Physicals for men

The routine for women is pretty well laid out (breast exam, pap, pelvic, etc). But what do men typically get, and when does it start?

So far, I've only had blood-work to monitor cholesterol levels (which are down nicely thanks to over 15 hours of endurance training a week). I'm told I should be coming in more often at 40, but have not had a clear answer about what that will involve.

I've found an enormous range of what gets examined during a physical from basically nothing to everything. most involve listening to the heart, taking blood pressure, looking in your ears, looking down your throat with the "ahhhh," palpitating the abdomen and taking basic blood work. it's at that point that some doctors end and others move on to a hernia/testicle exam and, even rarer, the prostate exam.

regarding when it typically starts, it starts whenever you want it to start. if you are paying for insurance, you might as well start it right after college. it's not like getting examined once a year has any downside and you are paying for it anyway.

My doc is pretty good. We spend a little while talking through the various health categories that could be bothering me, then the actual exam usually includes eyes, ears, throat, listening to the heart and lungs, checking the back and abdomen, reflexes, then the testicular and hernia check. He's also looking for any moles that have changed size or shape as he goes. He starts DRE/prostate exams around age 40, so he doesn't do that in mine yet.

Sometimes he's a bit more thorough and checks mobility in my arms and legs. I started going again (stopped when I stopped seeing my pediatrician at 1😎 around 24 and have gone every year since. Sometimes, if there's something worth monitoring (like if I'm trying to lose weight, etc.) he'll have me come in more frequently. For example, I just had my physical on Friday, and I'm heading back in four months for some follow up blood work.

In the UK there doesn't seem to be any sort of programme of regular checks. If there's nothing obviously wrong with you then you can go for years without even seeing a doctor. If I recall, there is some sort of 'well man's check that you might get called in for after a few years if your doctor hasn't seen you for anything else. But the one time this happened to me it was pretty superficial. Certainly no examination 'down there'. That's why I have to rely on play doctors to get properly examined!

^ what praepe1 said about the UK. I'm 22, haven't seen my doctor in over a decade. Dunno if I'm even still on their register tbh...

Daiv - that made me think - it has been years since I saw my doctor - wonder if I am still on their register...

Today I had my annual job physical. It included blood and piss tests. A nurse checked my eyes, ears, teeth, high, weight. Then a doctor made me an ECG, stethed attentively to my heart during the ECG then stethed to my heart when I was sitting and staying. Then he makes me to have some exercices then stethed to my heart after them. Then he made me some spirometer pulmonar tests. Then he checked out my habilities to move arms, legs. And after he checked out my prostate and viewed my anus for hemorroide also.

[quote author=Sergi link=topic=62938.msg436320#msg436320 date=1334832692]

Today I had my annual job physical

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Sergi, I'm curious what kind of job you have that requires this annual physical exam.

>> Daiv - that made me think - it has been years since I saw my doctor - wonder if I am still on their register...

I think I still am... every now and again, I get letters from them asking if they can send me a teens chalmydia screening kit! Usual spamming out to young guys.

What happens depends on the doctor, your condition and complaints, and your age.

The VA does my exams. First off, they check your vitals and weight, and ask why you are there. For a number of years, I saw residents who would usually check HEENT, heart, lungs, abdomen, then palpate the chest, back, and abdomen. Unless I had a complaint, they would often stop there. If I had a complaint, they might check my genitals and maybe (rarely) do a DRE. Now, I am older (almost 50) and have insisted that they assign me to a regular practitioner, so now I see an NP. She does the whole thing from top to toe.

The last time I went for a physical, I only had to take off my shirt and NOTHING below the belt.

In the UK, male physical examinations have changed over the years.

There used to be routinely school and employment medicals where, certainly in my case, the trousers were dropped and the penis and testicles examined. Now these types of exams have ceased.

These days, if you are a member of a company executive medical scheme this will often include an annual medical where the penis and testicles are examined.

Apart from that people will only visit to doctor if a problem occurs. So you will strip dependent on the type of examination the doctor feels is necessary. As you get older the doctor might decide when you visit him to expand the examination.

The male exam is like the female exam except for breasts, genitals, and prostate. I have usually been stripped to my undershorts before the exam begins.Commonly the physical starts with me sitting on the side of the examination table. Most of my exams have started with the eyes, ears, throat. Then the neck and axillary areas are palpated for lymph nodes and thyroid abnormalities. The doctor should palpate the male breasts since men can get breast cancer too.It is done much the same as female breast exam. Then comes auscultation of the heart and lungs.The neurological exam and reflexes are usually the next part. Then I am usually instructed to lie flat on my back on the table and have palpation and auscultation of the abdomen and checking of pulses in the legs and feet.I have almost always had the abdominal exam and pulses done immediately prior to the embarrassing parts of the exam. From the supine positioning for the abdominal exam, I am usually told to stand and face the doctor who sits on a chair or stool. He gloves up and then give me the command to expose my genitals. He says something nerdy like "ok, let's slip your shorts down." I find it a little more humiliating to just have my shorts pushed down below my scrotum rather than to the knees, ankles, or all the way off. If they are down below the scrotum, I think it focuses more attention on the genitals as the area of interest. Once the genitals are exposed, some doctors check the meatus. I have never had a doctor palpate the shaft of my penis, but I understand some do this. Next,he feels my testes thoroughly, one at a time. Then does the hernia exams. He pushes his index finger into the inguinal canal through his upper scrotum right next to the base of the penis.He says "turn your head and cough." Some doctors have repeated that command two or three times on each side. Very humbling in my opinion. Then it's time for the prostate exam. He tells me he is going to examine my rectum and prostate. He has me turn and bend over the table. The doctor lubricates his index finger and slides it in. I prefer it if he pushes aggressively on the prostate to create discomfort. If he pushes hard enough some seminal fluid will flow. Then he gives me a tissue and tells me to wipe off and pull up my shorts. If done right, the will give me a memorable and humbling experience.

As said above, it varies a great deal. For me, it's a quick exam, including weight, vital signs, look in ears and throat, stethoscope, and a quick abdominal exam. Sometimes a hernia check after, but rarely a thorough genital exam, not even testes. No DRE for me either, since I'm young enough for that not to be routine yet.

Well dirst it's history then undress to underwear. Then height, weight and then vision and hearing. Then eardrums, heart rate and blood pressure. After that thyroid glands, back muscles and intestines. Then testicles, penis and in some cases prostate.