My Recent Physical

How old are you? Unless you are really young, a careful doctor would do a rectal exam as part of a full physical even if he doesn't examine your prostate.

He's in his 30's. I didn't think rectal exams were performed until 40's or about age 50, unless there's some type of family history.

You are correct JTMAC. I am 35. My internist is an academic and thus does everything by the book. He doesn't do any DRE until age 40 on his patients unless they have a clear clinical need to have it done earlier (i.e. family history, etc).

I agree that many doctors don't start doing prostate exams on their male patients until age 40 but a prostate exam is not the same as a rectal exam. Rectal exams are part of a comprehensive physical and some doctors start examining a male patient's rectum at earlier ages because it is no different than younger female patients getting a rectal exam as part of their gyn exams. Doctors use rectal exams to check for hemorrhoids and rectal tumors. I got my first rectal exam in my 20s from an internist and it wasn't because he was checking my prostate. I learned later that he was being thorough during a comprehensive physical. There was a book that I saw years ago called The Complete Physical Exam Book or something like that title. It was written by a doctor and he discussed each part of the complete physical exam. He wrote something about the need to do rectal exams on all adult patients after age 18 because doing that is part of the complete adult physical. He also wrote something about being taught in medical school that if you don't put your finger in, you don't know what you might find and the exam takes only a minute to do a good job so why not do it even if the patient seems to be healthy. I read somewhere else about a young guy being diagnosed very late and dying of rectal cancer that could have been detected and treated successfully if he had been examined earlier.

I agree with @davidwest ,my very first rectal (and Prostate) examination was when I was 22 (it was quick luckily, but very painful at the same time) when I asked the Dr "isn't it supposed that men above 50s are the ones that should have their prostates checked?" he replied "yes, it's commonly like that but it's Not a Norm, I had seen several cases of prostate cancer at early ages, and according to your symptoms I wanted to be sure. And you're ok" (it ended up being Urethritis) so, I guess if it's for our safety, we shouldn't mind when it's performed if Dr considers it necessary.

Great detail! Oh, to be a fly on the wall. 😉

I got my first rectal exam in my 20s from an internist and it wasn't because he was checking my prostate. I learned later that he was being thorough during a comprehensive physical.

I also got a rectal exam when I was about 25. I had to have a pre-employment physical for my first big job out of graduate school and was sent to an elderly doctor for the exam. After the genital exam, he put a finger cot on himself. I had never seen or heard of one, but, it is pretty clearly obvious, what its purpose is. Then he said that he was sorry to have to do this but the form he had to complete asked for it. I had no idea what to expect, but the sensation when he touched the prostate was unique. I hated it at the time, but afterward it was a great memory to recall for masturbation.

Great detailed account of the exam

Thanks for sharing. This sounds like a description of exactly how I hope my exam will go, but sadly, it's been a long time since my exams have been this thorough.

I checked in with the receptionist of my family doctor and took a seat in the waiting room while I started filling out the paperwork. The nurse quickly came and took me back, telling me to place my paperwork and coat in the exam room while she weighed me in the hallway next to the reception desk/ nurses station. The exam room was in a corner of the building, right between the reception desk/ nurses station and another exam room used by the office NP. The doctors actual office was kind of behind the reception desk and also shared a wall with the exam room. After weighing me the nurse told me to have a seat in the exam room while she wheeled in the BP cuff that was on a little rolling stand. She took my BP and blood oxidation level. She then asked about medications I'm taking and a few other questions about miscellaneous things. She asked if I was there for a physical and I answered, "I'm not sure." I just switched to this doctor and he recommends doing a "complete consultation" with all new patients. This was my first time to see him, so I didn't know if that meant he would examine me, just a meet and greet, or what exactly. I now believe that when I said "I'm not sure" that the nurse (and doctor) thought I was just reluctant to have an actual physical exam. So the nurse says, "I'll just leave you in those clothes then. Besides, nobody wants to meet the doctor naked." With that she rolls the BP cuff out and tells me to finish up the paperwork and the doctor will be in soon.

