Real reason we don’t get rectal exams?

What do you think the real reason is we ladies don’t usually receive a rectal exam at our annual? Is is really not necessary or is it simply not done because it’s embarrassing and uncomfortable?

The main reason to include one in a gyn exam (as opposed to a focused exam for symptoms like rectal bleeding or pelvic pain) would be to assess the uterus and ovaries, and it's mostly helpful there in women with a retroverted uterus, ie, whose uterus is difficult to palpate with a bimanual exam. Which would explain why some people never get them and some people get them every time - depends which way your uterus is pointing.

That and what year/where your doctor trained, I guess; some docs were trained to include them by default and some not. With annual pelvic exams themselves no longer being a routine recommendation, docs are more often examining someone who is presenting with a specific problem, and just doing tests that are relevant to that issue. Other than a rectocele or hemorrhoids, not a ton of common gyn problems where a DRE or rectovaginal would be the go-to test. Or a urologist might include one to poke the bladder neck, but urologists just generally get all up in your business in a more intrusive way than a gynecologist.

Just one more thing to leave to the playdocs!