Lowering gown on females

Ladies, I was wondering who lowers your gown for either the breast exam or auscultation during your annual Physical, you or your doctor?

Doctor (both GP and GYN) usually ask me to do it.

I do it when she asks me to.

Same as the others, I'm always asked to lower my gown. I'm certain doctors are taught to do it this way, because just reaching over and undressing someone could be jarring if that person had trauma in their past.

I am a male and hope that is ok to comment. I am a NP and do examine females for their physical exams. Many in the practice I am in are mature ladies 50+ yo. When I enter the exam room they are most often sitting on the exam table in a gown. The nurse who did vitals etc will have asked them to undress fully including bra and panties and put the gown on.

I will tell them I am now going to examine their breasts/nipples/chest and with that reach behind them and unfasten the gown and pull it forward. Having said that the woman is expecting the gown to be lowered and with my hand movement knows its being removed and they will always put their arms forward for me to pull the gown off their upper body.

I came across this old thread and was wondering if it’s more common for...

1- when sitting up , gown lowered for breathing, heart and breasts

Or

2- just breast exam

At my Gyn, I'm in a paper vest and lap drape. During the seated part of my breast exam, the doc asks me to open the drape and tuck it behind me, which isn't easy because it tends to want to fall off. For the supine part, he asks me to uncover one side at a time. Again, due to gravity and larger breasts, things move around and I basically might as well not have the damned vest on at all.

At my last physical, the NP asked me to remove my arm from the paper gown (which was open to the back) one arm at a time for the breast exam. This was done bilaterally with my hand placed behind my head as well as with my hand resting on the NP’s shoulder. First this was done sitting up. Then, when it was time to lie back, I was asked - once again, one arm at a time - to remove my arm from the sleeve while the breast exam was repeated. Again, I was instructed to place my hand behind my head, then the NP lowered and repositioned my arm for the repeat palpation.

I have never been asked to remove/lower the gown for auscultation of heart and lungs. Usually, the stethoscope is just placed over the gown in the front - or maybe just below the gown, as it is relatively loose. Then, since the gown is open in the back, there is no impediment from listening from behind.

For the abdominal auscultation and palpation, the MD/NP is usually pretty coordinated and adept at keeping the drape in place and keeping the lower abdomen covered whilst lifting the gown enough to just expose the abdomen.

A couple of times in the past five years or so, I have even found myself on the exam table for a visit to specifically address an illness at the time. Both times, it was to obtain a prescription to Tesalon Perles for a cough. Both times, auscultation of heart and lungs was more thorough both from front and back. Neither time involved disrobing; in fact, I remained fully clothed. However, the practitioner did ask my permission to go under my garment to listen.