Males: Stirrups or Gyno Chair Exams

No. Men are not examined in the stirrups. Rectal exams are done either bent over the table, on your side with the knees pulled up toward the chest, or on hands and knees on the table.

And more's the pity that they aren't!

Just one girl's opinion.

LadyDoc!

Recently, my doctor began to offer her patients office hours on a couple of Saturdays a month. Last week I took advantage of her extended hours to schedule my annual physical since my work schedule prevented me from having an appointment during the week.

Instead of being examined by my doctor I learned that I would be examined by my doctor’s new nurse practitioner. I was ushered into the exam room by a medical assistant who told me to take off everything and sit on the table and to cover my lap with a paper sheet that was about four feet square.

The new NP entered the exam room a few minutes later and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she was a very pretty Asian woman in her mid 30s. She told me that since they have a reduced staff on Saturdays she would be doing a lot of the things the doctor’s RN would normally be doing.

She looked into my eyes, ears, nose and throat. She checked my blood pressure and checked my pulse at several different locations on my body. Then she listened to my heart, chest and back. After lying down on the exam table on my back she again listened to my chest and abdomen then she poked and prodded me from head to toe.

Then she pulled out stirrups and told me to put my feet in them and scoot down so that my rear end was just over the bottom edge of the table. This was a first for me – I had never been in stirrups before and I was shocked and surprised. She took the paper sheet off of me and dropped it on the floor and I scooted down to the edge of the table and put my feet into the stirrups. She put on gloves and then she proceeded to carefully examined my genitals and anus. When she examined my testicles she slowly rolled each of them in her fingers. Her genital exam set off a chain reaction and I couldn’t prevent my erection. Noting my red face, my squirming a bit on the table and my obvious embarrassment she commented that a man getting an erection during a genital exam was a natural occurrence and to just relax and not be embarrassed. That was easy for her to say.

She then lubed my anus with KY, lubed the business end of a rectal thermometer and took my temperature. She held the protruding end of the thermometer the whole time the thermometer was inside of me. Having one’s temperature taken rectally at my doctor’s office during a physical is standard operating procedure. After taking my temperature she lubed her finger. She then told me to take a deep breath and when I let it out slowly she put her finger in my anus and checked my prostate for what seemed like an eternity. She has small fingers so the prostate exam was not uncomfortable.

She then asked me to stand up and get on the scale so she could weigh me. After being weighed she checked me for a hernia then pronounced me healthy – always the best news to get after a physical.

As she was making her comments and observations on the computer she noted that I had been in the Navy. She seemed surprised that I didn’t have any tattoos. She should know – she saw and touched all of me.

She told me to get dressed and said she would be back to talk with me. When she returned she just wanted to assure me that having an erection was quite normal under the circumstances and that it happened more often than one would think. Her nonchalance made me feel much better about the situation.

I left the exam room with a much better appreciation of what women go through during their physicals.

Sounds like it would be very embarrassing to be in that position.

The only time was when I received a physical at a planned parenthood office where, of course, things were set up for female patients and the rare male ones.

I was circumcised when I was 13 (woman doctor, I think a pediatrician) and had my legs strapped down in the leg rest type stirrups for the procedure.

I recently had a complete exam at my regular MD's. He had a young intern working with him. I was told to strip naked and given a gown. The intern (male) came in and began the exam with all the usual questions and quick body checks. Then he had me take the gown off and lay on the exam table. He pulled out the stirrups, the kind you put your knees in, not your feet. He ratcheted them back until my kneed were almost beside my chest and my feet were straight up in the air. Then he began the genital and rectal check. He took a good 20 minutes and did a very thorough exam. To be honest I kinda got a thrill out of it even though it was a male intern.

I had a prostate exam in stirrups one time. It was from a female Asian doctor. When she completed the hernia check she said she would now check my prostate. I turned around and began to bend over the table and she said "no no; you lie on back. My fingers to short to reach prostate that way." I laid back on the exam table and she put up the stirrups and told me to scoot down to the end. She helped position my knees in the pads of the stirrups and in the process my gown slid off to the side of the table and fell to the floor. She sat on a little stool and lubed up her finger and mu anus. She told me to take a deep breath and let it out and as I did she slid her finger in. By now I had become erect. She had to really push to get her finger in deep enough to feel my prostate. As she rotated her finger to feel my prostate, my balls lay in the palm of her hand. She palpated my prostate for a good 45 seconds, expressing some prostatic fluid in the process. The following year when I went to schedule my annual exam I found she had moved on to another clinic in another part of the country. I wish I knew where cause I would go to her where ever she relocated for that exam again

Back in the 80´s, after surgery, I was followed up by a female oncologist who was also a gynecologist. For the first several check-ups, I went to her office in the clinic which at the time was doubling as both her oncology and gynecology consultation/examination room.

