New doctor

In 2 weeks I go to a new gynecologist for my annual physical, and I'm very curious about how this is going to go because I talk to her frequently on the sidelines at the sports games! So now, I'm curious if her seeing me completely naked will change the dynamic on the sidelines. I'm also curious about what she will do in the exam, because the previous doctor (now retired) I've seen in her practice always did a rectal exam, plus the rectal vaginal while Palpate my lower abdomen with her other hand. After this exam I'd still feel her finger in there for the rest of the day, as though she stretched my Anus out a little.

I'll update how it went, but in the meantime, have you ever known your doctor outside of practice? Was it ever weird or did they ever address your issues outside of the office?

Nope, never socialized in any way with my doctor. However, I'd think that trying to discuss what goes on in the exam room/office should be completely out of bounds for you AND the doctor. What happens in the exam room should stay in the exam room.

Don't approach it and, if the doctor tries to approach it, find a new doctor.

This is a ladies' topic, it is Gynecology, so no men talking about their own doctors please.

Friends or not, at the end of the day, she’s a doctor, and she will be professional in the way a doctor should. I don’t see why she’ll see you any differently afterwards even if she’s seen you down there. Remember, she’s probably seen and performed hundreds and maybe thousands of exams, yours will be no different.

I have a friend, a school mate of mine from the grades on up to high school, who became a doctor and we moved back to our hometown at roughly the same time. She is professional in all ways and has been my gynecologist for ages. She knows of my sexual practices and has examined me in all the ways a good and trusted gynecologist should. Not only the annual exams, but when I've played a bit too rough it is she that I go to for an anoscope examination and the enemas and preparation that this procedure entails.

She has even made herself knowledgeable as to what my sexual practices are and ways for me to protect myself or to heal faster. She is very discrete and holds anything I say in confidence and knows of my multiple sex partners and I test with her regularly to guard against any STD's of which I am happy to report that I've had none. When it comes to medicine she is very professional and nonjudgmental and hers and my professional dealings do not go beyond this.

As a retired FP physician who did GYN exams, I can tell you that an ethical physician will not even bring up that you are a patient, let alone particulars of your health, outside the office. Much more common and difficult to handle at times, is when patients want to discuss their healthcare in social situations. Some just can't be made to understand the risks involved.

Ok! To conclude the visit went well! She was very thorough, but didn't do a rectal. Get physical was like getting a body massage. It was long and slow, with a lot of rubbing/ massaging in one area. The breast massage was pretty awesome and ashe would leave my breast exposed while talking and not touching, which was a little arousing . If interested I'll post some of the intimate exam details that the details wrote about, while examining my breasts and Pelvic( once they're back.)

@DocH2O could you please expand on the risks a little?

@Sock The risk is that others will hear about your health conditions and interactions with your physician. Depending on who it is, that knowledge can be spread to others, to your boss, your spouse, your neighbors, your insurance, or others. There are many unscrupulous things that can be done with that info.

@DocH2O Ah, I totally ignored the "in social situations" part, my bad.

But yeah, that's entirely on them, and does not require the presence of a medical professional.

I thought you meant there was something wrong with discussing your health with a friend who is a medical professional (regardless of whether they are your medical professional).

@DJHunny I read some physicians saying that one should never treat medically close friends or family, except for the evidently benign cases. The reason is that it's very difficult to deal with emotions and personal relationships if the medical issues turn out to be serious. (What if a lump is detected in the breast, what if the pap smear returns positive, etc.) This can lead to distorted, emotional judgment and thus bad appraisal of the illness, which may in turn lead to suboptimal treatment for the patient.

I’ve had personal relationships with doctors outside of their practice, (one was a workout buddy) and I never brought up anything medically related to my health out side of the office, nor did they.

@DJHunny I read some physicians saying that one should never treat medically close friends or family, except for the evidently benign cases. The reason is that it's very difficult to deal with emotions and personal relationships if the medical issues turn out to be serious. (What if a lump is detected in the breast, what if the pap smear returns positive, etc.) This can lead to distorted, emotional judgment and thus bad appraisal of the illness, which may in turn lead to suboptimal treatment for the patient.

AMA ethical guidelines state “physicians should not generally treat themselves or members of their immediate family” for exactly the reasons stated by @Jacana That’s not an absolute statement and it leaves wiggle room for trearing minor issues. Unless it’s emergent, they should never prescribe narcotics for family members, that’s unethical and could be criminal. Several relatives of mine are doctors and I’ve often used them as “second opion”, sending lab results, imagery etc for them to comment on. Usually, they’ll come back to me with questions to ask my doctors - or tell me they can’t form an opinion as they don’t have the full picture. Asking relatives for medical advice can put them in an awkward or compromising positions.

My wife and I had to get a new doctor a few years ago, after he retired and the PA that worked for him relocated across the country to be close to family. The PA (whom we loved, she was a great health care practitioner) recommend a doctor that she knew had recently opened a new practice.

Turns out, the new doctor (a female) was a friend of my wife’s from her high school days, they had lost touch over the years. Since that first appointment, which was a new patient physical for both of us, my wife and our doctor have renewed their friendship, and are now good friends. She will often join my wife and I at the gym for weightlifting sessions, we will have cookouts at each other’s houses, go out to eat occasionally, etc.

As the professional that she is, our doctor made it clear that we shouldn’t discuss any medical matters when any other company is present, including her own husband. And IF, heaven forbid, anything serious came about medically for either my wife or myself, that she would insist that we consult with one of her colleagues in her medical group, for both a second opinion and for any further tests or treatment.

I’ve had personal relationships with doctors outside of their practice, (one was a workout buddy) and I never brought up anything medically related to my health out side of the office, nor did they.

I once had to smack down a doctor about that...he sent me an email about an WiFi issue he was having, and I had to explain that just as I don't ask him for free medical care he can't ask me for free tech support.

I once had to smack down a doctor about that...he sent me an email about an WiFi issue he was having, and I had to explain that just as I don't ask him for free medical care he can't ask me for free tech support.

Sounds smart to have a few IOUs in your back pocket for other occasions. You never know when a favor might come in handy, say like being willing to make a house call in an emergency. There has to be reciprocity of course, but I give others the initial benefit of the doubt.

I have hardly ever been disappointed in my assessments ...

Hi. My bf's friend's dad does my exams, so I've known him before he examined me and I see him socially since. It was definitely a little awkward at first. There I am in the exam and someone I know is asking me to remove all of my clothes and he's examining me all over like that. It was even more awkward the first time I saw him after the exam, just knowing he had seen and examined all of me like that. He was totally professional during the exam, though, and in no way brings any of it up outside of the office. In the office and outside of the office are completely separate. For me, yes he's always done both a recto-vaginal and a rectal exam on me. I was pretty shocked about those the first time.