Unnecessary nudity

Decades ago, apparently, it was not uncommon for gynecologists in certain countries to expect women to undress completely, whereas they could simply remove the top for the breast exam, and put it back on before the pelvic.

I have also read testimonies where women were made to remove e.g. a T-shirt and bra before a chest X-ray, despite the T-shirt and bra being made of fabric (no metal).

Decades ago, apparently, it was not uncommon for gynecologists in certain countries to expect women to undress completely, whereas they could simply remove the top for the breast exam, and put it back on before the pelvic.

If you went to a podiatrist to have both feet examined, would you expect the doctor to have you take off one shoe and put it back on again to then have you take off your other show to examine the other foot?

That would be something of a waste of time and needlessly complicated.

I'd think the same if a woman were getting both breast and pelvic. Just undress already and forget the off and on dressing.

But of course I know how it is now: bodily integrity, shame, prudishness and what not.

@agracier Feet, except for the rare case of the foot fetishist, are not sources of excitement and are seldom considered “private”. In contrast, a naked female body is widely considered erotic. What act does a woman partake in when she's naked on her back legs spread? Sex.

So I can understand that women don't want to be in a position / attire that seems to much like sex when they undergo an examination.

Bra has to come off for xrays because some have underwire and the hooks on the clasps show on the xray also. For a chest xray that is entirely necessary.

@Saraswitches I'm specifically talking of fabric-only. But I understand the point, they did not want to risk some metallic device. But T-shirt off? T-shirt off sounds like a male X-ray technician wanting to see some titties.

There is a standard protocol regarding chest X rays which we follow:

For a chest X-ray, you will usually be asked to remove your shirt and bra, and to wear a gown. You will also be asked to remove any necklaces. You should tell the radiographer if you are or might be pregnant.

RN

Growing up my doctor would have me completely naked and stand in front of him facing him and facing away, according to him he was checking my development and growth. He’d have me bend over both ways to check my spine and walk to and away from him to check again on my development as he put it. Naturally being a preteen to teenager I just assumed this was done to everyone.

Growing up my doctor would have me completely naked and stand in front of him facing him and facing away, according to him he was checking my development and growth. He’d have me bend over both ways to check my spine and walk to and away from him to check again on my development as he put it. Naturally being a preteen to teenager I just assumed this was done to everyone.

Can i ask what abou feet examination, were you barefoot, do you experienced this?

@RN1993 What I describe did not include a gown, if that was not evident when I mentioned seeing titties. The lady was asked to appear bare-chested.

@Pecan_nutjob. I was just stating that in my healthcare organization we have a well established protocol when performing a chest Xray regardless of sex. I did not make any reference to the situation you described in your post.

RN

@Metamorphoz Yes, I was usually barefoot. He told me that he didn’t want me to slide and fall on the floor. He’d examine my feet when I was sitting on the exam table or he’d have me lift my feet up either facing him or facing away to put his hands on my feet and toes.

@ccm93 Thx very much. Im very happy if any women answer me but this is very unusual here.

It sounds super for me. I have heard, that women in army are during medical examinations only in underwear, and they must facing the wall with back to the doctor and lift each foot to show feet soles for doctor. It sounds, like you have similar experience.

@Saraswitches I'm specifically talking of fabric-only. But I understand the point, they did not want to risk some metallic device. But T-shirt off? T-shirt off sounds like a male X-ray technician wanting to see some titties.

Many t-shirts are printed with all kinds of drawings, texts, slogans and what not. Who knows what kind of paints or dyes were used and how they might affect the results of an x-ray. Imagine a radiologist finding a cluster of specks due to the coloring used on a t-shirt. Could give rise to a needless scare and further testing.

I had an MRI a year or so ago and they made we change into a one-size fits all paper boxer short and tee. They said it was standard protocol now because some material has metallic threads in it. Then this summer I had another MrI and they said my Underarmor tee-shirt and gym pants were fine - so I wasn't asked to change. Same facility. I think it's more up to the tech than policy.

When I went in for a vasectomy reversal I expected to be exposed obviously. What I didn't expect was the instructions to go into a little room with no door off the OR, remove all my clothes and put on a scrub top. Only a scrub top, no gown. I then had to walk to the OR table and climb on. At the time there were 2 or 3 females setting stuff up in the room and I felt silly moving around the room with my junk hanging out.

Growing up my doctor would have me completely naked and stand in front of him facing him and facing away, according to him he was checking my development and growth. He’d have me bend over both ways to check my spine and walk to and away from him to check again on my development as he put it. Naturally being a preteen to teenager I just assumed this was done to everyone.

@ccm93

The same thing happened to me during my exams at the pediatrician. I was even more aware of my nakedness standing in front of the pediatrician than lying down on the exam table. It was also embarrassing having to walk the length of the exam room and back naked so she could check my gait. I sometimes had to lift one leg and then the other to check my balance. There was also the scoliosis check and standing genital and hernia exam.

@sensei1980 I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one who was subjected to this. Very embarrassing from age 11 to 18.

@sensei1980 I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one who was subjected to this. Very embarrassing from age 11 to 18.

American boys would also walk naked to and from high school showers, often under the (leering) eyes of the coach. And for those who went to the YMCA in the years of naked swimming, the same would happen.

It was essentially the same as walking naked for a doctor. Perhaps the embarrassment came mainly from being the sole object of attention, sort of like being in a school play or being made to complete an assignment in front of the whole class …

I think there is a benefit to examining a patient nude from start to finish. You would be able to observe their body the entire time.