She had a nice gyno chair or table in the office and the first time I entered my heart almost did a flip-flop. My eyes must have also opened wider than I thought possible.

But, even though she did conduct parts of her exams with me nude, she never had me take place in the gyno chair. Not that she had any particular reason too - which I thought a real shame.

Afterwards, describing things to my wife, she thought it a real shame I didn´t get a chance to experience being in the stirrups. Not from any medfet attitude or such, but rather as a way of turning the tables around ...

Never happend to me.

No but have always wanted to. I really didn't know they'd examine guys this way -- wow.

I've never been in stirrups before during an actual exam, but I've played around after the doctor left and the exam was over---just to see what it would feel like. Would love to have it happen for real, though!

I have been in stirrups a couple of times. Twice when I had cystoscope exams, once in my teens and once in my forties.

I also was in stirrups when a stone was pulverized that had formed in my bladder. Didn't find any of the experiences terribly exciting.

I was in stirrups - lithotomy position - last week having TRUSP (transrectal prostate ultrsound) in a university clinic. I was given a gown and told to change. As I wanted to feel comfortable, I put on warm knee-high socks. Then I was placed on my back on the table edge, the legs were flexed in the hip and abducted. My knees were bent and calves supported on padded leg shells. A nurse lubricated my anus and inserted condom gloved ultrasound probe. I had a strange feeling of being full mixed with a slight pain, which subsided quickly. The exam lasted ca. 15 minutes and the results were OK for me. My penis was semi hard and leaking pre-seminal fluid for the most of procedure, but it was not commented by any person involved, including medical students. Upon leaving, the nurse told me it was normal and seen in majority of patients. The lithotomy position in neither humiliating nor embarrassing for a male patient. Contrary, I think it is convenient for the doctor and quite comfortable for the patient. Actually, it is a must in urological surgeries. By the way, I have now realized, why my wife takes always comfy socks going to agyno, even if the day is hot, and she wears only sandals or flip-flops.

I've never been asked to during my annual physicals..

Cos

I have never had to be in that position for my exam. I wouldn't mind if my doctor did want me in that position though.

This has never happened to me...I don't think it is very common at all!

Never been in them but it sounds nice and practical

Never heard of it for a real exam, but at the same time, it's something I'm looking forward to seeing in a play exam at some point in the near future. Really cool position that leaves you open and vulnerable. If you've got stirrups, give me a shout!

My regular doctor has always used the knee/chest or has me lean over the exam table. Once he sent me to another doc and he did put my in stirrups for genital exams and prostate check/massage. Felt strage, but after thinking about it I found it hot.

One of the my best fantasies is to have an athletic guy naked in gyno stirrups and give him a prolongued genital and internal examination; it's on the list, at present have to manage without this kit, just knees back on chest.

I would like to ask, how often men are examined on (like-)gyno-exam-chair when they (men) visit urologist.

I suppose that mostly the exam is been providing when a man is standing of front the doctor, or laying on common (like-bed) exam table, or to be bent over the table when prostate exam.

Is comon somewhere that man is examined on "gyno" chair by common urologic visit?

(Of course I do not take case of special exam where is it almost necessary (f.e. a exam by uro-endoscope).

Nice fantasies written by the guys . . .

I have never been lucky enough to be examined in stirrups. Being totally exposed with no chance of hiding reactions would be extremely embarrassing and exciting.

Recently I've walked into the STD clinic for a routine medical check up. This time I was a little concerned for non healing tiny sores on my penis and perianal area. I was registered by the receptionist and after about 20 minutes of waiting I was called by a female doctor to go in. The first stage was the risk assessment and establishing which tests I would like to have (I opted for all). I was asked a series of questions like – had I had any form of risky sex, had I ever had unprotected gay sex, did I ever inject drugs etc. I was then advised of my risk level, which was estimated as moderate. Next I was guided into a small room by the doctor and asked to drop my trousers and under garments. I undressed completely, put on disposable briefs and was submitted to a very thorough physical exam. The doctor – who was very professional female in her thirties – put on blue nitrile gloves, palpated my lymph nodes and inspected my pubic area and genitals. She obtained oral and urethral swabs, then she had me drop the briefs and bend over the exam table to have an anal pap smear obtained. The doctor spread my anus with the index and thumb of her left hand so that the anoderm pouted out. Then she inserted a moistened Dacron swab into the anal canal, until it hit the wall of the rectum. It was slowly moved in and out without completely withdrawing it, while rotating it in a spiral motion and applying mild pressure to the anal wall. After several rotations, the swab was withdrawn and immediately immersed in a transport solution. The procedure had to be performed before the regular DRE, without lubrication. Thus it was painful, but bearable. Finally I was told that I had probably genital warts and subsequent evaluations as well as treatment would be required.

