Pelvic exam by non-gynecologist

Who's had a pelvic exam by a doctor that was not a gynecologist? What were the circumstances?

I have. I had my internist do one a few years ago when I had a general physical done. I didn't have any obvious problems, and it was easier to get an appointment with him than a gyn. I also hadn't found a gyn after I moved. And when I had one last fall, I had my new GP do it. He's not an OB/GYN, but he does do lots of women's care, including pregnancies.

I thought both of them did just as well as the 2 OB/GYNs I've seen.

My girlfriend, who just turned 29, has never been to a gynecologist. She had her first pelvic exam at 16. It was performed by her family doctor. She had a pelvic exam performed by him every year until two years ago, when he moved out of state. At that time she started seeing my doctor. He has given her two pelvic exams as part of a complete physical the past two years. She also had an IUD inserted two years ago, after my doctor gave her a physical and pelvic. It was done at the local planned parenthood at his suggestion, because they have a lot of experience inserting IUD's. A female nurse practitioner performed the procedure, and also performed the follow up exam a couple of weeks later. On May 6, she has an appointment with our doctor's female physician's assistant for a complete physical including a pap and pelvic. She chose to become a patient of my doctor's at my suggestion because good doctors are hard to find around here, and she hasn't been disappointed. He is so good that he is booked solid, and just getting an appointment with him for a physical can take up to two months! That's why she made the appointment with his PA, who is also good. I suppose if she had a gynecological problem he would refer her to a gynecologist.

In the UK a GP does all womens health unless a specific problem arises then they get referred to a Gynaecologist. The reason we dont see them straight away is because they're higher ranking than most GP's and thus cost more and have less time.

Although some lucky people find a gp thats also trained in gynaecology.

i've seen a gyn before well quite a few times actually and had pelvic with gp

I am in the military and my wife is usually seen at the military base clinic and usually by her general family doctor or Primary Care Manager (PCM) as they are known. We have been to many bases over the years and her PCMs are usually males around 25-30 years old. She has had many times that she has gotten a very thorough annual exam or other times when she went in for a something else and the PCM decided that he had to check her internally to see if he could find a contributing factor to the problem that she was experiencing. I think that her PCMs are quick to put her in the stirrups and overly thorough with her because she is strikingly beautiful and a complete 10 from head to toe.

My wife has not made an appointment with a gynecologist for at least 15 years. In fact she went 4 years without having any pelvic exam and one day we were at our primary care doctor for a routine appointment for her when I asked the doctor how often should my wife have a pelvic exam. When she found out that it had been so long she had my wife get undressed right then and she performed a full breast and pelvic exam on her. My wife wanted to kill me. Since then, the doctor knows my wife does not see any gynecologist so she schedules a full physical exam every year for my wife. Except last year when my wife actually saw a gynecologist as part of a 5 year clinical trial.

As ba3003 said, GPs normally do the checkups in the UK. I much prefer it that way since I see the GP on a regular basis and trust him, which is not always the case with a gynecologist.

I'm with ba3003 and Fugitiva on this, living in the UK i've had all my gynaecological exams from my GP.

The only pelvic exam I have received was from my family doctor. Around here you only see a gyno if there is something wrong. Or you have a gyno who does prenatal care as well.

I once went to laser clinic for epilation in the genital area and the dermatologist examined me before the procedure. She was a lady though but still somewhat embarressing

I've had most of my annual well woman exams done by a gynecologist. I've had a pelvic exam done by my family practice doctor too. I had scheduled a general physical with her, which normally includes a complete checkup with a breast exam but not a pelvic since I see a gynecologist for my pap and pelvic. There was some confusion on her part on the date of my last pap smear listed on the history form. As she was finishing my abdominal exam she said "I see it's been more than a year since your last pap smear, we should get you updated on that so I'll do a pap and pelvic today, OK?" I was caught off guard not expecting that and just said "aah umm OK" and nodded. I was also too embarrassed to speak up right away and correct her when I realized what I had just agreed to, and soon enough found myself being instructed to place my feet on the stirrups and scoot down. She did do a thorough pelvic exam, and I found it to be quite enjoyable too!

My family doctor does my annual exam and a few of my friends also.

I have had them done by my GPs who are women and who are more thorough than my GYN.

How were the GPs more thorough than the GYNs?

Here most woman go to a midwife during their pregnancy.

The widwife also comes to your house if the woman thinks the labour started.

She does a pelvic exam or strip the cervix in the woman´s bedroom.

Actually, I've never been to a gynecologist (wait...maybe one?). Otherwise, they've always been done by GPs. I think it depends on where you're from, but I've heard that seeing a titled OB/GYN is somewhat rare for annuals and is usually the person you go to when you need a better opinion.

GF has always had them by her cute gyno..

unless you count the ones I've given her

Pelvic or genitourinary exams are part of the basic training of all physicians. Necessary kowledge to examine and diagnose a patient's condition. Even many nurses receive training in physical assessment including performing pelvic exams. It is not the exam that distinguishes the specialty of gynecology but, rather the extent of knowledge in treating the conditions and diseases effecting women and only women. An OB/GYN may spend up to an additional three to six years after medical school in a surgical residency learning to practice in his chosen field. A psychiatrist may know how to perform a pelvic exam but it is not useful in diagnosing schizophrenia. Usually not, but then...whatever is usual anymore.

I was examined by two different non-Gyn doctors in a matter of hours. When I was 13, and had appendicitis, first the ER doctor did a pelvic when he was trying to diagnose my problem, and then the surgeon examined me when he came in for consult. Neither of these included speculum or Pap of course, but they were both thorough manual exams, including rectal.

Only once, when i had a rash (not due to anything other than changing laundry soap) and visited of all things, a dermatologist. Now when talked to my Gyn about it there was phone calls made that expressly stated down there is the Gyn's territory!

Pretty funny actually.

I've never had one, but it seems like it'd be a fun change of pace...

There is most always one done (maybe not full pelvic) when a woman presents in the ER with lower abdominal pain... tht eventually turns out to be appendicitis.

Curious101

My girlfriend gets her gyno exams from her regular doctor (he is also a gynaecologist)...she was offered the opportunity to see a different doc but felt more comfortable with the one she's known for years

I have a full head to toe physical by my GP each year and he always includes one.

I just had my first pelvic/pap last week, and it was at my GP. I went to the ER once with severe abdominal pain (turned out to by an ovarian cyst the size of a medium potato) but they didn't do a pelvic there, just

an abdominal ultrasound and CT scan.

I also have a general physician, he is an internist. He gives me a pelvic every year and knows that I get at least one from my gyne also.

A gastroenterologist, so the dr can confirm the patient having appendicitis.

With women, when it comes to lower abdominal pain, it is either digestive or reproductive organs.

Pelvic exams in US military medical facilities are frequently done by non-OB/GYN's and by PA's and nurse practioners for military and dependent women. (See my posting under OVERHARD about a PA examining a female dependent.) Wife has never had one done by a PA but has had several PAP tests and other minor treatments done by non-OB/GYN doctors and female nurse practioners. Several years ago the military started allowing female nurse practioners do PAP tests and other basic female prodedures. They declared the program a success - the number of ladies getting check-ups rose sharply in the first year and has continued at a high level. The general conclusion, right or wrong, is that women feel more comfortable being examined by a woman than a man.

I've only had them done by my OBGyn.

My gf gets it done from a gp, gyno only when problems on referel