Tanner staging

I had this done when I was in middle school before I tried out for a varsity level sport. It was called amongst us the "maturity test". If you were below 9th grade trying out for a varsity sport you had to have this assessment done. It consisted of the school doctor (old female) taking a look in your underwear to assess your development. No touching or anything, just visual. This was in the early 2000s. True story.

I am very curious how formalized tanner stage tracking actually is in pediatric practices. Obviously it’s a common step in a pediatric medical exam to assess sexual maturity through a visual inspection, but how often is this actually marked down in a patient’s record and is it rated with the 1-5 tanner rating?

I recall this very interesting article about a school district with a very formalized tanner staging procedure for judging readiness for high school sports:

http://cnycentral.com/sports/content/so-you-want-to-play-golf-pull-down-your-pants

I’m interested if this is the norm or an exception.

http://cnycentral.com/sports/content/so-you-want-to-play-golf-pull-down-your-pants

Hmmmm ... mandatory Tanner staging and being allowed to play golf. Does anyone else see an enormous potential for jokes in this? 😃 😃 😃

I am very curious how formalized tanner stage tracking actually is in pediatric practices. but how often is this actually marked down in a patient’s record and is it rated with the 1-5 tanner rating?

I recall this very interesting article about a school district with a very formalized tanner staging procedure for judging readiness for high school sports:.

I posted earlier in this thread that I saw my chart in the pediatrician's office where I was examined by the same doctor from ages 11 through 18. He did include in his exam report the Tanner stage into which he found me to conform. I never had any measurements made or orcidometer utilized, but he always did I a full visual examination of my genitalia. This was done with me standing in front of him and my briefs lowered to mid thigh level. He could observe the pattern of my pubic hair, the size of the scrotum and how it hung as well as the texture and color of the penile and scrotal skin. He also felt the balls in a good degree of thoroughness, did hernia exams on each side, and inspected the glans and meatus. He also completed a physical exam form which I had to return to my school in order to compete in intrascholastic sports. I carried this completed form by hand so I always read through it thoroughly. Actually, I would take it home and read it while masturbating. None of these forms contained any Tanner staging information. The Tanner stage was only in my chart for his office.

http://cnycentral.com/sports/content/so-you-want-to-play-golf-pull-down-your-pants

I’m interested if this is the norm or an exception.

It is so hard for me to relate to the mother of a teen aged boy who would not realize that examination of his genitalia would be done for assessment of normal growth and development as well as for hernia exams to detect inguinal hernias that may become problematic with physical exertion. I cam also see why a school district would have one set of physical requirements for all sports rather than having a separate set of requirements for each sport. The kid needs to drop his shorts and get over the "trauma." I see this as an extension of the ridiculous PC culture where so many people are going through life full of anger just waiting for the least little thing about which to become offended.

Tanner staging is something that can be done to the degree they want to depending on why it's being done. Anything from just a visual check for presence of body hair to careful measurement of genitals to measurement of many body parts and proportions, blood tests, bone density tests and even, in some cases, semen samples and documentary photography.

I had it done for a study my school was involved with and for that, it was on the detailed side. But I also had it done independently and separately for wrestling and boxing in my teens and in those cases it was not as detailed or involved.

In New York State, and many others, yes, if you want to play certain sports or transition to different levels (such as from JV to varsity) your pants are coming down for it.

...The kid needs to drop his shorts and get over the "trauma."

Yeah. I don't get too worked up over the way people's standards have changed over the years because each generation makes the world it wants, but the reaction of the kid and the mom in the article are silly. Back when I was in school, school physicals - especially for contact sports - were routinely done either fully nude or at least for some part of it you were fully nude and it was a source of mild embarrassment or, more likely, something you would snicker about later on, but it wasn't a source of "trauma." How delicate do you have to be to feel "traumatized" by someone seeing your body, particularly in reasonable situation like a medical exam in a safe, secure, well-managed environment.

What is the purpose of tanner staging well into adulthood? Once someone is fully developed isnt it moot?

What is the purpose of tanner staging well into adulthood? Once someone is fully developed isnt it moot?

Yes, it is moot once adult development has been attained.

What is the purpose of tanner staging well into adulthood? Once someone is fully developed isnt it moot?

