Question on Gyno Exam time

Last week my wife went to a new gynecologist to have her periodic Gyno exam...her "all life" gynecologist has retired so that was first time my wife and new gynecologist met. Every Gyno exams in the past were about 20/30 minutes long...this gynecologist "work" 1&1/2 hours....

I asked her immediately what happened... after so long time -- I stayed in waiting room - I really thought something bad had been detected....!! No one special problem was founded. My wife was happy all were fine and says to have had a very good impression of such a thorough gynecological visit even if she was a bit tired and surprised. Only complain was about she was been too ashamed

A very thorough exam, somewhat too much I think...didn't it ?

I'd ask you all : how long a Gyno exam usually is ?

I do not want to speak here as an authority on gynecological examinations. But I think it mattered that it was a new gynecologist. The previous gynecologist knew the patient and her problems, he did not have to ask about certain things. I think a lot of that time was spent talking. However, he could do a more thorough medical examination and that also meant a longer time.

@Gynoxxx that indeed is a little long for a gynecological exam, but as Reman stated, she is a new patient so she maybe went through full physical.

Could you precise what exams were performed on your wife?

Unless one is in the room, we can't know for sure what exactly happened. There have been doctor appointments where I was called back, I spoke with the nurse and I had to wait in the room for a while for the doctor to come in.

From personal experience a regular exam where no problems are detected and no extra tests needed are about 15 minutes 30 minutes max. If an extra test was needed beyond a basic exam, I would have to schedule another exam with either my doctor or specialist. In my experience, it's a quick heart and lung exam, abdominal exam, a breast exam, pap smear and the one where my doctor sticks a finger in my vagina and feels my ovaries. There is also weight and blood pressure completely clothed.

I hope this answer helps and didn't make you anxious or suspicious. You guys could also have better health insurance than me and therefore get more thorough exams?

Edit: I live in the US and the OP lives in Italy. While I can say that the above exams takes about 15-20 minutes, they are probably more thorough in Europe. (I don't know from personal experience) That could be a factor on why it is longer.

I haved work in the medical field for about 25 yrs. Have assisted with many exams and yearly physicals for male and female and GYN yearly exams.

Time is money in the doctor's offices. I have never seen a routine exam last much longer than 30 minutes. If a PCP takes longer for a new patient maybe an hour max. Like Newbie35 said only if there was a problem would an exam take longer. GYN appointments are booked one after the other. No time to run over the allowed time or the whole days schedule falls apart.

Check your insurance companies billing when you get a summary of charges and see what the doctor billed for.

Mostly about 15 mins for a routine gyn exam, smear test. I've had full physical exams that only took maybe 30 mins. An hour plus seems looong

Last week my wife went to a new gynecologist to have her periodic Gyno exam...her "all life" gynecologist has retired so that was first time my wife and new gynecologist met. Every Gyno exams in the past were about 20/30 minutes long...this gynecologist "work" 1&1/2 hours....

@Gynoxxx

As a general rule, taking into account the supervision of prices by the French Social Security and the high demand, a routine consultation in gynecology is planned for a period of about twenty minutes.

A first part of the conversation to take stock of the patient's health before she undresses. (4 mins)

The time required for the examination and palpation of the breasts (5 mins)

The installation in position with the feet in the stirrups. The examination, insertion of the speculum, vaginal examination then rectovaginal. Dressing weigh-in (8 mins)

Report and issuance of a possible prescription (3 mins).

For a first meeting, the discussion on the health history can be a little longer.

The same applies if the diagnosis is completed by a rapid ultrasound.

If necessary, another appointment will be rescheduled for a more in-depth ultrasound or for a specific procedure (colposcopy and biopsy or placement of an intrauterine implant, for example)

Honestly, an hour and more I've never seen...and I dare not imagine the scandal that patients who would have to wait in the waiting room would cause!

Hi all,

I'll try to answer some yours questions:

I think the time was planned: when we arrive there was another woman who, just finished to speak to the nurse/receptionist, was going to leave the doctor office and no one arrived after…or maybe just because it was Saturday from 10 to 11,30 A.M. 😃 !

We went to a private gynecologist, Italian national health service offer no more than a smear test every 3 years…

What was billed:

Gyno exam general 220 €

Pap-test 100 €

HPV test 100 €

What my wife say about exams performed:

Breast exam (palpation+ breasts ultrasounds). A very thorough external exam Pelvic exam (not quick, but not so long). Colposcopy+ speculum+ smear

Pap test and HPV test are the same exam.

Has the doc performed a bimanual or rectovaginal exam? My last exam included breasts, external, pap test, colposcopy, bimanual, than I had a mamography and a pelvic ultrassound latter.

I don’t think you can get a gynecologist to work a Saturday for routine exam in the US at least not in my city. My routine exam is about 15 minutes. You spend more time waiting in the waiting room then waiting in the exam room. If you doctor is an OB/GYN then you may wait even longer if they are delivering babies or doing surgery.

Hi all,

I'll try to answer some yours questions:

I think the time was planned: when we arrive there was another woman who, just finished to speak to the nurse/receptionist, was going to leave the doctor office and no one arrived after…or maybe just because it was Saturday from 10 to 11,30 A.M. 😃 !

We went to a private gynecologist, Italian national health service offer no more than a smear test every 3 years…

What was billed:

Gyno exam general 220 €

Pap-test 100 €

HPV test 100 €

What my wife say about exams performed:

Breast exam (palpation+ breasts ultrasounds). A very thorough external exam Pelvic exam (not quick, but not so long). Colposcopy+ speculum+ smear

@Gynoxxx

I'm very taken aback by the prices you advertise.

In France, patients are reimbursed by the health insurance system and the price of a gynecological consultation is around thirty euros.

If the practitioner is contracted free fees (most) we ask between 60 and 80 euros.

This is all inclusive.

On the other hand, you tell us about examinations which are redundant and do not combine, they are done either one or the other.

The HPV test is the new version of the cervical smear and is more interesting because it should only be carried out every 5 years (pap test recommended every 3 years)

In addition, if we perform a colposcopy with +/- a biopsy, it is useless to take a smear because we will analyze the tissue taken by the biopsy and that is enough.

@medfedcouple

You're right, in France too, gynecologists in private practice do not work on Saturdays. In case of imperative need, you must go to a hospital emergency department.

@annecobain

Bimanual palpation and rectovaginal touch are complementary.

With the bimanual we introduce 2 fingers into the vagina and we use the other hand to help palpate the organs (uterus and ovaries)

In the recto-vaginal finding we have a finger in the rectum and a finger in the vagina and the objective is to check if all is well in the cul de sac of Douglas. We also have a different approach to the ovaries and that is useful.

Franklin

In Italy women have free of charge Gyno exams by National health service (SSN) in case of/suspicious of disease. Healthy asintomatic woman, to prevention purposes, receive free of charge a mammography + Pap test every 3 years only and cannot choose the doctor who, quite never, is the same .. so woman who would like to take exam more often ( my wife every years) and have a “personal” gynecologist go to private service where a standard gynecological exam ( breast+pap test+pelvic) is charged about an average of 150/180 € so I think 220 € for breast, pap, pelvic + vulvoscopy and colposcopy is not a bad charge….otherwise I could complain for pap and HPV sample laboratory analysing…..100 € each !!! (luckily both negative for my wife)

I seem vulvoscopy and colposcopy (no biopsy) were redundant…..the long time seems redundant….a very thorough, usually skipped, external (labia, clitoris, pee hole….), seems redundant……just that was my question ⁉️

O.T. Pap test detect alterated cells, HPV test detect papilloma virus presence it could cause the alteration.