Indeed, two weeks later I received a call and was advised that the pap smear revealed a suggestion of the presence of abnormal cells and was invited to come in for a androscopy with anoscopy, a more thorough examination; the male equivalent of a cervical exam. Moreover, an electrocautery of suspected lesions is planned.

My exam was scheduled at 8 am, I was told to perform an enema before, take a pain killer and I reserve at least two hours. I proceeded on time, was greeted by a nice nurse who checked my BP, led to a cubicle and told to undress. I put only a short paper gown, white comfy socks and entered a bright exam room with a sophisticated table and a lot of equipment. There was the same doctor as before, dressed in a ble short sleeve scrub, short skirt and nude stockings. However, she quickly put on protective clothing: a gown, gloves, face shield and a respirator protecting from any airborne infectious agents. There was also an electrocautery device with grounding plate on the table edge. I was placed on the table in a dorsal lithotomy position with my feet in stirrups and buttocks on the plate - similar to the position for doing pelvic examinations on females. This was not the first time for me, thus I've taken my mp3 player and was not too embarassed at all. However I was totally exposed and realized why most of females put socks on while being in a gyno chair. First the penis and entire genital area with perineum were sprayed with 5% acetic acid solution and left for about five minutes to soak. Additionally, penis was wrapped with a 4 x 4 gauze pad to ensure continuing contact with the skin. A similar gauze was inserted into my rectum. Then – using a colposcope - the doctor carefully searched the entire genital area for condylomata (HPV infected lesions), which appeared white after acetic acid soaking. Then the doctor withdrew the rectal acid gaze and inserted anoscope, which resulted in mild discomfort. Using colposcope she obtained few specimens for histological evaluations.

“Ok” - the doctor said - “ Now we have to remove the warts by electrocautery. It will be not comfortable, there are many lesions, but I'll to do it as quickly as possible”. She put on a face shield and a disposable respirator. An assisting nurse, dressed in the same way, handed me stress balls. “Press it hard and put the music loud” she advised with a smile. The machine was switched on with a humming noise. I started to feel growing freight, tensed calves and curled my toes. The doctor pressed the heated electrode to my body. Probably it was the worst pain ever in my life! It was repeated many time and I was feeling a smell of burning flesh. My face was covered in sweat. Finally it was over. The treated area was washed and disinfected. The nurse helped me to get out of stirrups and made me rest for an hour.

I like the idea, but for anything I can imagine actually needing stirrups for (for a male) would be pretty awful to actually HAVE to get checked for.

Don't like thought of anyone being in pain, but sight of man in stirrups is really hot : )

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I like the idea, but for anything I can imagine actually needing stirrups for (for a male) would be pretty awful to actually HAVE to get checked for.

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I don't think that it would necessitate a very painful condition to warrant putting a male in stirrups. After all, they are just a method that allows a patent to be relatively comfortable and not strain themselves physically while allowing the physician maximum and easy access to genitals and anal region.

I'm guessing that in present and recent times, males haven't been regularly put in stirrups because of the connotation it has with being subjected to a 'ladies exam' or specific female gyn exam. I suppose many men would be very embarrassed and feel humiliated ... not that having a rectal exam on all fours is all that less embarrassing for the non-medfetters. It's a perception most likely, not much more than that, a cultural convention like that requiring men to wear trousers and ladies skirts (more or less anyway ... ha ha)

In many old medical illustrations (late 19th early 20th century) , I've seen that many male urological disorders requiring a rigid catherization of the bladder or urethra, for a flushing of the bladder or treatment of an STD, males were placed in chairs that resembled a gyn chair, with stirrups and all the accoutrements.

So perhaps this is more of a recent development ... and by recent I mean since the last 100 years ...

I definitely agree with agracier. Several studies on patients' and doctors' perception of DRE have been published. Contrary to common prejudice, exam in modified dorsal lithotomy position was considered as the least painful with minimal bowel as well as urinary urgency. Moreover, doctors prefered this position as the best access to genital and perianal areas.

It is confirmed by my personal experience. First of all, I go to the doctor for a regular check-up or due to any major problem. My shame or embarrassment are really secondary issues. I expect to be given thorough physical examination. Doctors and nurses are professionals and do not pay any attention on patients' nakedness or physiological reactions. DRE in lithotomy position (on the back, with knees up, sometimes feet in stirrups, but not necessarily) seems to be optimal. I can have visual contact with the doctor or nurse and see if he/she is gloved and uses sterile equipment. Moreover I feel relaxed, the pain is minimal. Really I don't care that I'm exposed. Contrary, I am sure that no part of exam will be missed. If I get an erection (what is not so frequent), it's not a problem at all.

I too was placed in stirrups in the Lithotomy Position for a Cystoscopy. I didn't get to enjoy it very long because the anesthesiologist released the Medicine within seconds after my feet were secured in the stirrups. It was hot while it lasted - It would've been nice to have been sounded with a prostate massage from a attractive female nurse or doc right before the sedation kicked in.