I've never heard of Tanner staging being done on someone who is fully developed. There may be circumstances where a person is an adult (over 18 years old) but with a developmental problem that stunted his pubertal growth and Tanner staging may be a part of whatever treatment he receives. And some of the tools of Tanner staging (orchidometer, blood/urine/semen tests, penile anthropometry, etc) may be useful for other reasons, like gauging the effects of drugs like steroids on the health of reproductive organs, but that is not Tanner staging per se.

I did know one guy’s father protested the school doing complete physical. The weird part of his protest was there an “option out” you just had to have the family doctor done before the school’s exam. He thought it was “improper” to make or demand teenage boys undress and have their genitals viewed and touched by a “strange doctor”. Even then I viewed it was ridiculous, after all he was approved / checked out by the school board. The father did accomplish having 3rd party present if requested by the parent or student.

In my experience, I never had any penis measurement nor was a orcidometer used to determine testicle development. My pediatrician I went to from a baby to 16 always did I a full visual examination. I admit it was embarrassing when especially with my sister present in the room. I would done stand in front of him and my underwear to my knees. He checked : growth of public hair and the scrotum -size, skin how it hung/ testicles. He felt both testicles- prolonged exam, fronts & backside and attached cords, lastly a hernia exam. Normally, started then with my penis - entire shaft, foreskin retraction, glans and meatus.

Once, I reached H.S. age usually I ended up getting a physical with my doctor then a extracurricular physical at school. My parents the physical exam packet form which I had to return to my school before the scheduled physical. The physical the first year was a little weird having to drop you underwear in front of a “different doctor” and in front of other guys. The school doc did everything my family doctor but just quicker be . I never or heard any other guy who felt “traumatized”. Usually, there was a lot of joking before or waiting for the doctor. The comment used to describe exam day “having my dick and balls fondled day”.

I did know one guy’s father protested the school doing complete physical. The father did accomplish having 3rd party present if requested by the parent or student.

So did this kid bring in a third party to be present during his exam? Who was the third party?

I did know one guy’s father protested the school doing complete physical. The father did accomplish having 3rd party present if requested by the parent or student.

So did this kid bring in a third party to be present during his exam? Who was the third party?

No, actually the school’s administration granted him permission to be examined by his doctor. The school’s was reviewed & changed - the athletic trainer was available if needed. Then that summer the policy of giving physicals was reviewed and ended permanently once the doctor’s contract expired. Which resulted in everyone going to their doctors.

Addition Information: This situation started over personal issues between father and school doctor. The only comments most guys and I had were a cold & wet balls and dick. His washed his hands between guys and his hands were always cold and alittle wet.

I don't think that I had a Tanner staging done with the sting of balls being compared to the size of my testicles. Maybe doctors do the Tanner staging in their heads by mentally comparing testicle size to the size that is about right for the patient's age. If a patient has passed puberty age and still has small testicles then the doctor might pull out the string of Tanner balls for exact comparison. That would make sense. Otherwise why bother to compare a boy's testicles with a string of Tanner balls if the testicles look like they are the right size for the boy's age?

I was early in puberty development because I think that I started around age 11 or 12 but maybe that is normal. By 13, I had what felt like large genitals (penis and testicles) compared to my body mass but that is just skinny teen stuff and probably not because I was so advanced. Certainly saw boys in 7th and 8th grade PE classes that were undersized compared to the rest of us. It is funny how the embarrassment at that age changes from being self-conscious about having larger dicks and balls and wanting to hide those and then those boys having undersized equipment when almost everyone around them has larger equipment and trying to hide what they didn't have yet. Not easy to hide anything in a locker room and gym showers when we were that age. Everyone gets a good look at everyone and it was hard not to be curious about comparing stupid stuff like that.

When I was 9, my mother took me to the doctor specifically to inquire about my penis size. I was still a child, years away from puberty, so I didn't think much of it and don't remember feeling ashamed. First we sat down and talked to the doctor, when she explained my "problem" and they proceeded to talk about me in the third person, the way you usually do with children. Then the three of us went to the other side of the room, by the examining table. I had to strip to my underwear and the doctor checked weight, height and vitals. Then came the moment of truth: he was going to assess my penis size. I was lying on the table, and he lowered my briefs himself, as was the norm for children. He rolled each testicle with his fingers and checked the penis. Of course my mother watched everything and he told her everything was normal but my testicles seemed below average.

