LADIES: When the doctor first touches you..

Does it make you jump a little when the doctor touches you down there for the first time in that exam? They usually even give warning, and I’ll be there cringing and expecting it, and it still startles me every time.

I would have to believe that every woman has at least a minor flinch or jump or movement of some type when a relative stranger, even though he or she is a medical professional. Everyone is tense to some degree at the doctors, and that first touch to a very intimate area has to elicit some reaction.

Does it make you jump a little when the doctor touches you down there for the first time in that exam?

No, because I am expecting it.

Most doctors will touch the inside of the patient's thigh before moving to touch the external genitalia to help prevent the "shock" of first touch.

Most doctors will touch the inside of the patient's thigh before moving to touch the external genitalia to help prevent the "shock" of first touch.

I suspect they are also urging the woman to both relax her legs, and let them fall open a bit more.... before he or she touches her vulva.

Yes! No matter how prepared I am, and tell myself it's ok, I still jump and close my knees a little bit. And it doesn't matter how gentle they are, or if they give me a warning I still jump a little bit.

Yes! No matter how prepared I am, and tell myself it's ok, I still jump and close my knees a little bit.

I am sure you are not at all unique in that response, Twilight. No matter how prepared one is mentally or physically, it still typically has a bit of a response I'm quite sure.

Doctor Geoff

I’m always at least slightly startled by the first touch by a doctor, no matter how much I may be expecting it. That doesn’t only include the pelvic exam for me - I’ve been startled by the feeling of cold hands or stethoscopes on me during the heart / lung auscultation, stomach palpations, and breast exams as well. Most of my OB/GYNs have touched my inner thigh prior to touching my vulva or other sensitive areas, but that doesn’t completely eliminate the slight shock of feeling the first touch on my more private areas.

I’m always at least slightly startled by the first touch by a doctor, no matter how much I may be expecting it. That doesn’t only include the pelvic exam for me - I’ve been startled by the feeling of cold hands or stethoscopes on me during the heart / lung auscultation, stomach palpations, and breast exams as well. Most of my OB/GYNs have touched my inner thigh prior to touching my vulva or other sensitive areas, but that doesn’t completely eliminate the slight shock of feeling the first touch on my more private areas.

Lauren9,

You expressed very well what I would have written.

Faux

The first touching and opening of lips is expected as they warn you by saying something like “I’m just going to part your labia..” but I always get a little shocked (excited?!) when the two fingers are slid in, as they don’t usually warn you specifically about that.

I definitely would if I didn't watch, we don't have gowns so I watch her make contact. Same if I had standing exams. My knickers would be pulled down to my knees and i'd lift my t-shirt to expose my vulva but hold it close to my body, i'd also protrude my hips forward and look down so I could see her pull my lips apart

Are you trying to say that you don't get examined while laying back?

N.

Just a reminder to the male members that this is a Gynaecological Examination topic, and therefore it isn't an appropriate place for them to speak of their own examinations.

It would be perfectly fine for someone to begin an equivalent thread for male members, but please don't do so here.

Thanks.

This is a simple answer: Never!

My gynecologist doesn't touch. She says "I am going to insert my finger now. Relax"

So I get alert

I'm a guy, but I'm a doctor and have examined a lot of females. I have a question for you.

I do that part of the exam by saying, "You are going to feel my hand on your leg." I am wearing gloves, and I basically touch the inside of the patient's left leg near her knee. I then sorta quickly run the back of my hand up to the top of her leg. My intention is to give her a tactile awareness of where my hand is at all times. I end at the very top of her inner leg, and then say something like, "I'm going to put my finger in your vagina," and then just rotate my forearm, so there is no break in contact from her leg to her labia.

It doesn't seem to me like my patients react negatively to this, but I have told a couple people and I've been told that it sounds like I am "stroking" the patient's upper leg. That isn't my intention at all. I try to do it as benignly as possible. I don't really have women jump or gasp or act in any way that seems like my hand movement is perceived as being inappropriate.

Does that technique sound weird to any of you? This may sound weird, but I take pride in doing gentle pelvic exams. Not for any weird or pervy reason. I just want to make an unpleasant exam a little less unpleasant.

Of note, I'll say that I have done hundreds and hundreds of pelvic exams in my career, and I've never had the impression that any patients have liked it or found it fun.

@Castro, my doctor will use the exact same technique during my exam. To me, it doesn't feel like a stroke, or anything sexual for that matter. Trust me, I love being examined, but that movement up my leg doesn't do anything other than provide a warning of sorts. I think your technique is spot on if you're aiming for a gentle exam.

Now, I've also been examined where the doctor first places his fingers on my labia. I didn't jump or get startled, but I also wasn't able to mentally prepare myself.

@Castro

I applaud your compassion, empathy and bedside manner for your patients. Perfect! From your posts, I gather that you are also very thorough at the same time. My GYN had the exact same approach. My exams are not comfortable at all. Parts are downright painful. He was always gentle etc while still being very thorough. Sadly, he passed away from cancer.

I agree with a few of the other posts in that my doctor will run his hand down my thigh which is letting me know what is about to happen but that first touch still shocks me at least a little bit every time.

Like others have said, there is typically some warning that the first touch will occur. A few times I've experienced having the back of the doctor's hands move down my thighs, or more commonly just placing a gloved hand on my inner thigh then stating something along the lines of “you'll feel my touch…taking a look on the outside now” or more directly “just quick exam of your vulva” as I feel the gloved fingers on me.

Despite the warning, it is still a bit shocking to suddenly feel my labia being touched and separated. I do tend to not physically startle as much as I did when first getting a pelvic exam.

Agreed. I jump every time even though the doctor always touches my thigh first

It still startles me even though they say it’s going to happen

My mind is racing and my tummy full of butterflies by the time the doctor is about to touch me there. I don't know how much my body flinches but I feel like it's a lot even though I try to stay still. The sensations are quite powerful especially on my breasts and when my labia are first parted. Admittedly it was more intense when I was younger, especially with my pediatrician.

Generally, the doc is announcing each step and making eye contact to make sure you're good. I don't startle at the first touch, as it doesn't feel sudden, but when my labia are first pulled apart, yep. I don't know if I physically startle, but I certainly feel something from within.

Then again with their fingers initially pushing inside me, despite already having the speculum used.i'd be surprised if my doc didn't feel me react to their fingers.

@Castro that sounds like excellent technique- but I’ll still probably jump anyway 😁👍

I had only 1 real exam. Yes Dr touched me somewhere on the leg before starting the exam, asking me to"just relax"

I don't know how I would have reacted otherwise…since it was only my first exam as I said