Male genital exam

Guys,

When it's that time in the exam, does the examiner tell you to get into position before, as, or after they have gloved?

Seems to vary by doctor. My current urologist reached for the gloves and said something to the effect of “let’s take a look”. My old PCP did a hernia check and was all gloved up as I changed into a gown behind a curtain. She did a hernia check, then changed gloves and said “ let’s check your prostate”. She said it appears normal, but my finger is too small to really reach it.

She seemed more embarrassed than me, I could’ve cared less.

My most recent doctor always got his gloves on all the way before instructing me to lower my underwear.

Usually she tells me to undress or take the position, while I am undressing she puts on gloves.

Sometimes she is busy on the computer so I am already naked and waiting in the position, only then when she is done with the computer she gets up and puts gloves on

Last time I had a check the doctor almost seemed to forget about it. He was talking to me after having me sit back up and then said something like “oh I guess we can do a hernia check.” He then told me to drop my pants as he went to grab a glove from the box. Before then I’ve had the doctor put gloves on and then ask me to lower my pants or even do it for me if I was laying down.

It not only varies amongst doctors, it varies visit to visit with the same doctor. However, for the most part, the providers glove up after I'm in position. Usually it goes something like this, after the abdominal exam, they instruct me to sit up while they push in the leg rest. The wording often varies, but they say something along the lines of, "It's time for the hernia exam, I need you to stand up", or "Go ahead and stand up, I need to check you for a hernia". Not always, but typically they stand there next to me, like they are ready to catch me if I pass out. Sometimes they kind of guide me or tell me where to stand. This is when they walk over and grab their gloves. Instructions aren't always given, but this is usually when they tell me to pull down my pants and underwear. They sit on their stool about 2 feet in front me and watch me unfasten and drop my pants. Only then do they put on their gloves. Time seems to stop while standing there in front of a relative stranger and voluntarily expose myself while they stare at my penis and scrotum. It is so humbling and embarrassing.

Last time I was examined it was as I was told to remove my underpants and the doctor gloved up as I got ready.

My most recent exams (past 10 years) have been with a couple doctors with varying processes. My current doctor (bulk of exams) originally did not use gloves unless it was a rectal exam. Normally, he asks me to hop off the table staring "let's take a look". I'm shirtless at this time from previous checks, and know to drop my pants and underwear. He's rolling over on his stool at this time, with my exposed genitals just below eye level. In the past couple years, he's started to wear gloves for this check, so is putting on gloves as he rolls over. After the genital exam, if there's a prostate exam or anything on the backside, I'm instructed to turn around and lean over the table. He'd put on gloves then if not already wearing them. A couple times I've been examined while still laying back on the table. I was asked to pull down my pants and underwear after stomach palpations. He did not wear gloves for those exams.

I did see another doctor a couple years ago before and after a surgery. The first time after a discussion, I was asked to stand and "drop my trousers". He put on gloves as he rolled up on his stool. The second time, I was seated in a reclining exam chair. I had to wiggle down my pants while in the recliner seat. During this time he put in his gloves.

@DrJean I think that when I had exams for my hernia, the doc told me to get on the table and then put her gloves on.

For all my genital exams I’m being told to get into position as the doctor is putting on gloves.

Like many others, to the best of my recollection, the doctor is usually gloving up while I'm pulling underwear down and/or getting into the proper position. then usually i have to wait until he finishes putting them on.

Most of my doctors have varied when it comes to putting on the exam gloves. Normally, my doctors will glove up at the same time or after I'm in position. For example, performs the abdominal exam also checks my femoral pulse then will ask me to sit up. For example, the phrases varied but all said something along the lines of, "ok, please hop down and drop or lower your underwear”. “If you would stand up and pull your underwear down going to need to check privates along with a hernia exam.” or "Go ahead and stand up here, I am going to check you for a hernia". Of course, there were several of phases used to but the rest were similar to these instructions. Next, they would walk and grab their gloves. Some doctor were quick other slower putting on the exam gloves. Time seemed to stand still as I stood waiting with my underwear anywhere from my knees or around my ankles. On their stool they would roll directly in front felt like they were staring at my penis and testicles. Definitely a weird sensation being totally exposed with a relatively stranger not only staring but ultimately going to be touching your penis and scrotum/ testicles. On two occasions, there was also nurse/chaperone observing that portion of exam extremely embarrassing.

