Gyn exam without stirups

When I was in my late teens and early 20s, the NP I saw would do the exams without stirrups: I'd put my feet on the edges of the little table extension, scoot down to the end of the main table, and the NP would do the pelvic exam. It wasn't until I was in the military and then civilian side before I had exams on tables with stirrups.

I've never had a full gyn exam in this position, but if I have something that needs to be addressed at a regular appointment, this is usually how it's done. I think it's very uncomfortable.

I hav been having gynecological exams for 47 years. Each time stirrups were used for at least part of the exam. I have never used a gynecological chair - always an examination table. I have been to four different doctors over the years - lways in the U.S.

With all four children my wife had to have stitches after the births.This was between 1983 and 1989 at the same hospital. each time her feet were placed in slings attached to stainless steel poles with black foam/rubber covering which were attached to the end of the birthing table.

All her other exams have been in the frog leg position except for her colposcopy exam in 2008 when leg rests were used.She said the she didn't mind the leg rests once in them but was a quite apprehensive before hand.

The Labour ward or birthing suites in the UK are one of the few places where you will find stirrups used routinely . In a recent 2013 survey 32% of all births were lying with feet in the stirrups up from 30% in the 2010 survey, and is consistent with my experience as a student on Labour ward (Dec Jan1992 -1993). We occasionally had to support their legs during the act of "pushing". Its seems that stirrups are getting used more often, in the 2010 survey 32% gave birth lying flat or supported with pillows , while the 2013 survey reported than this dropped to 26%.

On an interesting side note 8% gave birth in a water or birthing pool which was up from 5% from the 2010 survey.

I have never heard of any female being examined in the sitting up cross-legged position with no panties on before. Yes it would be difficult to observe some of the external structures as well as palpate the inner ones

I would love to try an exam without the stirrups and in the frog-leg position.

Exams without stirrup,

Frog position? I can examen the entire genital area.

Hell yes done it and love the openness and vulnerability

If needed a few straps and done.

I don't think my SO has had stirrups for any of her family doc pelvic exams for quite a long time.

I had an exam without stirrups, but it was not a gynecological exam. It was an exam by my dermatologist. It was totally embaressing, because I was not expecting it. The doc was a female, so it was slightly more comfortable compared to a male doc.

My wife has had several exams without stirrups. They all had to do with being pregnant four times. She would have visits periodically through her pregnancy and on many occasions the Dr. would have hers take her panties off and lay on the exam table in a frog leg position. I loved watch her remove and put her panties back on with the Dr. in the room!

When my girlfriend was pregnant she used a midwife and they never used stirrups for prenatal visits, or for check ups after the baby was born. They would have her scoot down to the edge of the table so her feet were on each corner. Doing it this way, the would insert the speculum upside down since the table was in the way and there wasn't enough room for the speculums handle. I still prefer to see her in stirrups though.

I'd be really disappointed by the absence of stirrups. They add so much to the visual excitement of the exam!

Stirrups are definitely not the norm here in Australia. There is something about the frog leg position that is quite interesting, but I still think stirrups would be more comfortable from the patients point of view. I would be interested in the views of the ladies here about comfort with / without stirrups....

Stirrups are definitely not the norm here in Australia. There is something about the frog leg position that is quite interesting, but I still think stirrups would be more comfortable from the patients point of view. I would be interested in the views of the ladies here about comfort with / without stirrups....

Well @gynojames I was in knee supports when I had an exam by my private gynecologist and I thought it was a lot more relaxed than frog leg position. I have not had my feet in stirrups but I bet it is a little bit less relaxed than knee supports and more relaxed than frog leg.

Gynojames says :

Stirrups are definitely not the norm here in Australia.

Perhaps that could be applicable to the state in which you reside...Here on the eastern seaboard Clinic's,Day Surgeries,Ob/Gyn's, & hospitals do have examination suites with stirrups & in several supporting configurations...My own physician (female & Ob/Gyn) has such

Well here where I live stirrups are the only thing we have, I would prefer if my GYN had the leg rests instead because stirrups make your feet and lower legs hurt when you are in them.

Well here where I live stirrups are the only thing we have, I would prefer if my GYN had the leg rests instead because stirrups make your feet and lower legs hurt when you are in them.

Yeah I bet stirrups are more work for the legs but in knee supports I could just let my legs rest and it was easy.