While sitting in the exam room filling out the papers, I could easily tell that the walls there were paper thin. I could clearly hear the entire conversation of the patient and NP in the room next to mine as well as hear the conversation that the receptionist and nurse were having just outside the door. I could hear word for word everything said by everybody. That means that they will all hear the doctor and me, scary thought. After finishing the paperwork and returning it to the receptionist, I have a seat back in the exam room. Within a minute, the doctor knocks and enters the room greeting me. He sits down and we talk while he also asks me questions and discuss different things both personally and medically. It was a pretty good conversation/ interview that lasted probably 35-40 minutes. During this time he mentions multiple times that he's a minimalist and only does tests and exams that he thinks are necessary. I agreed with that. We start getting to the end of the conversation and it's apparent he's not 100% sure how to proceed. He keeps telling me how important annual physicals are and how he doesn't "put anybody through the wringer", and it's kind of like he's trying to talk me into one. He then just basically asks if it's ok if he gives me a physical. Sensing my trepidation he says, "I promise not to put you through the wringer." I agreed and climbed up on the exam table. Just for the record, I never disagreed or said that I didn't want a physical, they just assumed that's what I meant when I answered "I'm not sure."

I find going to the doctor a very stressful and high anxiety experience. Dropping my pants and intimate exams strike terror in me and are very embarrassing and intimidating. However, that's also part of the thrill for me. Remembering back to those experiences and emotions later on are what I love. I must admit though that hearing him say that he doesn't do tests unless they're necessary and that he "won't put me through the wringer" did put my mind at ease quite a bit. Not to mention that I'm still completely dressed.

He starts off looking in my ears and briefly my nose. He then grabs a tongue depressor from the counter and has me stick out my tongue and checks my throat and all around my mouth. He feels around my face and neck down to my shoulders, all while asking questions and making comments every now and then. He grabs his stethoscope and goes around to my back, having me take deep breaths and then shallow breaths. He comes around to my front and says he's going to listen to my heart and asks me to lean forward slightly. He puts away his stethoscope and pulls out the table extension while he asks me to lie down. He checks my knees and legs a bit before moving to my feet. He feels my ankles some and moves my feet around before moving up to my abdomen. He feels my stomach some, then lifts my shirt up to the top of my belly before pressing around some more. He comments about the scar from my appendix surgery and about my moles, of which I have plenty. He really pressed hard a few places, then put his hands flat on my stomach all around my belly button, pushed down hard and tried to spread it apart, peering down into it. All while asking about pain and discomfort. He then continues saying something about my moles while he pulls up my shirt one section at a time looking. First one side, then the other, back and forth until my shirt is a little above my nipples. Then suddenly he says I can sit up and pushes in the table extension. I'm thinking, well this is the moment of truth. After the abdominal exam is always when they have you stand up for the hernia exam. Let's see if I have to endure that. He comes around to the other side of the table and lifts up the back of my shirt, commenting about some of my scars from having moles biopsied in the past. Then has me tuck my chin down to my chest and checks my spine. Phew, I don't have to drop my pants. I pull my shirt back down and cover up my belly. He goes over to the counter and grabs his rubber hammer, pushes in the step stool at the bottom of the table, and checks my reflexes in my knees and ankles. As he is returning the hammer to the counter, I think we're done and start to position my feet on the step stool to go back over to the chair I was in earlier.

