Pediatric Examinations

It has never happened to me, my pediatrist just look into my pants for a second and that was all.

My pediatrician would just look at my genitals and buttocks during the exam.

In the various comments, I read that to some, to check between the legs, the doctor was taking the position of the "frog" .... Is this position more useful on women? To a man does not work, you see everything anyway!

A physical always involved a visual inspection at minimum. Sometimes touching was involved also. And occasionally a finger would slide in on special occasions (lol). Back then it was scary. Now I look back on those memories with much fondness.

Amanda,

Was the extent of the genital exam based upon age or completely random? Did the exam become increasingly more thorough with each passing year or was it based solely on the whim of the doctor?

Pretty much always had at least the doctor's hand inside my underpants for a hernia check as far back as I can remember. When I was 12 my Mom finally let me see the doctor by myself and that was the first time he pulled my underpants down to view my genitals and do the hernia check (see my other posts for details.) He also looked at my anus when I was 18. Did not have a DRE until I was an adult a few years later.

When I used to see a pediatrician I was always examined in bra and panties. Once I turned 13 the doctor would have me remove my bra so he could check my breasts. At some part of the exam he would either slide my panties down or he would just slide his hands down my panties to examine my privates.

I am pretty sure that this was done all the time when I was a kid. I don't really remember tho. I had the J1 when I was 12 and my genitals and development got checked there pretty closely. After this exam I didn't have another genital exam and I'm happy about it. I don't see the point of checking this over and over again.

I don't see the point of checking this over and over again.

It may not be necessary to do it each time, but if they were different doctors, the methods could be compared. It was another time for the oldest of us, doctors did not have the same attitude with children as nowadays.

UK must be different had a medical in a mixed classroom when I was five with the mothers present. All of us, boys and girls had to undress to our underpants at our desk then go to the front of the class to be checked by one of the nurses. Can't remember much about it but do remember having my underpants pulled down. In the next school, boys only, it was at age 15, nurses again but screens this time. Had to strip to our underpants then drop them for the nurse for the genital check, plenty of discussion amongst us boys before and after about the nurses touching us.

Pretty much every time as a kid, and always predictable. After having your tummy pushed down on real hard by ice cold hands, you would here the draw open and latex gloves snap.

Then your waistband was pulled back and the same cold hands where examining your genitals

Our school doctor was an old guy who smelled of pipe tobacco.We had to strip to out briefs then carry our clothes into his room and place them on a chair.He was busy writing as the nurse weighed us,took our height,and checked our hair for head lice.

When she had finished I had to clim up onto his table,he would say"lift up"and our briefs were pulled off and thrown with our clothes.Foreskin pulled back fully ,all checked under there,balls felt ,"cough",,then turned over and cheeks spread wide as he had a good look up the bum.Never understood what he was looking for up there.

My pediatrician always examined my genitals and rectum.

I never had a physical examination by a doctor when I was growing up, at least after I was old enough to be aware of such things. I remember getting my first smallpox vaccination before the first grade, but don't remember ever getting examined by a doctor before that. We only went to the doctor if we were sick. My first hernia check was when I was in my senior year of high school and the whole team had a very quick physical exam in the gym for football. I'm not sure what the doctor did to check me other than that hernia check and probably listened to my heart. It only took a very few minutes, but I definitely remember stripping down to our underwear and waiting in line for that. Back when I was a young boy and even into my teen years, you just didn't go to the doctor unless you were sick and I was almost never sick, chicken pox, mumps and measles notwithstanding and I never went to the doctor for any of those childhood illnesses either.

@Alexxx...When you say 'climbed onto his table'....I assume that you mean the examination bench. You mention the genital exam etc. Presumably he also did ausculcation, abdominal palpation etc, BP and the other usual checks. Also, you presumably had to stand for the hernia check?

Interesting that you still had school medicals during the 1990s (you don't state the precise years...so it could have been the 1980s?). Many LEAs had scrapped school medical examinations by this time.