Gynojames says 😜erhaps that could be applicable to the state in which you reside...Here on the eastern seaboard Clinic's,Day Surgeries,Ob/Gyn's, & hospitals do have examination suites with stirrups & in several configurations...My own physician (female & Ob/Gyn) has such

That is great news to hear That Australian (and I know of at least one other member here that will agree too.... she knows who she is!!). Personally, I am aware of the specialist suites that have the stirrups (although in my experience, I have more seen knee rests here than traditional stirrups).

I guess in my comments, I was more referring to GPs where most run-of-the-mill exams seem to occur.

Well here where I live stirrups are the only thing we have, I would prefer if my GYN had the leg rests instead because stirrups make your feet and lower legs hurt when you are in them.

Thanks for your comments Kid. I guess your experience is what I always imagined too, that stirrups could be a bit more uncomfy after a while, especially when compared to knee rests.

Well @gynojames I was in knee supports when I had an exam by my private gynecologist and I thought it was a lot more relaxed than frog leg position. I have not had my feet in stirrups but I bet it is a little bit less relaxed than knee supports and more relaxed than frog leg.

Thank you for your input Amethyst! As we discussed, I am glad that there are such private options in the UK that you can get access to.

For a routine pelvic exam you are not in the stirrups that long that fatigue is an issue.

When you start doing procedures or play exams that take some time, the knee crutches or exam chairs start to be more comfortable.

For a routine pelvic exam you are not in the stirrups that long that fatigue is an issue.

When you start doing procedures or play exams that take some time, the knee crutches or exam chairs start to be more comfortable.

I think it could make a difference how fit you are @reggind. I do not think stirrups would really bother me because I have good fitness and like my husband says I look like I am a serious athlete. I think my legs have got even stronger and flexible since he started teaching me kung fu too. But I think stirrups could get a bit tiring on the legs for some ladies. That is just how it looks to me really.

It's generally frog legged here for routine smears etc or a variant of (heels to bottom knees wide apart as opposed to soles of feet together). In my experience procedure at the actual gynaecologist varies quite a bit but hospital clinics often do have stirrups and that was how I first experienced examination - I had to put my feet up on the srirrups, slide my buttocks down until I reached the doctors hand and then drop my legs wide apart. I find that much more exposing than frog legged because there is more of you on show (back bottom as well as front bottom if you know what i mean) and they still make you spread your legs really wide. Lack of srirrups always gives rise to a strange mixture of relief and disappointment!

My wife had a smear test done last week. That night she was telling me all about it and showed me the position the nurse had her lying in which was legs bent up and spread wide open but she was told to make a fist with both her hands and place them under her bum cheeks this raising her up to allow her nurse better access. Seeing my wife lying like this in our bed really turned me on knowing she was examined in that position earlier in the day and knowing and now seeing how perfectly smooth she had shaved for it. I got a bit carried away and made a remark about her enjoying the experience. She really snapped at me saying there was no way she had and the whole idea of any doctor fantasies did not excite her at all.

I saw my ex wife get an exam in the frog leg position when she was in the hospital. It was in the hospital after surgery.

Interesting post, however I believe almost all Gyns use stirrups. Only exception may be in a hospital.

The majority of female genital examinations/procedures are performed with the patient in the frog leg position here in the UK. A consultant may employ stirrups or leg rests in a hospital environment.

Yes I am in UK and all my genital exams/smears, even for a BUPA full medical, have been in frog leg position which I prefer. In terms of medfet always exciting to be told to take knickers off and lie on the couch, then being asked to bend legs and bring your feet close to your bottom and let your knees open especially in the middle of the morning with a strange women about to get a good look at your most intimate area. I am into the exposure more than the exam as well as the instructions the nurse/dr gives to get you into position in the UK and the variations etc. Not that it will ever be posted online as it is for my enjoyment/relive experience but I have recorded the audio of my smear appointment on my phone.

Lisa

My SO says she doesn't have stirrups or leg rests during her annual pelvics. When she had IVF, they had leg rests.

Hi, going back some time I worked on a experimental project for taking smears and exams we offer a choice of stirrups or not on side or back , Older ladies back with stirrups . Young ladies frog position both were about the same discomfort level , personal pref frog position .

When my wife saw a family physician and he "took a look" down there, he didn't use stirrups. He just had her position her feet at the edge of table and open them. Little awkward but it worked.