Exam by Endocrinologist

My current primary care physician is female and specializes in internal medicine. I've seen her for a few years now and generally like her and think she does performs a fairly thorough exam (although sometimes she does seem to be rushed).

Just recently an Endocrinologist who is also certified in internal medicine has joined the practice (he is male). I've heard or read that an Endocrinologist is usually very thorough and will generally perform a very good head-to-toe exam, giving a lot of attention to the glands that are part of the hormonal system. Of course that includes the testicles.

I won't go into details but I do have a few health issues that might lend themselves to being seen by an Endocrinologist. I was actually thinking about switching to him as my primary care.

Does anyone have any opinions on seeing an Endocrinologist vs a normal internal medicine physician? Any stories to share concerning the thoroughness of the exam?

Thanks.

I had an exam by a highly trained and extremely well-regarded endocrinologist who happened to be female and only about 31 or 32. (And attractive.) It was by far the most thorough genital exam I have ever had and by the end of it I was very, very happy it was being done by a woman and not a man. Among other things I got an erection during the exam and although she did not say so I definitely think she intended to give me one, as part of the test. No kidding. Your mileage may vary of course, and you may not feel as strongly as I do about preferring to not have an erection from or have my penis and testicles felt at length by another man. But I would never go to a male endocrinologist for that reason alone if I could at all help it. For some reason, most endocrinologists around where I live happen to be youngish females.

[quote author=Al C. link=topic=14421.msg143533#msg143533 date=1226732082]

I had an exam by a highly trained and extremely well-regarded endocrinologist who happened to be female...It was by far the most thorough genital exam I have ever had...

[/quote]

Thanks for your comments Al C. It seems that around here most of them are male -- too bad since I would also prefer a female.

Can you please tell me the purpose for your visit to an endocrinologist? Was it for a specific problem or just a general physical? I'm wondering if they routinely perform such an extensive genital exam or if it had to do with your symptoms.

My female urologist noted during an exam that my left testicle was considerably smaller than my right. The question I went to the endocrinologist for was whether or not I was hypogonadic as a result. It turned out I was not, that I was fully within range for my age, and that likely I was born that way. (Actually my right testicle is slightly larger than average.) Interestingly this occasioned another and thorough exam by my attractive female PCP who concluded that she had not missed something in her several exams of my testicles and that nothing had changed over my time seeing her. That made her feel better. (And I felt good, very good, as she was satisfying herself...) All told, I enjoyed the experiences.

[quote author=Al C. link=topic=14421.msg143533#msg143533 date=1226732082]

It was by far the most thorough genital exam I have ever had...

[/quote]

I meant to follow-up on this right away but for some reason I forgot. Al C, can you tell me anything more about how she did the genital exam? Were you laying on the table, standing in front of here, in stirrups, etc? I ask because I heard stories of very extensive genital exams given while the male was in stirrups and was wondering if this was your situation.

Thanks.

Jim

No, she did not use stirrups. Most of the testicle exam was done with me standing up in front of her, she on a stool. But she also had me on all fours on the exam table and did both a DRE and a testicle exam from behind. I had never had a testicle exam like that before or since (i.e., on the table on all fours). Oddly, I did not find that embarrassing, I guess because I was facing away from her, even though it is an inherently embarrassing position. She also palpated my perineum when I was in that position.

[quote author=Al C. link=topic=14421.msg151418#msg151418 date=1228502965]

... she also had me on all fours on the exam table and did both a DRE and a testicle exam from behind.

[/quote]

Now that's hot. I'm hard just thinking about being examined in that position.

Thanks Al C.

That's an interesting position for a DRE. Never heard of that before.

I agree never heard of a testicle exam done from behind.

Really? I have had a DRE done that way a couple of times, both times by women MD's. But I had never had a testicle exam done that way before. In the exam by the endocrinologist I think she was interested in examining my perineal area as much as she was examining my testicles, because she had examined them earlier too while I was standing.

As a matter of fact I have had DRE's done four ways -- on my left side, bending over the table, lying on my back, and on all fours (actually it was more on my knees but leaning down on my chest/arms so my butt would stick up). I found lying on my back the most embarrassing, because I was looking at her as she did it, and she was looking at my genitals at the same time, plus my balls got sort of in the way.

I would love ti have a genital check from my endocrinologist again, i had one 10 years ago, i enjoyed so much, than after that, i jerk off for the first time.

I have been to a few different endocrinologists in the hope of finding one that I could get along with. The first one I saw brushed me off, the second one I saw gave me a google search as his "recommendation" for another doctor. Color me not impressed with either of these guys. They both performed cursory general exams basically glancing me over and not really doing much. I asked my ob/gyn for another referral to a different endocrinologist.

I went to the endocrinologist yesterday in the hopes of getting some answers. He looked over my chart, all the faxed over bloodwork, listened to my concerns, took extensive notes on my symptoms, concerns, reviewed pictures I had brought with me, etc. The last two endo's had only simply done a quick glance at me, checked my neck, but thats it.

He then told me to hop up on the exam table so he could examine me. That right there was more than any doctor had said to me. He checked my neck glands, my eyes (with that light thing), my skin around my neck and arms. Then he did something that surprised me a bit. He lifted my shirt in the back and took a look at my back. Then he listened to my lungs. When he came back around front he told me to lay back, and then HE pulled my shirt up past my breasts, exposing my bra while I was laying on the exam table. I was so surprised that I didn't know what to do except lay there. I think he listened to my heart while I was laying down then he performed a fairly complete abdominal exam. I had to remind myself to stay relaxed. The exam was probably one of the most complete exams I've had in a very long time!

I get to go back to him in September. I really hope that he does another exam.

What sort of additional exams would you like him to perform?

I'd like to have a genital exam done by my endrocrinologist, and get an erection, since I have diabetes, and one of the complications of that is for guys to get ED. But he just gives me a more general exam. But last week when I went to my endrcrinologist, I enjoyed being touched by the female nurse when she took my pulse and my blood pressure

I have an endocrinologist who I saw for thyroid problems and medication. He's only examined my neck. I have no idea what his other specialties are. I also had no idea that some endocrinologists do genital exams. Now I am curious if he does do genital exams.

I haven't seen him in over a year. All he did was talk to me for five minutes during my last visit. My current primary care physician is now monitoring my thyroid medication.

@CassieST

I had an exam for thyroid issues around 11 or 12 years old. In addition to the doctor feeling my neck and recieving an ultrasound of my neck, the doctor also performed a genital exam. It was completely unexpected and therefore extremely arousing and embarrassing. I had no idea that a genital exam would be be included in my visit.

I am hypothyroid so I have had to see an endocrinologist since I was a baby. Yeah, they are pretty thorough. My gp regulates my thyroid meds, and does an adequate job. I would see one, but that means another co-pay.

My thyroid is in a normal range right now. That's another reason I'm not really worried.

One thing to keep in mind is that endocrinology is a sub-specialty of internal medicine. That means that an endocrinologist has gone through medical school, perhaps - but not always - an internship, a residency in internal medicine, and finally a fellowship in endocrinology. They are among the most highly trained physicians around.

Their examinations tend to be very thorough because of that, but also because endocrine disorders can manifest themselves in pretty much any organ system of the body, depending on the endocrine glands involved.