Or maybe you were at Private / Boarding school (as they could set their own agendas)? You seem very blase about your experiences. More details (maybe about other exams..or any personal feelings you may or may not have had ) would be most welcome.

@johncrossley. Only read your post recently. Some aspects I do find slightly puzzling. School nurses were not medical practitioners. I can't really imagine that was any different in Scotland during the 1950s/60s.

School nurses generally filled in forms, checked our scalp (headlice), general skin condition (looking for impetigo etc), personal hygiene, finger nailsm toe nails etc. They would measure our height / weight and waist size. That was it. All other examinations (eyes, ears, mouth, throat, BP, chest, abdomen etc) were ALL carried out by the doctor. Detailed genital exam too.

You also only mention nurses examining your genitals at age 15. Again, I find this surprising...for the reasons previously mentioned. In fact, you do not even refer to a doctor even being present.

Could you post more details about these exams...and some of the discussions that the boys had??

I’m from Scotland . I do remember various examinations in primary school where it was a nurse doing the exam . While stripped to undies I don’t ever remember having to take them down. If I remember correctly my mother was there as well. But I’ve only the vaguest of memories of that. I do remember receiving various injections for things as part of the inoculation program. The last one was when 12/13 known as the BCG . I can’t remember what that was for now . Really the only exam I remember was the one I’ve previously written about , known in the school as “the balls test” where there was a Doctor and Nurse present ,underwear was removed and my testicles examined , including the cough test. Foreskin def not retracted though and anus not inspected. I was 15at the time

Thanks @amunro. I was not doubting the truth of what the other poster said.I was just surprised that nurses would be allowed to carry out these procedures as they were surely not medically qualified to do so?

Certainly, they did not do this in the UK...genital exams etc were the exclusive domain of the doctor. Any further thoughts / comments / observations from anyone (especially with medical background perhaps) who can shed more light on this would be most welcome.

It is difficult to come by hard and fast factual information from the 1950s and 1960s. Plenty from more recent times though.

Nurses are not permitted* to expose / examine the male genitals area.* Except in cases of extreme and potentially life-threatening situations - eg, perhaps a nurse might be the first on the scene of a serious RTA. There might be massive blood effusion from the groin area.,,in which case, the patient's clothing in that area might need to be cut away.

Even so, the advice/guidance is still all about potentially waiting for a doctor if possible,,.also..if the patient is a child, seeking parental consent wherever feasible etc.

So...certainly in a hospital or surgery (let alone a school!!) - nurses do not have any legal or medical jurisdiction to examine male genitalia. Of course, I am not an expert on these matters...so, again, I would be interested to hear from anyone with more knowledge / expertise.

My basic premise is this....there was even more demarcation between Doctors and Nurses in the 1950s /1960s. As you all know....I had a lot of school physical examinations between 1960 and 1970. I never had my anus, scrotum, testicles and penis checked by a nurse. It was always done by a doctor..,,always. Occasionally I was naked in the presence of a nurse...but the state of complete undress was always ordered by a doctor.

Before I get shot down in flames....I am most definitely not an expert on laws, rules, regulations etc with regard to nursing professionals (& certainly not in the USA & other countries). I am more thinking of the UK (& even then I could be wrong....but there is certainly a lot of paranoia surrounding the intimate examination of boys / teens. Lots of references to parental permission (if the patient is a minor ), chaperones, consideration given to patient modesty etc).

But....someone else has mentioned to me....what about STD Clinics..,.Catheterisation....shaving patients before operations etc., etc??

Hmmm...well, I am not an expert on STD Clinics either...but...aren't patients there examined by doctors?? Refs: pre - op shaving, Catheter insertion etc..I guess these are authorised / initated by Doctors?

Any input / views from Medical Practitioners / Nurses would be most welcome....

