Arm/hand position for the genital exam

Hey guys, when you are standing in front of the doctor for the genital exam, where are your arms and hands? At your side, on your hips, behind your back? Does the doctor instruct you on the positioning? If the doc does not give any specific instructions, I usually have my hands on my hips.

By my side. If it's a female doc - maybe grab her by the ears????

I don’t know that I’ve ever had my arms anywhere other than just by my sides. Mostly try to keep them out of the way I think

My female primary care has me lying down on the table not standing. I usually have my hands folded on my chest

Always by my side.

One hand holding up my shirt to give complete view and access to my groin and crotch. The other hand is hanging by my side until it is time to cough, then I move it to cover my mouth with my elbow. I always switch hands half way through because my doctor has me cough in the opposite direction of which side he is checking.

I am positioned on my back; I am asked to lift up hips as he lowers my briefs to knees exposing my genitals. He carefully examines my penis, very gently, and then handles each testicle. Sometimes, I am asked to turn over and he will visually inspect my anus. Once that is done, I am advised to stand and remove my briefs. Once upright, I have to widen my stance as he does a hernia exam. My hands and arms are by my side for this and the previous aspects of his exam. Once done, I face the table, bend over onto elbows and he will spread my cheeks wide and does a DRE.

When I'm standing and getting the genital exam I'm holding up my exam gown that opens towards the back.

When I was a teenager the doctor would do the genital exam on the table. One pediatrician had me put my arms up over my head as I lay on the crinkly paper. She would then examine my armpits and instruct me to keep them up. I think she did this so I could not cover up when she lowered my briefs and examined my penis and testicles. I had another male pediatrician who had me put my hands behind my head during parts of the standing exam and during the entirety of me laying on the exam table. I think they did this because when a man has to display his genitals to a relative stranger the first instinct is to cover yourself.

Both hands by my side.

@gwhap

By my side. If it's a female doc - maybe grab her by the ears????

Too funny 😁

I’ve only had my genital exams laying down on the table so I keep my hands at my sides. Not a lot of other great places to put them in that position.

I've only ever been examined lying down so my ams and hands were by my side. I imagine most doctors don't actually care much as long as they are out of the way!

By my side. My female physician did instruct me to spread my feet about 2 feet apart, probably to allow her better access since besides a testicle and hernia exam, she wanted to feel a small cyst where my penis meets my inner thigh. After that she then positioned me back on the table to further palpate the cyst area. I was 45 and she was maybe 30. Embarrassed, yes!

My provider does the genital exam while I'm standing, so I have to raise my gown and hold it out of the way for her.

Usually holding shirt up so she can see all of my parts. I am always nervous and want to get done. I enjoy the thought of her seeing me though.

I usually have my hands at my side but I would love the doctor to tell me to put my hands behind my back or on my head.

Arms by my side, but some play doctors have had me raise my arms to the back of my head. It brings out my deltoides, and I guess that when examining a big man they feel more in control with my hands and arms out of the way.

When I last had a genital exam the first part I was laying on my back with my arms by my side. My left hand was holding a piece of paper that had been previously covering my genitals before the lady doctor came around from behind the curtain. After first moving it only slightly to reveal my right testicle so she could look at it, she said she needed to check me both sides so I just moved the whole of the paper away to my left side revealing all of me to her. After she had finished she said she wanted to see me standing up and in that position my hands were still at my sides but holding up my jeans and boxers so they didn’t fall down past my knees.

Holding my legs up to my chest

Only been examined laying down, so my arms where by my sides. Not much other places to put them.

Usually by my side. During one exam, the doctor had me hold my penis out of the way while she examined my testicles.

Most of my experiences (same doctor several years) have been underwear removed (completely naked) legs shoulder width apart and hands placed behind my head.