That's when he said, "OK, I need to do a hernia evaluation on you." Uhhhhh, what?!? Wasn't expecting that. Not after everything he said earlier. That's when instantly I could feel my stomach drop to my ankles and my head started spinning. I start stalling, twisting my feet on the step stool to stand up on the stool. "Just come all the way down to the floor and stand right over here, looking in this direction." , as he's pointing to the floor and which direction to look. It's a pretty small room and he wanted me to stand a few feet from the end of the table, next to the door of the room at an angle. So if anybody opened the door, neither one of us would have gotten hit by it and the person entering would have a nice side view of me getting examined. I walk over and stand where I'm told and unfasten my jeans. He walks over, grabs some gloves and the chair and brings them over. It took a little while for him to get his things, so I'm standing there dumbstruck holding my pants up, waiting for him. Once he has a seat in front of me and starts putting on his gloves I reluctantly lower my pants and underwear down to mid thighs. I must admit, for me personally, it's quite the feat to overcome the fear that's almost paralyzing and actually pull my pants down and finally expose myself. I know, I'm a baby. That moment when I am standing there totally exposed and the doctor is sitting just feet in front of me putting on the gloves, completely focused on my genitalia is probably the worst / best. He asks if I do self testicular exams, and I honestly answer not very often. He starts talking about the importance of such exams, and asking about pain or if there are any issues I'm having when he starts his exam. He very gently presses just above my penis and all around my scrotum. I look up, not wanting to see any more for fear of getting an erection and completely loosing all shred of dignity. I feel him manipulating my penis and gently palpate my testicles. After what felt like an hour and a half of that, he says, "OK, look this way and give me a good cough. Look that way and cough." Just before my first cough is when I start thinking about just how much you can hear through these walls. That's when I'm imagining the nurse and receptionist sitting out there listening to all the words and instructions the doctor is giving me and picturing me standing right inside the door, pants lowered, doctors hands all over my genitals, and me coughing nice and lough. Me standing here enduring all the humiliation. The doctor says, "Alright," and stands and walks away. "OK," I think, "I survived that ordeal," and pull up my pants.

I'm just tucking in my penis when the doctor looks at me and says, "I'm going to go ahead and check your prostate while we're at it." Uhhhh, stomach drop and head spinning all over again. As the doctor gets to the end of the table, he leans over it demonstrating what exactly he wants me to do. "The easiest way to do this is just for you to lean over onto your elbows, feet apart a bit, and point your toes inward a little." As soon as he said this I immediately think of one of the threads on this website. Ha, ha! He moves out of the way and I walk the 3 feet over to the end of the table that felt like walking the green mile in the Tom Hanks movie. I pull my pants back down to my knees, lean over the table, and await my fate. It felt like I was in this position waiting for forever. I'm sure it wasn't, but I've never felt that on display and vulnerable. I feel the doctor spreading my cheeks and crack looking for awhile. Then I hear the doctor reach for the lubricant and the click of the lid. He says, "This might feel ..." And couldn't hear what he said at the end of the sentence. That's a detail I really wish I had, but oh well. Then suddenly his finger was inside me. There were no further instructions or words of encouragement, just in. It didn't hurt. It didn't feel good. Just... weird. Maybe a bit full. I could feel his knuckles up against me in my butt crack. I remember looking down at my feet at this moment and noticing that I didn't do anything he told me to do with them. They weren't that far apart and I didn't point my toes inward. Oops. It was also at this moment when I thought to myself, "You little shit. You said you weren't going to put me through the wringer. Your definition of 'wringer' and mine are totally different. I'm pretty sure that THIS defines 'wringer'." I was also picturing the nurse and receptionist outside the door, picturing me inside, bent over, and a finger up my bum. I didn't feel him rotate or move his finger in anyway. It was only up there for a couple of seconds then i felt him pull it out. When I saw him walk past me I slowly stood up and hesitated for a brief moment, waiting to see if he handed me any tissues to clean myself up with. He didn't, so I slowly pulled my pants up. We both stood talking for a minute, mostly because I was afraid to sit down and squish all the lube that was in my butt crack.

Eventually we both sat down and talked for another 5-10 minutes, him saying that I've reached the age that I need to plan on having a physical every year. He left and sent the nurse in a few minutes later with a flu shot and prescription for lab work. It was hard looking her in the eyes, knowing that she just heard everything that I just went through. Now I'm curious what next year might bring. When the nurse asks me if I'm there for a physical and I say yes, will she tell me to undress? To what extent, what will I be wearing for the exam? Will the doctor examine the same things during the physical? It's possible he only does genital or prostate exams every 2, 3, or 5 years. I'm under 50 and my psa was very low, so I may not have to do that for awhile... ??? That's why the anticipation is one of the best parts! I guess I've got a year to think about it...

As he is returning the hammer to the counter, I think we're done and start to position my feet on the step stool to go back over to the chair I was in earlier.