American boys would also walk naked to and from high school showers, often under the (leering) eyes of the coach. And for those who went to the YMCA in the years of naked swimming, the same would happen.

When we entered 7th grade is where we ran into that, also there was a walkway across the locker room several feet higher. There was an older woman teacher who made it a habit to use that walkway and stop to talk to our PE instructor for a while watching us boys go between the showers and locker room.

@roscoe: It seems that a rather common complaint in France is male PE teachers barging into female changing rooms; even if there is no full nudity, you don't necessarily want to be seen in underwear. A female teacher watching male students naked is another level. Did parents protest?

I think there is a benefit to examining a patient nude from start to finish. You would be able to observe their body the entire time.

My male doctor always had me strip for the physical for about 30 years then came the new health system and with it a female doctor who basically does nothing but listen to my chest. I had to ask for a DRE and when I had a rash in my groin I dropped my drawers so she could see it. She even thanked me for showing that to her which was rather perplexing. I can't figure out why she won't have me get naked if it's necessary. After all she IS the doctor.

@roscoe: It seems that a rather common complaint in France is male PE teachers barging into female changing rooms; even if there is no full nudity, you don't necessarily want to be seen in underwear. A female teacher watching male students naked is another level. Did parents protest?

No protests that I know of. Us boys sort of just got used to her being there like almost a grandmother.

The last physical exam with my brother getting examined with me and my mother in the room was when I was 15. In the past we had a female pediatrician but my 7 year old brother told my mom and dad that he was embarrassed to be in just his briefs before a female doctor. So my mother switched us over to a male doctor. Everything was going fine, we got weighed and had our BP taken in our street clothes and we were then escorted into the exam room. Maybe this would be an exam in which we would not have to disrobe. Was I wrong. The doctor came in and said ‘since this is their first exam with me I want your sons to strip down to their bare skin’ I was puzzled but before I could say anything my mom asked ‘so you want them naked?’ Before the doctor assented my brother was being rapidly stripped down by my mother. Before I could get my shoes and socks off my brother's underpants were being whisked down to his ankles as my mother helped him out of his last remainig so bit of clothing. I felt sorry for him before I realized I was going to be just as bare. As my brother placed his bare rear end on the crinkly paper he tried to cover his penis up and the doctor chided him by saying ‘You guys are becoming young men, you should not be embarrassed about being naked,everyone in this room knows what boys look like undressed’. All this just heightened my humiliation as I could feel my mother looking at me with a ‘not so high and mighty now’. I felt even worse as my mother picked up my clothes on the floor and mixed them in with my brother's clothes on the sole chair in the room. We both had to stay disrobed until both our exams were finished and the doctor discussed his findings with my mother. As he left he told us we could dress again. It was not a lot fun figuring out which clothes were mine in the pile. On my way home my mother teased me saying ‘I guess you boys did not need clean undies today’.

That evening my mother told my father that our checkups were fine but she added that the doctor had us strip naked. I blushed as I relived the humiliation again.

American boys would also walk naked to and from high school showers, often under the (leering) eyes of the coach.

It was essentially the same as walking naked for a doctor. Perhaps the embarrassment came mainly from being the sole object of attention, sort of like being in a school play or being made to complete an assignment in front of the whole class …

For me in high school, it always seemed like I was assigned the locker that was possibly the furthest away from the showers. As I've posted here before, showers were always required after each and every P.E. class, and towels were provided by the school and not allowed outside of the shower area. That meant after each class, you undressed completely at your locker and then made the long naked walk to the shower area. Afterward, you received a towel, dried off in the shower area, before discarding the towel there and making another long naked walk back to your locker!

Agracier,

For me it is about respect. I am not a product, I am a customer. It really doesn’t take that long to dress/undress. Both my time and my respect count too.

Agracier,

For me it is about respect. I am not a product, I am a customer. It really doesn’t take that long to dress/undress. Both my time and my respect count too.

And I suppose that in the best consumerist tradition the customer is king and is always right?

It is a fallacy, a somewhat selfish one at that, to think of a patient as a customer. To begin with, as most countries in the world implement a government run or overseen health care system and since everyone is obligated to contribute, you are not a customer, but a patient exercising collective medical rights. And in that light, it behooves a patient to follow the instructions and procedures most efficient for the care-givers.

It's not a big deal about the dressing or undressing, except perhaps when a doctor has to see dozens and dozens of patients a day. Perhaps he/the clinic should add a small extra surcharge for prudish patients? … ha ha.

How ever the nurse or doctor wants me dressed is fine with me , be it partial dress or naked with a gown or naked sitting on the exam table , only have been totally naked no gown or covering with my Dermatologist

I have been naked at the dermatologist didn’t mind it, being a nudist I’d gladly get naked for anyone that asked.

It is a fallacy, a somewhat selfish one at that, to think of a patient as a customer.

@agracier I can both agree and disagree with your statement. Medical facilities try to enhance the experience for their patients - shorter wait times, friendly and concerned care. They do treat patients somewhat as “customers”. Doctors try to establish trust and rapport with their patients, listen and consider their concerns, make them comfortable and wanting to come back. They are also providing a service. However, that doesn't imply the customer is always right - and the Doc needs to take charge and be the one calling the shots (no pun intended).

It's not a big deal about the dressing or undressing, except perhaps when a doctor has to see dozens and dozens of patients a day. Perhaps he/the clinic should add a small extra surcharge for prudish patients? … ha ha.

I don't see an issue with how they want you dressed - or undressed - for an exam, obviously appropriate for the degree of the exam. For our kinky folks, charge them extra to always get examined in the nude - even if it's just an eye exam!! 😄😄😄😄😄