm on a new health insurance plan. I'm a guy, 28 years old, and I figure the best way to start off with this doctor (who is female, and fairly attractive, btw) is to get a full physical (which I'm going to specifically make the appointment for when I call the office).

Now, the thing is, I haven't actually had a *full* physical in quite a long time, at least since my pre-teen years. I've had minor physicals for stuff like sports and plasma donation where I didn't get a genital or rectal exam, and for the most part were above the waist. In other words, I can barely remember the last time I had a thorough, comprehensive physical and I'm hoping I get that this time around.

So, those who are my age, or have had physicals in their late 20s, what am I in for? I have a general idea of what to expect during checkups, but I'd love to any experiences any of you guys have had at the doctor around this age (especially if it was the first physical you've had in a long time). Feel free to refer me to an earlier posting if someone has already posted about this subject, I haven't been on here in a while.

It probably won't be much different than the minor check ups you've had, except for maybe more discussion of medical history and such. As far as below the waist goes you might get a hernia check, but that will be about it unless there's a compelling reason to do more. Rectal/ prostate exam is highly unlikely at age 28.

It's good to know both your age and location, since what you end up having will add to our collective experience. Your new doctor's office might, or might not split things between a meet and greet, go over your history, order labs as the first visit, and then the actual physical the next time. If the two are combined, time will be limited. I have seen a pattern spreading of fully dressed male exams 'because patients don't want to get undressed.' The age/experience of your new doctor might factor into this, what the doctor's training was. You can try to sound out the office on things, or check a website. You can also state what you are after, and see what the reaction is.

It could end up being a superficial exam with the doctor basically checking you out while you're still fully clothed. Or they might ask you to undress and perform a more thorough exam. At your age, you're too young (according to the recommended guidelines) for a prostate and rectal exam, unless you're having issues in that area. And you might be too old for the prime age where testicular cancer is an issue that they check. So you might not get any kind of exam in that area. It really all depends on the practice and how thorough the doctor is.

In any case, good luck!

It is a roll of the dice, it really is up to the doctor along with what your insurance will pay for. I have had an HMO plan for years. I am healthy and physically fit and I owe part of this blessing because my doctor administers a very comprehensive annual physical. My first visit was at age 24. Underwear only, no gown. I was poked and prodded all over. I had a full body examination including a breast exam, a testicular exam and a prostate exam (family history). Blood work, urine test, Chest X Ray and an EKG. A short time later I also had an exercise stress test. (Possible cardiac problem)

I would say at minimum you should have a breast and testicular exam as well as some lab tests.

The thoroughness of the exam will depend on the kind of doctor you see. An internist will be more thorough than a family practice kind of doctor. That was my experience anyway when I was in my 20s. With an internist, you are more likely to be undressed in underwear only or a gown only. When I was in my early 20s, I saw an internist for the first time and got the most thorough exam I had ever had. I had been undressed to my underpants only lots of time for physicals up to that exam but it was my first time in a gown with nothing underneath. I got my first rectal exam then too. He wasn't checking my prostate at my age. He was checking for rectal tumors and other conditions. A family practice kind of doctor might have you undressed and in a gown but it might also be nothing more than dropping your pants for a hernia exam and nothing more if you are healthy.

I have mine next week and my situation is similar. Except that I've a history of enlarged prostate problems in my family after 30 and I felt a tenderness at my last testicular self-exam. So it may be a bit different.

The thoroughness of the exam will depend on the kind of doctor you see. An internist will be more thorough than a family practice kind of doctor.

That is completely untrue. The MAIN difference between an internist and a Family Practice doctor is the age of the people they see. Family doctors are trained and tested on everything from obstetrics to geriatrics (even if they limit their practice). Internal medicine docs specialize in adults only.

If you've had different exams from the two, it's a personal preference and/or insurance issue.

I had physicals at 19 (for a summer job), 23 (when returning to school), and 28 (just because). For the last two I was in underwear only, but it's been 20 years and I sense that doctors use more gowns now but maybe I'm wrong.

The doc was not much older than I was, which was a new experience and sort of hot really. He checked my genitals but it was pretty quick. No rectal exam.

I do have a history of prostate cancer in my family, so I got my first DRE at age 34. I've written about that before but I don't think that'll happen to you unless there's a reason for it. But who knows?

Sometimes a first physical can be superthorough, though not often. At 28, you probably are not expected to have many problems so it is also possible (probably more possible) that your exam wont be thorough at all.

You should expect to receive a testicular and hernia exam at your age. If your uncircumcised, she will possibly retract your foreskin and check the head of your penis.

Perhaps it was personal preference, the determination of the practice, or the education institution, I would agree that, in my experience, up until my current family medicine doctor, the internal medicine exams were the head to toe, skin, nails, with patient in underwear, then without it, hernia and, with age, rectal exams, what we call 'old school' exams. The family medicine practices were the patient dressed ones. In NYC, it was possible to predict the exam thoroughness, or approach, based on the hospital system, which one first introduced gowns. Which is why I was so surprised that my Canadian trained family medicine doctor is so thorough.

It's training, personal preference, AMA guidelines, insurance reimbursement, local style and age/health of the patient.

Echoing many others here, it depends on your doctor, but my guess is that at your age, assuming you're in good health, it won't be too thorough. You may not even have to get undressed. At most, there will be a hernia check and testicular exam as far as private parts go, and perhaps not even that.