I love your very detailed recounting of your embarrassing experience for numerous features. You were with a new doctor, so there was the anxiety and fear of the unknown. You did not know whether he would even examine you. This could have been just a visit to get acquainted. You discovered when you were brought to the exam area that the sound insulation in the walls was poor and allowed patients in adjacent rooms and the office staff to hear what was happening to you in the exam room. The doctor did the exam without having you undress, so it was a logical assumption that it would be cursory, and might omit the embarrassing parts involving genital and anal exposure. As he proceeded through the exam, he gave you reason to think the exam was done before dropping the dreaded bombshell of the notice that he was going to check you for a hernia. And then you had the awkwardness of having to drop your pants and shorts while he waited to see what you have in your pants. I was reminded of an exam I had which had some of these features.

I was 22 and recently graduated from undergraduate school. I had been accepted to business school and needed a physical form completed for the university. I got the name of an internist from a family member and scheduled an appointment. I went to the appointment from a summer job I had at a bank so I showed up in a dress shirt and tie along with dress slacks and cap toe oxfords. The doctor had his office in a building with multiple other physicians who shared a common reception area. I checked in and waited anxiously since this was the first new doctor I had seen since age 11. The doctor came out with the patient he had just finished with and called my name. His portion of the office which he led me into was a private office with his desk and an examination room beyond this which was visible from his personal office space. He had me sit across from his desk, I handed him the form I had from the school, he glanced at the form and the history portion of it which I had completed. He told me to go into the next room, take my shirt off, and have a seat on the table. The table was a rather high flat top bench with an upholstered top with a table paper roll. There was a four legged step stool next to the table which was necessary to use to mount the table due to its height. I took off my shirt and set it on a side chair near the table and stepped up and sat down. The doctor came in and came over to me. He put the blood pressure cuff on me and took my pressure. He then did an exam of my eyes. He felt my neck and then listed to my heart and chest. Then he said "loosen the top of your pants and lie back." I was not exactly positive what he meant but I decided to unbuckle my belt, unhook the pants, and unzip about half way. I must have done what he wanted because he proceeded without a comment. He then stood over me and felt the abdomen. Then he took a step back and said "step up on the platform facing me and drop your pants AND (emphasized) shorts." The sick feeling hit my stomach since I know I am going to have to let a strange doctor see my penis for the first time. I was almost quivering as I stood on the stool and finished unzipping and then lowering the pants and my white briefs to about mid thigh. He said "turn your head and cough" twice and did not even touch me. Then he said "ok, we're done."

I thought it was an effective experience for someone who gets into embarrassment because the lack of undress at the beginning made it unclear how much of my body he was going to see. It was also awkward having to take down pants and shorts while perched on the step stool. It is always awkward to me having a clothes person look at my genitals

I have also thought in the aftermath of the exam about his use of the phrase “drop your pants AND shorts.” It made me think some guy in the past had just dropped his pants and left his shorts up when he said “drop your pants.” Regardless of the reason he used the phrase, I found it condescending and it added to the embarrassment of the moment.

Then he said "loosen the top of your pants and lie back." I was not exactly positive what he meant but I decided to unbuckle my belt, unhook the pants, and unzip about half way. He said "turn your head and cough" twice and did not even touch me. Then he said "ok, we're done."

I thought it was an effective experience for someone who gets into embarrassment because the lack of undress at the beginning made it unclear how much of my body he was going to see. It was also awkward having to take down pants and shorts while perched on the step stool. It is always awkward to me having a clothed person look at my genitals

I have also thought in the aftermath of the exam about his use of the phrase “drop your pants AND shorts.” It made me think some guy in the past had just dropped his pants and left his shorts up when he said “drop your pants.” Regardless of the reason he used the phrase, I found it condescending and it added to the embarrassment of the moment.

The multi-step commands to strip, and the awkwardness to react. "Loosen the top of your pants", you didn't even know what he meant, and had to interpret that via an act of undressing & beginning to expose closer to the magical region.

"Loosen the top of your pants" is a command the indicates that there will be more commands to further reveal more and more. And then to drop your pants "AND" shorts, it comes as 2 further steps of undressing by command, as the embarrassment seems to be mounting for you. And on top of it all, you detected that he seemed condescending about it.