One part of the pediatric examination was when I was fully nude laying on the table. He would stand at my hip area. Face my upper body with his stethoscope hanging down. he would cup his big hand on my pubic area. his fingers would be feeling my balls and inside my legs. My legs would be together not spread open. He would kinda massage that area . That would give me an erection. Then he would have me open my legs after 3-4 minutes of feeling down there. Sometimes putting the other cold hand flat on my belly. After I was spread legged he would cup his hand on my lower belly and move it back and forth.

Noticed a couple of comments on my earlier post. Firstly I do remember all of us class mates were given a note to take home that needed to be signed. I never read it but some of the other lads did and said it was a consent form. I said nurses because they wore nurse's uniforms but what level of qualification they were I wouldn't know.

The area where the examinations took place was divided by screens. When called you went up to the screened off area in just underpants and were examined by a nurse and that did include a hernia check and I suppose they looked for signs of abuse i.e. bruising. What I can say is that even though I was facing the nurse I knew the other boy was being examined in the screened off cubicle behind me. The point I would make though is that the nurse examining me would still be able to see directly into the cubicle behind me visa versa for the other nurse so perhaps that was a sort of 1960s safeguard.

I can also say it was a Catholic school by which I'm not implying anything wrong in that but they were always complaining about shortages of money.

Some doctors did just cursory exam skipping all but most basic steps so no genital exam at all. For thorough exams my shirt would come off for most of the exam. The doctor would have me put my shirt back on before having me pull my pants and underwear down to check my boys. My exams as an adult have all been like the latter.

When I was a young child, my routine exams were done with me completely dressed and the doctor would work around my clothing. The doctor would check my eyes, ears, and throat. He would lift up my shirt to listen to my heart and lungs and then would palpate my abdomen and listen to it. Then he would stick one hand down my underpants and just feel the testicles. This doctor passed away sometime before my examination as an 11 year old. The new doctor, so I saw from ages 11 through 18 for my pre-college physical, surprised me by having me strip down to my underpants before he began the exam. I really did not know what to expect, but I had a bad feeling when he had me strip down this way. He was the one who instructed me to “strip down to your underwear“ and he remained in the room while I complied. I like thinking back about it, but at the time it was quite intimidating. The fact that I still had my briefs on, gave me hope that my genitals would not be examined, but I had a bad feeling that this would not be the case. I like thinking back about it, but at the time it was quite intimidating. The fact that I still had my briefs on, gave me hope that my genitals would not be examined, but I had a bad feeling that this would not be the case. They exam started innocuously with me sitting on the exam table doing a reading of the eyechart. This was followed by an examination of the eyes with an ophthalmoscope, the ears with the otoscope, and the throat with the throat depressor and light. And then took my blood pressure and proceeded to feel my neck and listen to my heart and lungs. Then he checked my reflexes with reflex hammer. He tapped on my elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. So far, the exam was pretty much over nothing in terms of anxiety, but things were beginning to take a turn for the worse. He had me lie back and palpated and then auscultated my abdomen. I have always thought it felt really weird to have palpation of the abdomen, especially when it was low and close to the waistband. Then, my greatest fear was recognized. I suddenly felt the briefs go down and realize that my penis and scrotum were fully exposed. I felt a queasy, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt him first left my penis, which was lying airport on my abdomen. (Without actually lifting my head I looked down towards my feet to see what he was doing.) It was flaccid but that full-size just before a semi erection occurs. My penis had grown to pretty much my adult size and the scrotum had enlarged and balls hung down in adult location but I had absolutely no pubic hair. Probably about right for an 11 year old, Tanner Stage II. He took the head of my penis between his thumb and index fingers and spread open the meatus. He then dropped the penis and it fell back onto my abdomen and then proceeded to feel each testicle thoroughly. Then he pulled my briefs back up and told me I could get dressed. The doctor told my mother, who was in an alcove just outside the exam room that everything was normal. We went home and I went to the bathroom and masturbated to ejaculation—for the first time— thinking of the exam embarrassment.

