Gyn exams, do they include a brief regular checkup? Seperate Abdomen exam?

Hello ladies. From some of the many physical exam and gyn texts I have perused, as well as comments on the various forums, I have questions about what's included with your gyn exams. It would seem that some OB/Gyns do a brief physical with a gyn exam but that many others do just the breast and pelvic exam. There were even excerpts from magazines like "Teen", "Seventeen" and "Glamour" that alluded to the doctor "listening to your heart and lungs before proceeding to the basic breast, tummy and pelvic exam" but others thst didn't. Please take a moment or two to answer these questions for me.

Who does your gyn exam, OB/Gyn, Internist, Family Doc or NP/PA?

If your gyn exams are done by an OB/Gyn (or their NP/PA), do you see another type of practitioner for a routine physical?

For those that get a separate gyn exam, or only a gyn exam, does your gyn exam include:

HEENT exam?

Palpation of lymph nodes/thyroid?

Breast exam?

Auscultation of heart and lungs?

Examination of the belly?

For those whose OB/Gyn examines the belly, how thorough are they?

Auscultate bowel sounds?

Auscultate bruits?

Percuss liver? Bladder? Spleen?

Palpate lightly all over?

Palpate deeply all over?

Palpate liver? Spleen? Kidneys? Bladder?

Check for CVA tenderness?

Thanks for the info.

As a real Dr, I think that ALL PHYSICAL (done by GP,GYN, OBS or other speialist) HAS TO INCLUDE a GENERAL EXAM

It' the only way to avoid failing some, sometime severe, diseases

Who does your gyn exam, OB/Gyn, Internist, Family Doc or NP/PA? OB/GYN

If your gyn exams are done by an OB/Gyn (or their NP/PA), do you see another type of practitioner for a routine physical?

No, I pretty much consider my ob appointments my yearly physical.

For those that get a separate gyn exam, or only a gyn exam, does your gyn exam include:

HEENT exam? No

Palpation of lymph nodes/thyroid? Can't remember, but I don't think so.

Breast exam? Yes

Auscultation of heart and lungs? No

Examination of the belly? I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure no.

So far in my life, I've only had three exams by two different gynecologists. But each time, the reason why I had those appointments was to address a specific problem. Since it was a given that I'd been seeing a primary care physician, I was never given much by way of a general examination by either of them. Other than the routine PAP test and breast exam, the focus was entirely on the gynecological issue.

In the early 1980s just after we had gotten married my wife and I lived in a village with a one doctor medical practice.The doctor was a nice man in his late 50s early 60s and had been the GP there for many years.

When she went for her birth control pill prescription to be renewed every six months he would just check her blood pressure.

The time for my wife's pap smear came around and she went to the doctor's surgery on a Thursday afternoon which he put aside for such procedures with the district nurse present as a chaperone.

My wife told me that she was asked to go behind the screen where the examination couch was and to undress down to the waist.The doctor did a breast exam and felt her stomach.She then put her top half clothing back on before removing her tights and pants for the smear,her skirt was pulled up around her waist.

The doctor took the smear and then did a quick internal exam before telling her to get dressed.

She had had a smear test before this by her previous GP who was a woman and only took the smear and did nothing else.

She said she could feel her face going bright red with embarrassment but the doctor and nurse talked to her throughout the exam and she relaxed a bit.Before moving away from the village my wife attended the doctor for a further smear and antenatal appointments which included breast and internal exams.