"Loosen the top of your pants" is a command the indicates that there will be more commands to further reveal more and more.

Yes it does suggest that there will be more revealing to do but it kept me in the dark. I thought I would have to show him more of me but I was not sure at the time. The anxiety was definitely building. I was also anxious that I was not performing like he wanted me to do because it was a non specific command that could have been interpreted as actually exposing the genitalia. Unbuckling my belt, unhooking and unzipping the top of my zipper seemed to satisfy him since he immediately started examining the abdomen.

And then to drop your pants "AND" shorts, it comes as 2 further steps of undressing by command, as the embarrassment seems to be mounting for you. And on top of it all, you detected that he seemed condescending about it.

I definitely felt a sinking feeling when I heard the words. I felt a little dizzy and felt an empty sensation in the pit of my stomach as I stood down on the step stool, got a grip on the waistbands of both briefs and pants and lowered both at the same time to my upper thighs so that the penis and scrotum were completely exposed. I always dread that first second when the doctor gets a look at my genitalia and judges its adequacy. After the exam was over, I thought about the “pants AND shorts” instruction and wondered what had happened during an exam to make him add the “AND shorts” with added emphasis on the “AND.” I have to think some guy(s) just took down their pants and left the shorts up. I felt it was condescending because, for me, “drop your pants” would have gotten me to drop both pants and shorts.

Seems that the doctor said that he would not put you through the wringer because he sensed appropriately that you were nervous about having a physical. But his idea of not putting you through the wringer meant that he didn't require you to undress before the exam started. From what you described, the nurse decided that you were nervous enough about getting the exam that she didn't tell you to undress and maybe she told the doctor that you were there for a physical but anxious about it. This suggests that if you hadn't said that you were unsure whether you were there for a physical, then the nurse would have had you undress before the doctor arrived. You won't know until your next physical with that doctor how it might be different. A different nurse with a different approach to your nervousness might have had you undress anyway to stay time for the doctor and ignored your nervousness. Lots of patients are nervous before physical exams so she could have reassured you and had you get ready anyway.

Seems that the doctor said that he would not put you through the wringer because he sensed appropriately that you were nervous about having a physical.

I agree completely. I think he was trying to calm me down and put my mind at ease. I don't know why else he would have told me that.

But his idea of not putting you through the wringer meant that he didn't require you to undress before the exam started.

I don't know if that's what it was, or that he wasn't planning on hurting me in any way, or some other unknown reason... ???

From what you described, the nurse decided that you were nervous enough about getting the exam that she didn't tell you to undress and maybe she told the doctor that you were there for a physical but anxious about it.

I also agree that the nurse thought I was nervous, but might have also thought that I might not actually be examined because of my apprehension, real or perceived. She might have written something about that in my chart at the moment, but I know she didn't actually speak anything about it to the doctor. Remember, I heard everything spoken in a 15 foot radius or so!

This suggests that if you hadn't said that you were unsure whether you were there for a physical, then the nurse would have had you undress before the doctor arrived. You won't know until your next physical with that doctor how it might be different.

Exactly. I'm sure the experience I had this year is not their normal routine. From the nurses wording, I'm pretty sure she'll have me get undressed, at least somewhat, next year. I'm not even sure the same body parts will be examined next time. Now I have a whole year to contemplate, worry, and fantasize about it!

Now I'm curious what next year might bring. When the nurse asks me if I'm there for a physical and I say yes, will she tell me to undress? To what extent, what will I be wearing for the exam? Will the doctor examine the same things during the physical? It's possible he only does genital or prostate exams every 2, 3, or 5 years. I'm under 50 and my psa was very low, so I may not have to do that for awhile... ??? That's why the anticipation is one of the best parts! I guess I've got a year to think about it...

If the doctor does the same examination or, maybe the way you are dressed during the exam differs but examines all the same body parts, will it be easier for you to go through now that he has seen you naked once?

If the doctor does the same examination or, maybe the way you are dressed during the exam differs but examines all the same body parts, will it be easier for you to go through now that he has seen you naked once?

