Does my gyno really need to give me a rectal exam?

I have a friend that thought the doctor had molested her when she did a rectal exam. “There was nothing wrong with my butt”.

Personally I don’t mind the procedure. I do find it uncomfortable and embarrassing. But those are the things I like about doctor stuff. The mind is a weird place, isn’t it?

In my travels talking to girls I'm finding that sadly only about 2 in 10 are getting recto vaginal exams from their Dr. Out of all these exams the vast majority are done by older more seasoned Drs..

I have gone to most of my wife's gyno visits. The first rectal that she got was probably the third or fourth that I had gone with her. At what we thought was the end, the Dr. said he was going to do something different and stuck his finger up her butt. She was shocked and so was I. She has had several since then, but not every time and not specifically for any problem.

I haven't had a rectal exam at an ob/gyn office. I have asked since there are times I experience pain back there during cycles, but have told I don't need one. I plan to find someone new ob/gyn next year and see if I can get a full check.

I've never had one. It remains to be seen whether my new gyn does them.

I wonder if you could call around to different offices and ask if they are a part of the annual exam. That may get you put on some list.

Fascinating question! How concerning that many have not had a recto/vag or rectal exam as part of the gyn experience. One or both are routine for my doctor.

One or both are routine for my doctor.

Is there anything more awkward than the relief you get when the recto-vaginal exam is over.... you feel the doctors fingers pull back... then you realize the finger in your rear isn’t coming out quite yet as it begins to snake back in.

Is there anything more awkward than the relief you get when the recto-vaginal exam is over.... you feel the doctors fingers pull back... then you realize the finger in your rear isn’t coming out quite yet as it begins to snake back in.

That is exactly how it goes at my wife's exams. Rectovaginal exam, index finger out, middle finger almost out, then middle finger slides slowly back in for the rectal.....

Interesting question and it seems that they do it about half the time and most times half halfheartedly. What is the purpose of a finger in the rear. Is it just to see the tightness of the anus? Check for bumps or hemorrhoids? Because it's fun? What's the deal?

My wife got one at 40 from our old GP. He retired and she started seeing OB/Gyn docs and the rectals stopped. So really our old GP gave her a more complete exam.

I can attest that it’s rare for younger women. I had seen three different gynecologists in my 20’s and 30’s, none of whom performed the rectovaginal exam. I had only heard anecdotal stories from friends who had received them, and quite honestly was a little nervous about it before my first couple of gyn visits. Nevertheless the exams came and went and I never received a finger back there.

After moving a few years later, I made an appointment with a new gynecologist. By that time I had pretty much forgotten that rectovaginal exams were even a thing. But low and behold, at the end of the exam he began regloving and picked up the lubricant again. A few seconds later I knew exactly what my friends had been talking about.

My wife started seeing a gynecologist for exams when we was fifteen years old. After seeing a few different gynecologists over the years she has never received a rectal exam from either a gynecologist or her primary care physician.

In Brazil they don't give anal exams in gynecologists, at least I never received one. That's a shame, it would be great to have one.

My Gyno is the most brilliant person i know. She is just amazing. She use to do rectal digital exams on me during my annual visits until she gave me a referral to the absolute best colorectal surgeon and wow i love her. She is an amazing surgeon. Anyway my Gyno has stopped her rectal exam on me except for a visual exam.

The rectal examination is actually not systematic during gynecological consultations. The interest of this examination is to palpate what is called the "Douglas' cul de sac" and to ensure that there is neither inflammation nor pain to the touch.

The introduction of the 2 gloved fingers into your rectum should not be painful.

The practitioner will lubricate his gloves and, at the time of penetration, will ask you to push as if you needed to have a bowel movement. No sooner will you have reacted than the fingers will have crossed your anus and will be in place for the examination.

Diagnosis is very quick and the digital rectal examination only lasts a few moments. We take the opportunity to check the inner wall of your rectum and make sure that there is no beginning of varicose veins (hemorrhoids).

Possibly, if during your interview with him you indicated to your gynecologist that you have sex from behind, we can deepen the examination by placing an anoscopy which will make it possible to verify that you have no alteration of the edges. and take a few cells to make sure that no virus is present.

The only inconvenience during the digital rectal exam may be that you have a feeling of stool in your rectum and the doctor is touching them. This is why we recommend that you arrive at the examination table having gone to the bathroom beforehand.

In conclusion, whatever your doctor's habits are, there is nothing to worry about and, if you are fiercely opposed to this exploration, just say it before.

My gynecologist does it every time and I am used to it.

Also, if palpate virgin girls there is no other way then rectal.

It feels strange, but doesn’t hurt.

Mine does the rectal exam all the time. She feels around and peers inside with her scopes. She knows I do anal things and she looks for all sorts of things up there. She checks everything . Even between my toes for stuff.

I don't know if rectal exams are really a thing in Europe, none of my girlfriends ever had one from what they told me. I've never really heard anyone mentioning having one in France to be honest.

Last time I went to the gyno, he put his finger in my butt only about an inch or so, and that was it. I'm not sure why that was all. Maybe because he could tell it's really tight and didn't want to push it.

@Bad_Princess Anoscope & anal speculum as well as looking in with a flashlight?

Past girlfriends have shared that this isn't a common procedure unless they're in for a specific problem and it helps with the diagnosis.

@gthumith

She starts with a speculum then takes it out and uses a short ,medium and long scope . She uses a light to look inside. The long one is a rectoscope . The medium is a proctoscope the short one is a an anoscope. She has a camera that fits into the tubes she uses sometimes if there is something to show me. Its sort of fun.

Last time I went to the gyno, he put his finger in my butt only about an inch or so, and that was it. I'm not sure why that was all. Maybe because he could tell it's really tight and didn't want to push it.

He was checking the Douglas cul de sac as detailed below by @Franklin58200

@Bad_Princess That’s cool. I have genitalia issues currently. Should mine do the same with the anal speculum & all 3 scopes?

My Ob/Gyn group has now five doctors. I get a rectal the first time I see one for the first time. Then at least as of now I have not had another rectal after that. All five are males and the oldest is 58. so he has been doing it for a wile

I havent ever had one, except in a play exam.

My GYN does both a recto-vaginal and a rectal (DRE) at my yearly exam, while I'm up in the stirrups.

@laurabbush the question is, do you enjoy it? 😉

Should mine do the same with the anal speculum & all 3 scopes?

@gthumith That is a question for your Physician.