He did not use any plastic balls to assess testicle size, just his own hands.

I routinely was tanner staged between 13 -16. I moved and had to go to a new pediatrician, my first appointment was a physical, almost as soon as I lowered my underwear, she told the nurse tanner 1 1, and then explained that she wanted to keep an eye on my genital Development and that she believed I was a bit behind and she reassured me. So from then on I had a genital exam at least every six months until 16. It was at my 15 year old physical I finally moved to one 2-3 as my testicles had mostly developed but nothing else by 15.5 I had some pubic hair and penile growth as well and by 16 I was mostly developed. At that point it was just a routine genital exam from there on at physicals.

I wonder if there is a reverse Tanner staging? As I get much older my penis and testicles are getting smaller.

Was always technically a part of my yearly physicals but it was always just a visual check as she was doing the genital exam and not anything she ever actually mentioned (no orchidometers or anything). The only reason I know that it was being checked is because I obtained a full scan of my medical records from my pediatrician's office, which includes the write-ups of every doctor's visit from birth up through age twenty-one, and my tanner stage at each well check-up was always included in the “genitalia” box on the chart (along with “uncirc.” and two arrows pointing down, which I assume refers to my testicles being descended.)

If you're curious

6 years old to 12 years old: T1

13 years old: T2

14 years old: T3

15 years old: T4

16 years old: (skipped physical)

17 years old to 21 Years old: T5

I obtained a full scan of my medical records from my pediatrician's office, which includes the write-ups of every doctor's visit from birth up through age twenty-one, and my tanner stage at each well check-up was always included in the “genitalia” box on the chart

I'm so jealous. I wish I had that.

I wonder if there is a reverse Tanner staging? As I get much older my penis and testicles are getting smaller.

I think it's called Thinner staging. 😄

When i was 14 almost 15 i got a new doctor. I had always seen an older pediatrician. But the August before I started high school i went to see a new doctor. It was not a adult doctor like my parents saw, but was a doctor who specialized in adolescent medicine.

The first visit to see this doctor was for my entry into High school physical. I had gotten a form from the school because i had made the Jr Varsity soccer team that needed to be filled out by this new doctor.

My mom took me to the medical office. It was very big and not like the small house office that my pediatrician used. We checked in to a busy waiting area. My mom filled out all the forms that were about my past health and insurance info. I sat and nervously waited next to my mom. This was 1994, so no phones to keep me occupied. Just my nervous thoughts.

At this point in my life I was in full puberty swing, and had actually lost my virginity to my 15 y/o girl friend a few weeks earlier. I was about 5’8 and weighed around 150 LBs. I had dirty blonde hair that was long and shaggy.

I was called back by a nurse and after weight and height were taken, i was brought into a small exam room. I had a thermometer put in my mouth, while my blood pressure was taken. It was all much more professional then i was used to at my pediatrician‘s office.

The nurse left and before she did, handed me a cloth gown and gave me the instructions “I understand this is your first complete physical, this may be a little new for you, but i need you to get completely undressed, underpants too, and put this gown on, it opens in the back”. She then left the room.

i was in shock. I had never been naked at a doctors office. I did as I was told. About 15 mins of sitting, scared and vulnerable, naked on a exam table, the doctor came in. To my surprise she was a woman. Older, maybe 50ish, not very attractive, grey hair, with glasses. She wore a lab coat. She introduced herself, and began a detailed round of questions, which i sheepishly answered. She then asked if i had a girlfriend, i answered in the affirmative. She then asked if i was sexually active. I said no, because i was afraid she’d tell my mom.

she then said “now im going to examine you”, and began a very very thorough physical, checking my eyes, ears, mouth, throat… then breathing, then i was laid down for more poking and prodding then i had ever had before. While she pushed on my belly, my penis became fully erect under the gown. after pushing all over my lower belly, she skipped right past my hard on and moved my legs in different position, exposing my thighs, balls and asshole while doing it.

She walked over to the counter and got some gloves and began to put them on. She inquired if i had ever had a genital exam before. I said something like “i think so, maybe… um”… she then pulled the gown up past my belly button and with her gloved hands, she grabbed my erect penis, looked at it, squeezed all over it and then looked in the whole. She then began to fondle by balls, i looked down and noticed a bunch of clear liquid leaking from my hard dick, she made no comments, she just fondled away, then she pushed hard into my groin and instructed me to cough, then she repeated it on the other side.