I think for me, in my situation next year, no, it will not be any easier. Next year, and I may be wrong, but I think I will be getting a completely different exam experience. From things said this year, I think the nurse will have me undress somewhat, maybe wear a gown, maybe just underwear. I also am not sure that my doctor will even examine the same body parts or the same order. So next year will be almost like starting over with a huge amount of unknowns. That mystery is what produces most of my anxiety and nervousness.

But that's not what you're asking. If I know I'm going to receive the exact same exam from the same doctor it removes most of the unknowns. It's no longer a mystery on if I have to drop my pants or not. I already know that I do, and I also know the exact moment I will be given the instructions to do so. Plus, he's already seen me naked and had his finger inside me, what's one more time? From that standpoint, it would help calm my nerves and ease my mind a bit. I tend to like things that are familiar to me.

However, now there's a fear of knowing with certainty that I will have to expose myself to the doctor and I know exactly when and how it's coming. So the fear of the unknown is replaced with dread of knowing with absolute certainty that the doctor will have me lower my pants and the embarrassment that goes along with such an intimate exam.

So, I guess I'm not sure that it will be any easier at all. I'm just replacing one fear with another.

However, now there's a fear of knowing with certainty that I will have to expose myself to the doctor and I know exactly when and how it's coming. So the fear of the unknown is replaced with dread of knowing with absolute certainty that the doctor will have me lower my pants and the embarrassment that goes along with such an intimate exam.

So, I guess I'm not sure that it will be any easier at all. I'm just replacing one fear with another.

I will have to include a lot of detail to adequately respond to BenDover’s post immediately above this one, so, sorry that it is rather lengthy, but here goes. The only time in my life during which I had regular physicals with the same doctor every year was the years between ages 11 and 18 when I saw the same pediatrician, Dr. L. Before I started seeing that doctor, I saw another pediatrician who never had me undress or have my pants and underwear down for a full visual inspection and palpation of the genitals. That doctor would leave me dressed and worked around my clothing as he examined me. He would only cursorily feel my genitals by sticking his hand down the front of my briefs with my pants still on. I never dreaded seeing this doctor and was very sorry when he passed away. So, at age 11, I changed to another pediatrician, Dr. V, in the same practice. The examination routine was considerably different. Dr. V had me strip down to my underpants, which were always classic white briefs. It was much more intimidating being only in my briefs and it made the examination seem more intimate since it was bare hands on all areas and body parts. Still, nothing about the exam was that big of a deal until he finished palpation and auscultation of my abdomen as I lay supine and, with no word of warning, I felt the front of my briefs go down to fully expose both penis and scrotum. At age 11, I had no pubic hair but my genitals had an almost adult appearance and size. I had noticed over that year how much larger and thicker my penis had become. The pigmentation had also become more brownish. My balls now hung much lower and the scrotum had gotten more brown in color and had enlarged so that it hung below my penis. I was shocked and embarrassed that it had been exposed by my new doctor and glanced down toward my feet to check out how it looked. It was lying on my abdomen and looked pretty hot lying there with the flared corona sitting just below my belly button. Dr.V picked it up and checked the meatus before dropping the penis and moving to fetch my balls from between my thighs to give each testicle a thorough feel. My briefs were then pulled back up and the exam was over.

That was my first of numerous exams by Dr. V, who I really liked. I had not known what to expect but had no reason to dread the exam based on prior experiences at the doctor’s office so was pretty relaxed for the exam. I hated having my genitals exposed and inspected but did not know it was coming so had no anxiety when it happened. My penis and scrotum were relaxed and hanging at an impressive size. Once that experience was behind me, I never went through another physical with that same degree of naïveté and nonchalance. During all subsequent exams with Dr.V and every other examiner, my penis shrinks to an embarrassingly small size and my balls pull up tight due to the anxiety I feel about having them exposed. Every year I hoped the genital examination might be omitted but suspected it would. My fear would start form the moment my mother told me the appointment was coming up, became overwhelming the day it arrived and peaked as the abdominal exam started. I dreaded the feeling of embarrassment when my genitals were exposed even though Dr.V had seen it many times. So, I can confirm what BenDover concluded, fear will be replaced by dread and you will always get that sick feeling in your stomach when he tells you to drop your pants.