As I mentioned, I continued saying this pediatrician until I went away to college at age 18. I saw him once a year for a physical and, very rarely, for a sick visit. He did the exact same examination a year later at age 12. ( by that time I had developed a few pubic hair is at the base of the penis.) starting at age 13, and continuing through my college physical, the exam changed and that he had me stand for the genital exam and added hernia exams. So, when he was done with the abdominal auscultation and palpation, He would say “stand here next to the table and let’s go ahead slip your britches down for me.” “Britches” was very nerdy and weird since I had on white briefs only, but I always like to think about it while masturbating. I would go directly home from every physical, strip to my white briefs, and recall the overwhelming dread I felt when he would be palpating my abdomen, knowing that the “slip your britches down for me” order was coming. I would get that sinking feeling in my stomach that I still get today that first moment they come down!

When I was a young child, my routine exams were done with me completely dressed and the doctor would work around my clothing. .... but I always like to think about it while masturbating.

That is very cool. It's a good set of memories in general but also, because Tanner staging is a big part of how my fetish developed, its cool that you remember what stage you likely were. I also masturbated after physicals as a kid and it's very cool that you remember that is how you ejaculated the first time.

Tanner staging is a big part of how my fetish developed, its cool that you remember what stage you likely were

I became interested in pubertal development when I was seeing myself and other guys in locker rooms, sleepovers, and restrooms as they were developing and fully developed. I found some books in the library about “growth and development” that had detailed descriptions and photographs of boys in the various Tanner stages of development I was probably 13 when I found the books. At that point, I could easily recall the ages I was as I moved from stage to stage.

@examdoc Interesting comments. Although you suggested otherwise, in some ways it could be seen that examining testicles by the examiner inserting his hand into the underwear is more 'erotic' than a full exposure, as exposure sort of normalises the event.

@examdoc Interesting comments. Although you suggested otherwise, in some ways it could be seen that examining testicles by the examiner inserting his hand into the underwear is more 'erotic' than a full exposure, as exposure sort of normalises the event.

I understand your point entirely but I find full exposure to be much more embarrassing, and exciting to think about afterward, than having a hand palpate me blindly. Having the doctor able to visualize the penis, scrotum, and pubic hair allows him to compare my equipment to all the others he has seen. In addition, getting the instruction for exposing the genitalia adds to the moment.

@examdoc One variant could be an attempted exam beneath the underwear first, followed by announcement that further exposure is needed to make absolutely sure there are no abnormalities.

Regarding the comparison point, would you appreciate comments such as left testicle positioned a little below the right, or regarding pubic hair distribution etc, implying that the doctor is actually comparing you to others?

@examdoc , would you appreciate comments such as left testicle positioned a little below the right, or regarding pubic hair distribution etc, implying that the doctor is actually comparing you to others?

Great concept. I have actually always dreaded that I would have a physical from a doctor who commented on everything he was doing during the exam and then findings related to me. For example, “let’s de what you have here. Pubic hair distribution is normal adult pattern and texture. Penis looks normal, it’s circumcised. Let’s take a look at the glans all around (as he holds the penis and rotates it to see the entire surface of the head), no lesions. Now the meatus. We will just spread that and have a peek. That looks fine. Now I’m going to palpate the full length of the shaft. Length and girth look about normal and there are no lesions or masses. Penis looks fine. Now let’s check the scrotum. Ok, scrotal skin looks fine. I’m going to check each of the testicles. Left feels normal size and consistency, no masses. Is anything painful when I touch it?“ “No, sir.” “Right feels normal size and consistency too. No tenderness here either?” “No, sir.” “Now I will do the hernia exam. Turn your head to the side and cough. Good, again. Good. Now the other side. Cough again. And, one more cough. Good, no hernias. Now, leave the shorts down, turn around and face the table, and bend over so I can do your rectal exam. Anus looks normal. You will feel my finger go in now, try to relax. Anal tone is normal, no masses. Now checking the prostate. Is that painful?” “No, sir.” “Ok, that’s fine.”