She then went back to the counter and came back with these yellow oval shaped balls on a string. i didn’t know what she was doing, but she commented that she was “going to check how i was developing w/ puberty”. She spent about 2 solid minutes grabbing each of my testicles and comparing them to different sizes of yellow ovals. I was so embarrassed and so hard as well.

She finally finished and moved away from the table, and began to right stuff down in my folder on the counter. She announced that i was perfectly healthy and that she would sign my consent form and that i could get dressed.

i got dressed and eventually was sent out to my mom. On the ride home she asked how it went. I said fine, but must have been bright bright red when she asked.

when i got home i jerked off, and came violently. The next night was a friday and i was watching a movie with my girlfriend. I told her about my doctor visit and it must have turned her on, because that night she gave me my first blowjob (to finish) on the coach in her parents basement. i thought about the doctors exam during the BJ too!!! One of my favorite go too jack off moments some 25 years later.}

Yes I have it done in a few occasion starting from about 8 yo. My pediatrician filled a Tanner staging card after almost every genital examination. He examinated pubic hair development, scrotum, testicular volume using his hands sometimes without the orchidometer, penile length and development. A few of those medical cards reached up to present day, I preserved them with care. They recorded of the genital examination date, Tanner stage in a cryptic three Roman numerals I was now aware of what they means… There is also a field for notes from the doctor. I can read something about my phimosis from the notes in a cursive calligraphy: “partial retraction, meatus just visible” to “full retraction tight behind the glans”. Reading them bring to me a mix of shame and arousal about those moments.

My first tanner stage exam was at age 13, where I was had my testicles sized with an orchidometer and my body hair evaluated. Embarrassingly doc told my dad that though I was hairy for my age, my smaller testicles had me at stage three which was still normal. I was at stage 4 for 14 and at 15 i had just started stage 5. Doc no longer checked my testicles with the orchidometer after 16 but continued to examine my body hair and genitals. At 16 I was as hairy as my dad but his penis was and still is larger.

I haven't seen too many females answer in this thread, so I'll chime in.

I can't say for certain that my doctor formally did Tanner staging on me, but I know it was something that he always checked.

Before I started puberty I always had to get undressed for my physical exams, so all I was wearing during the exams was my panties. So, before puberty started, he always saw that I had no breast development. He also always, at least briefly, had me pull my panties down. I imagine he was just looking externally for any problems, but he also would have been able to note that I didn't have any pubic hair development.

When I turned 12, I started wearing a bra when I went out of the house. When I had my annual physical that year, the nurse let me keep my bra on as well as my panties while I was waiting. I thought perhaps the doctor wouldn't want to look there that year, but he did. When he got to my chest, he asked me to take my bra off.

Bottom line - my doc at least looked at my breast and pubic hair development every year before and during puberty. Hope this helps.

This was something that was noted on physical exam forms/reports until about 18 for me. It used to be a category on standard school reports for the doc to circle to stage the child/teen was in. For me it was info gathered as part of the genital exams

As for sweet stephanie my wife only wore panties as she had no breasts during school medical examinations. When her breasts started to grow, at the medical check-up, the girls were asked to take off their bra in the cabin and keep a ti-short, a jumper, a blouse, ... when she was in front of the doctor, she had to stand bare-chested and he examined her and felt her breasts. Then she had to lie down on the table for the abdominal palpation and then he would pull down her panties to check her genitals but probably also to check the evolution of her pubic hair.

I have never had tanner staging but I have had a doctor ask me about my development during my high school years…it was really embarrassing talking about the size of my penis and testicles and him asking a lot about it

My experience is very similar to Sweet Stephanie above.

I don't know if it was Tanner Staging as it was never mentioned to me , but I was “invited” to an appointment annually and always had to undress. I used to dread it!

At school we had doctor exam on 8th grade. A female doctor asked me to lower my underwear and felt both of my testicles, writing down the Tanner stage.

I know for a fact that, at least until recently (I have not seen a form in a few years) a Tanner Staging was on the standard school and sports physical exam form in my state.