I recently had my annual physical with my family med PCP. After checking in and a brief wait, the nurse comes and takes me back in the hallway to check my height and weight. We then go to the exam room and she checks my vitals and reviews my current medications. She confirms that I am there for a physical and finally leaves to get the doctor. I was somewhat surprised and disappointed when she didn't tell me to undress any. But I consider what the doctor asks about and examines a better indicator of a good physical than what I am wearing (or not wearing).

The doctor comes in, has a seat, and we begin having a conversation that is a mixture of personal interest, medical history, and current medical issues. After maybe 30 minutes I climb on the table (still fully dressed) and he begins to examine me. Ears, nose, throat, thyroid. He listens to my lungs in back over my t- shirt, moves to the front and sticks the stethoscope a few inches down the neck of my shirt and listens to my heart. Finally, it starts to get to the better parts as he tells me to lie down and he extends the leg support. After feeling my ankles over my socks (not sure what that was about?), he checks my knees and legs. He lifts the bottom of my shirt up a bit and listens to my belly in a few places, then feels around. During the entire exam he's talking to me explaining things and asking relevant questions, not just idle chit chat to try and distract me. He then has me sit up while he pushes in the table extension before finally telling me to stand down on the carpet. I must say, I was quite disappointed that he skipped over a few small things that he did last year. He didn't check my reflexes, nor did he check my skin or spine like last year. Oh well, on to the good stuff.

Once I'm standing on the spot of the floor he pointed to earlier, I immediately assume it's time for the hernia exam and start to reach for the zipper of my pants. He walks away telling me he needs to check me in the standing position. I'd never heard that before so I froze, not knowing what was about to happen. I didn't want him to turn around saying he was going to check my eyes while I'm standing there with my pants around my ankles, looking like a weirdo. So I just stood there waiting for instructions, looking like a weirdo. I see him grab some gloves from the wall as he turns and tells me to drop my pants. I lower my pants half way down to my knees as he sits in front of me and puts on his gloves while asking me questions. He pokes and prods around my groin for awhile before finally inserting his finger and telling me to turn my head and cough. I had to repeat one side three times before he had me turn my head the opposite way and he checked my other side. Once that ordeal was over, he just sat there, with his face a foot in front of my penis, pointing at areas of my groin telling me about hernias. After about 10 seconds, he stands up continuing to educate me on hernias and anatomy. After another 10 seconds, he takes a step back and rests his hand on the exam paper at the end of the table, still talking.

Meanwhile, I'm still standing there with my pants mid thighs holding my shirt up awkwardly displaying my penis, not sure what to do. Yet another 10 seconds and he's still telling me about hernias, when he stops suddenly in mid sentence, pats the exam table and tells me he needs to check my prostate.

He gets in position, demonstrating and explaining how he wants me to bend over the table. As I waddle over to assume the position, he lubes up and tells me we'll get this out of the way so he can finish telling me about hernias. That way I don't have to stand there with my pants around my knees. I did appreciate that, it was getting extremely awkward. As he slides his finger inside me, he tells me how it'll be a little on the uncomfortable side... he didn't lie. After 10-15 seconds, he pulls out and gives me a brief description of my prostate as I pull up my pants to try and regain what little dignity I could.

After that we sat down, he finished telling me about hernias, and we spent probably another 20-25 minutes talking medical and health issues. Overall, I was in the exam room a little over an hour.

Last year I had to undergo major bowel cancer surgery. I have written about several examination experiences at that time (& also of some tnings that happened in hospital). After months of gruelling chemotherapy , I am mightily relieved to say that( only yesterday) I was given the 'All Clear'( following extensive blood tests and CT Scans).