Growing up my pediatrician and even the high school doctor never wore gloves totally bare handed and very cold hands . I was 11/12 the first time and continued until I was 18. My pediatrician instructions were “hop off and stand here “as he pointed you partial spot near his desk. Next “ stand here, legs apart and arms at your side do not move “. Then he would grab your underwear at the waistband and pull them all the way down “.

If varies by doctor. Usually for me, my current doctor, female, has me in a gown sitting up on the exam table. Then she unties the top string, lets the gown fall to my waist and does upper torso exam. Next she has me lay back, she pulles the gown down to expose my genitals. I am usually at least partially erect by this time. She does testicle and penis exam without gloves while I am laying down. She has me spread my thighs apart a little bit and she palpates the perineal area, the base of my penis. Once when she did this I ejaculated a little bit. She has me roll over onto my side, puts on gloves and does the rectal exam last. She does not do the hernia check unless I have a complaint of soreness there. My previous doctor, male. was very much quicker with the genital exam and always wore gloves. My dermatologist, female, will sometimes hold and lift my penis and testicles so she can visually check the underside. This she does while I am standing. There is always an assistant present for those exams. I usually get at least semi-hard while standing there naked. Sometimes she will have my lay on my side so she can do a rectal check, but not always. She always wears gloves.

In my teens I would be lying down on the table in my boxers and after feeling my abdomen he would prepare me and say "okay I know this is the part nobody your age likes I need to check your privates" and pull them down to mid-thigh and check my testicles pretty thoroughly and then my penis and pubic hair while making comments about my size and development. One time he was on vacation and I had another pediatrician in his practice when I was 16 who was much more thorough. He lifted up the waistband of my boxers without saying anything when lying down and looked at everything…but he then asked me to stand up and told me he was going to lower my boxers to my knees to inspect everything more closely. He then pulled my boxers to my knees telling me to keep my hands at my sides and spread my legs and felt around my balls, pubic hair and lifted up and felt all around the shaft of my penis. As he was doing this he asked me if I had ever measured my penis when it was erect and if I had any questions about my size because it was "normal to be concerned about those things at my age" which was incredibly embarrassing. I started going to an adult doctor a few years ago and he just feels the waistband of my boxers lying down without saying anything. He then has me stand up and says okay we should do a testicular exam at your age which I take as pulling my boxers down for him to do a quick exam.

Usually the doctor will be gloving up while giving the instruction to stand up and lower the pants/underwear or lift up gown for a quick genital/hernia check.

I'm usually laying down on the table and my doctor has just finished palpating my abdomen. It is at this point that he says he wants to check my testicles and prostate and then he puts on the gloves and gets me to lower my boxers down to my ankles.

It's pretty clear to me what is next as he has me remove my briefs and will then examine my genitals and penis while laying on my back. Eventually, I am told to stand and will then receive a hernia exam and DRE. He has his glove on for the entire sequence of events!

For me the doctor typically already had gloves on, so it’s just moving on to the next part.

I think it was after, as I was already lying down and was asked to slip underwear and trousers down right before the genital exam started, so gloves must have already been on.

Last time I saw a urologist in person, it was "lay on the table and pull your pants down so I can inspect your penis"

I have been to many doctors and there is no single rule here. However, during the first examination - a military examination, the female doctor put on gloves before the examination. I took off my underwear and she put on gloves. Then she told me to stand with my legs apart and examined my scrotum. Then I had to lay on my back and she examined. Finally, she lubricated her finger with petroleum jelly, and I had to get into a knee-breast position.

My last two doctors put their gloves on while telling me the next part of the exam is going to be focused on my genitals. My current doctor watches me stand, undo my belt and pull my pants down in front of him as he puts them on. My previous doctor turned his back while putting on his gloves at the counter. He did this after asking me to bring my pants down below my knees.