If someone stated at 28 that he was going back to the gym, was going to be playing recreational sports, or starting a job which involved lifting, the attention might become more direct. That's of course not claiming specific problems or concerns.

Echoing many others here, it depends on your doctor, but my guess is that at your age, assuming you're in good health, it won't be too thorough. You may not even have to get undressed. At most, there will be a hernia check and testicular exam as far as private parts go, and perhaps not even that.

This is exactly what I think. There is such a wide range of what's considered a physical exam that it's impossible to know what you're getting until you've had it done. However, if you don't have any health concerns, the doctor won't need to focus on any one body system so it will likely be very quick. I would consider a "complete" physical anything that touches on every body system, but even a something as standard as a complete HEENT exam can vary considerably between doctors.

As far as undressing, it's possible you'll stay fully dressed and only shift clothing around as necessary, or you could be given a gown or exam shorts or be told to undressed to underwear.

I'd say it's more likely than not that you will need to drop your shorts for a quick testicular and hernia exam.

I personally find physical exams with new doctors very exciting because you have no idea going in how they'll have you draped and what exactly they'll do. Just go with the flow and enjoy the experience!!

I agree that there is always uncertainty with a new doctor. I saw a new doctor years ago for a first time physical with him and he seemed confused about why I was there. Maybe he was busy or distracted but he thought I was there only to meet him and not for an exam. So we talked for a few minutes, he didn't do an exam, and I left. It is possible that when I made the appointment, the receptionist didn't understand that I was making a physical exam appointment and thought that I only wanted a short initial meeting with the doctor. It might have made a difference if his nurse had asked me why I was there when I was shown into the exam room but I don't remember her doing that. I definitely wasn't told to get undressed so that would have been a clue to the doctor why I was there if I had been waiting for him that way. I was in my 30s so maybe he figured that I looked healthy enough.

It was definitely another year before I saw him again for a physical exam. This time he understood why I was there and did a full exam. He was the only doctor that I have had who told me to undress, put on a gown but leave my underpants on. I saw him maybe once more after that and then my insurance changed and he wasn't on my new insurance plan.

It makes a difference, from appointment length, to billing coding, whether a patient is there for a 'meet and greet,' or physical exam. I have learned to ask, because many practices have eliminated the former. I can recall assuming once that I was going for the latter, only to discover the former.

It makes a difference, from appointment length, to billing coding, whether a patient is there for a 'meet and greet,' or physical exam. I have learned to ask, because many practices have eliminated the former. I can recall assuming once that I was going for the latter, only to discover the former.

I'm almost 20 years beyond 28 and I'm not male but I have NEVER had a meet and greet appointment, never had one offered and never felt the need for one.

I'm almost 20 years beyond 28 and I'm not male but I have NEVER had a meet and greet appointment, never had one offered and never felt the need for one.

I've been to the doctor once in the last year and that was for my last physical. For a healthy person, a meet and greet makes no sense, but I do see the benefit for a patient diagnosed with a condition that will require multiple, extensive visits.

I'd be pissed going for what I thought was a physical only to have a useless chat session to discuss my good health and no concerns. Thankfully my clinic does online appointment scheduling and there is a very clear button to schedule an "adult physical exam".

I could see a receptionist missing a request for a physical exam over the phone and writing down "screening" or "health check" or something else that really means nothing.

I started using the Zocdoc site to book appointments, and in my 1st appointment with a new dentist last week, the booking gave her the impression I was there for a consultation as opposed to a cleaning.

So depending how you book an appointment can potentially create a misunderstanding. best bet is really to talk live to a receptionist at the office and make your intentions clear.

Meet and greet has a place, especially when looking for a doctor to perform an elective procedure. For my recent colonoscopy, I could have booked the procedure with the doctor dejur. No thanks, I want to meet that doc first.

Unfortunately, it didn't help this time.

Meet and greet. Let's say that you are a new patient to a practice, have a pre-existing condition, might have transferred your records, or some of them, but definitely need an updated history done, and lab work requests. This is when what sounds confusing for some, a meet and greet, is more than getting on a line to shake a politician's hand. You and your doctor are setting a plan in place based on you as an actual patient.

But first you have to accept them as your doctor. THAT'S what the meet and greet is about. You pay for their time and experience both the office and the human.

I've fired doctors whom I've liked because the office was intolerable.

Meet and greet. Let's say that you are a new patient to a practice, have a pre-existing condition, might have transferred your records, or some of them, but definitely need an updated history done, and lab work requests. This is when what sounds confusing for some, a meet and greet, is more than getting on a line to shake a politician's hand. You and your doctor are setting a plan in place based on you as an actual patient.

NO.

Setting a plan in place is done AFTER a physical exam and diagnosis is completed.

That is not what a meet and greet is.

NO. Setting a plan in place is done AFTER a physical exam and diagnosis is completed. That is not what a meet and greet is.

So then is the meet and greet simply that...to meet the doctor in order to decide whether you want to engage them as your personal physician?

Correct.

If they do an exam to make a diagnosis and treatment plan so you can decide if you will stay with them, then IT'S AN EXAM.

The real problem with a meet and greet is that the most common payer - insurance - won't cover it and most doctors don't give away their time,

To get to meet the doctor, you need to engage their services = structured consult or exam.

NOBODY wants to give away their time or do low value work.

Can you blame them?

So, did the exam ever happen??