However, I was very surprised, during the appointment with the Senior Consultant Oncologist (just expecting to discuss the results) when she announced that she would like to examine me, if that was OK. My wife, who was with me, seemed surprised too. It turned out that, although there was no cancer, my spleen had shown a very slight enlargement between two CT Scans six months apart (I gather that this is actually a very common result - following months of Chemo, so presumably, she was just being thorough). Her instructions were very precise. '"Could you please lower your trousers, pull your underpants dowñ to the top of your groin, lift your shirt and they lay down on the exam table for me."

I did as I was asked. She put thin latex gloves on ( "Because my hands are very cold." ) She spent about 2 minutes palpating and percussing my bare abdomen. Then about a further minute....asking me take very deep breaths (holding each one for c.10 seconds) whilst she pressed down very hard upon specific areas of my taut abdomen. After each breath out, she asked me if I felt any discomfort or even very slight pain. I truthfully replied that I did not.

Next, she asked me to lower my underpants further (but not exposing my cock / balls). She pressed quite hard (sliding her fingers beneath the waistband of my briefs) into the right, then left inguinal canal and the inner area at the top of my groin. Next, she asked me to pull my shirt right up to my chin and then put my arms above my head. In my mind, I found this partly stripped, gently stretched, partly exposed (my trousers were still down) position in front of the female Consultant and my wife slightly erotic. I was aware that my cock was beginning to swell (oh my days!!) but I don't think that either woman noticed!!!

She slid her hands across my now bare chest up into my left armpit and then the right armpit. She pushed quite hard and sort of palpated. "Thank you. Well, that all seems to be fine. If you would like to get dressed please, and then we can discuss your results." Naturally, I was very relieved. She was very pleasant, reassuring and very professional.

I was already fantasising last night!! I mean, it was a potentially very serious meeting.I could have been told that the cancer had returned, or metastasised etc. Ok, I had to partly strip (sort of) and then lie gently stretched out. But, if she had told me to strip naked (like so many of my school exams 50 - 60 years ago), I would have done it!!!! I would have also been OK with her checking my penis and testicles / scrotum (Hahahaha).But that is just fantasy. The reality was still pretty damn good.

I had my last physical back at the beginning of december, it went something like this --

after taking my weight, blood pressure and pulse (and yay got a good BP reading), the nurse said to me "okay, looks like youre getting a gown, just take everything off except your underwear and put that on". Probably my favorite part of the entire visit. I was kept waiting quite a while too, and managed to take a few selfies as well. I didn't want to take too much time with that, as I know a lot of doctors frown on you being on your phone in the exam room.

Finally the doctor came in and asked me how I was doing, at the time I was generally fine except for my knee, which has chronic arthritis. Also I mentioned that my ears were feeling a little bit of pressure/pain and slight difficulty hearing (turns out they were just too clogged up with wax), so he looked in my ears, and down my throat, as well as up my nose. After that he listened to my heart as I breathed in and out. After that, he pulled the gown off my shoulders and laid it in my lap, and raised the table up so he could palpate my abdomen. He honestly seemed kind of annoyed with the gown in general but didn't remove it completely, so I was in my tighty whities with the gown draped over my lap for pretty much the rest of the exam. At one point there was a knock on the door and one of the staff had a question for him, the doctor first made sure to position the gown again so that nothing below the waist could show, and answered the door only popping his head out. A part of me almost wished the nurse/staff member had just waltzed into the room, heh. Unfortunately, after the doctor finished with my belly, he checked out my knee, plus my ankles (I have a bit of a problem with swelling sometimes) and then told me he'd see me in a few months with a follow up and to get dressed, and the nurse would be in to clean my ears out (which wasn't a ton of fun).

I did of course like the experience of dressing down to my undies. I also liked the fact that, at least at the time, I was stable health wise (unfortunately since then Ive had some different issues crop up).

He honestly seemed kind of annoyed with the gown in general but didn't remove it completely

If you detect that, you can offer to say "I don't need this if it's getting in your way". Now that you do sense this, I would say not to even bother with the gown. When the nurse gives you one, you can just say "okay", and then don't even bother to wear it. Since you're a male, i'm sure a male doc won't care, especially if he seems annoyed by having to move it around. Why make him make the effort to protect your modesty if you don't even care about it. If he is old enough to have practiced like pr-1990, then he would have been conducting male exams without a gown.