I had mine done by a nurse practitioner in a clinic. First the medical assistant took me to the room and took by blood pressure and weight fully clothed. Then she told me that I can leave my top on but take my bra off. She also told me to take my pants and panties off and sit on the table with a cloth covering my bottom half like a skirt. She left to have me do this. This was kind of weird and I would have preferred a gown. It was odd sitting there with just a shirt on with no bra and just having this little cloth to cover my pelvic area. The NP came in. She had me sit at the edge of the table and listened to my heart and lungs through my shirt. She then looked in my throat and felt my neck. Then she told me to lay down with my legs straight. She pulled up my shirt and exposed both of my breasts. She then did a breast exam with my arms over my head. She finished each one by squeezing next to the nipples using the palm of each of her hands. She left me like this. with my shirt up while she moved down by my abdomen. She pulled the sheet down to the middle of my pubic area (I shave but if I had hair you would have seen about half of it). She then listened to my stomach and felt all around. Meanwhile my shirt was still flipped up, which was making me feel very exposed. When she was done with my stomach she pulled my shirt back down over my breasts and pulled the sheet up again. She then told me to scoot down and put my feet in the stirrups and have it so my behind is just off the edge of the table. She watched me do this from the side and then went to the foot of the table. I had my knees together. She turned her lamp on and pointed it towards me. She then told me to relax my knees (this was my first exam so I was really nervous). I guess I didnt open them enough for her because she took one hand on each of me knees and pressed them open more. She had wanted them so far apart that the soles of my feet were actually flexed inwards a bit. At this point the paper cloth was covering me. So then she pulled that cloth up so the edge of it was where my pupic hair would start. She sad down on her stool and said she was going to look at the outside. I felt her touch me and pull my lips apart. I was laying completely flat so I couldnt really see what was going on. She just moved everything around and spread everything apart for about 15 seconds. Then she said she was going to insert the speculum. I felt it go in and felt her open it. It did not hurt or even feel uncomfortable. Then she grabbed the little brushes for the smear. She accidentally dropped one and had to get up and grab another one from behind her - leaving me in this position. I guess she couldnt see my cervix good because then she told me she has to open it a bit more. I felt her adjust it and open it more - which was quite uncomfortable. I brought my knees together so she left it open and put both of her hands on my knees again and pushed them wide. Then she took the smear which I didnt feel and took the speculum out (thank God). She then said she was going to feel inside and put two of her fingers inside and pushed around my stomach a bit. She then turned around and said I was good for another year - to get dressed and I was done.

So she did do a bit of a regular exam along with the pelvic.

Shygirl1981,

It was very exciting to read your story about being examined with your shirt on and bra off, bottomless. Did you feel more exposed than being naked under a gown? Did it make you nervous sitting there in that state of undress? Were you embarrassed when the NP came into the exam room? Were you concerned that others might catch a glimpse of you as she opened the door?

The most exciting part was picturing you laying there with your shirt pulled up over your breasts and the top half of your pubic area exposed. What was it like being so exposed with another person in complete control? How long were you exposed like this while she felt your abdomen? Were you worried that she might remove the sheet completely, leaving you totally exposed?

I'd love to hear more about your experience.

Sensei1980

Who does your gyn exam, OB/Gyn, Internist, Family Doc or NP/PA? OB/GYN

If your gyn exams are done by an OB/Gyn (or their NP/PA), do you see another type of practitioner for a routine physical? Yes, I have a dozen doctors; one is an internist and he does quarterly physical exams.

For those that get a separate gyn exam, or only a gyn exam, does your gyn exam include:

HEENT exam? NO

Palpation of lymph nodes/thyroid? YES

Breast exam? Not this last time, but I had just had a mammogram a few months prior.

Auscultation of heart and lungs? YES

Examination of the belly? NO

For those whose OB/Gyn examines the belly, how thorough are they?

Auscultate bowel sounds?

Auscultate bruits?

Percuss liver? Bladder? Spleen?

Palpate lightly all over?

Palpate deeply all over?

Palpate liver? Spleen? Kidneys? Bladder?

Check for CVA tenderness?

Sensei - I felt very exposed and very embarrassed, this was my first exam ever! I was mostly worried that thew sheet was going to slide off. I felt the wrose when i got in the stirrups and she pulled the sheet up exposing my pubic area.

Sensei - the other worst part was when she fist started the external exam i listed my head up to look at what was going on. She had my knees so far apart and i saw my lips spread open like that without even being touched. i felt so violated.

Shygirl1981,

Very hot, I'd love to find out more about your exam. Was it more embarrassing having a completely shaved pubic area for such an intimate exam? Everything you had to offer downstairs was on full display with no hair to offer a sense of modesty. Also, if you don't mind, could you tell me about your breasts and nipples. The size and shape of both and the color of your nipples. Lastly, was it arousing in the least to have your nipples pinched at the end of the breast exam?

Sensei1980

In the United States, a typical GYN examination means removing all clothing including bra and panties and given a gown worn jacket style to be opened in the front.. (read the internet information sites if you don't believe me) While most medical offices insist female patients remove their shoes and socks too from the start, there is some condescension as to cold feet in the stirrups. Thus nurses put socks on the stirrups to warm them not your feet, but anyway socks have been know to creep into the equation.

If a patient has no recent medical records gynecologists are ready to give full routine examinations of all parts of the body. Again the importance and convenience of the patient undressed is clearly seen. It would be unseemly to ask for further disrobals during a medical. Incidentally a full examination of the feet including soles, toes and reflex reactions is common throughout everyday medical practise, so the idea that a girl would keep her socks on would be a bit ambiguous.

Why do gynecologists do breast exams? It can be inferred that milk production is a regular occurance in the reproductive process so they concern themselves with a woman's breasts for more than one reason. Furthermore the gentle pulling or pinching of the nipple to check for discharge is again evidence that the milk cycle not be interrupted. Ask any 13 year old girl if her doctor examined her breasts during her last check up and she may shyly respond yes, thinking she's clearly not in the danger age-zone. But what the pediatrican or general practitioner is looking for are healthy breasts capable of doing the job they were created for....(feeding your infant)

Some college girls like doing an "All-in-One" type of exam free on campuses which includes everything. Young coeds shouldn't be surprised then if her physician or nurse practitioner gloves and inserts a lubricated finger into her anus for an exploratory rectal exam. It's all on a check list and follows students from university to university. In some states there is a mandate for anal exams for students under 18 as well...periodically like every two years.

If pelvic exams make your blood pressure rise and your pulses race, don't worry. There are relaxants available now that help women endure. It is expected your heart rate will increase the first time you feel an instrument being inserted into your vagina. There are virginal speculums for girls as young as 12 (and younger!) so rest assured your discomfort will be kept minimal.

[quote author=polly_3ox link=topic=24761.msg376063#msg376063 date=1313345192]

Some college girls like doing an "All-in-One" type of exam free on campuses which includes everything. Young coeds shouldn't be surprised then if her physician or nurse practitioner gloves and inserts a lubricated finger into her anus for an exploratory rectal exam. It's all on a check list and follows students from university to university. In some states there is a mandate for anal exams for students under 18 as well...periodically like every two years.[/quote]

I wonder if such kind of exams are ultimately very popular among college girls. All together type of exams have their benefits but still I think college girls are not so willing to have them. This is just my feeling.

What I am very surprised that there is a mandate for anal exams for students in some states in the US.

Baraja,

Colleges in the US usually require a physical exam, blood work and a chest x-ray prior to attending. The physical exam can be completed by the student's GP and must be done within the year prior to the first date of attendance. You usually go to a local lab for the blood work and chest x-ray. The blood work is a standard CBC, so it's not a big deal. The chest x-ray is where I heard the most complaints from female students.

The chest x-ray required females to remove their shirt and bra and unbutton and lower their jeans. They either did this in front of the x-ray technician or behind a curtain that barley covered them. Then they had to press their breasts up against the glass as the technician helped to position them. Some girls complained that the technician touched their breasts while positioning them. Then the technician went to the other room, took the x-ray and came back. The girls were given a gown to cover their breasts and told to wait in a unisex waiting room until the x-ray developed. Once it developed, they were allowed to get dressed.

Sensei1980

Sensei1980,

Actually I wasn't surprised that a physical exam is needed before attending university or college in the US. Instead, I drew more attention to that in some states there is a mandate for rectal/anal exams what Polly mentioned before.

Physical exam are not required here in Finland prior to attending university or college but the first year students are called to a physical exam which is basically voluntary. The exam is usually performed by a nurse at the Finnish Student Health Service.

During my reproductive years I only saw a Gynecologist for annual exams. Always included: Abdominal, breast, pelvic.

My exams have or may have included:

HEENT exam

Palpation of lymph nodes/thyroid

Auscultation of heart and lungs

Auscultate bowel sounds

Auscultate bruits

Percuss liver, Bladder, Spleen

Palpate liver, Spleen, Kidneys, Bladder

Check for CVA tenderness

The thoroughness of exams and palpation varied between doctors. I should have paid for attention but I was just trying to get the heck out of there.

I had to google bruits and CVA tenderness. After my hysterectomy, I now only see primary care providers. They usually do HEENT and palpation, including a breast exam. No pelvic exams.

Nope, not for me

No. At most nurse takes temp, weight and BP when I first arrive then it’s disrobe, Dr does breast exam and then pelvic.