How often do you have a recto-vaginal exam?

I have it during my yearly health check up at my gynecologist. It is embarrassing and exciting at the same time.

Mmmm . . . The recto/vag exam. It has always been part of my pelvic exams. My doc is a stickler for being thorough!

I have never had one, but would love to have one. The thought of having the doctor explore me in that way is very arousing

Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble.. but I actually haven’t ever had one. I’ve seen lots of different obgyn since I was 15, so for 20 years.. and nobody has touched my bum!

I've only had 4 different pelvic exams, and I've never gotten a rectovaginal exam.

I've had a recto-vaginal exam every year since my first gyn exam. It wasn't until I was in my mid-20s and talking with a couple girlfriends over some wine that I realized a lot of women don't experience this, at least not in their younger years. I guess my doctor likes to be thorough!

I've always been in the stirrups for this exam.

I am now 45 and the overwhelming majority since 16 have includes rectovag.

Out of the 4 different gynecologists whom I’ve seen, only one (my current OB/GYN) performs the rectovaginal exam. I’ve only had it while I was still in the stirrups, as the last procedure performed at the end of the exam.

I have mentioned this before.There are many doctors that will perform a rectovaginal exam on every patient that receives a pelvic exam or her yearly GYN exam.

This is what they were taught in medical school and what they feel is necessary to perform a complete yearly exam on the female genitalia. And for a few doctors they may do the exam because they can bill the insurance companies more if the exam also includes more time and a more specific examination / procedure.

But for the most part if you are a younger and healthy young lady and have no symptoms whatsoever there is no need to do the rectovaginal exam. If you have pelvic pain, excessive vaginal bleeding, pain during intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, OB issues from giving birth or other unfortunate incidents due to pregnancy, frequent urination or other urinary issues and or any family history that may give indication of something to look for and then the doctor will want to do more exams to see why these things are happening.

This is similar to men receiving DRE when it is not indicated to do and doctors do it routinely. If a man is having no problems, urinary system is working well, no burning or frequency of urination, no pain during sex and your PSA test levels (blood work) is well in the normal range every year then you do not have to have a DRE. Now there are some men that think it is absolutely necessary to have the DRE and there are those men that like to have a finger up their rectum then they can have it and most doctors will be glad to do it needed or not.

Bottom line is male or female know why you are going to a doctor. Ask questions, why are you wanting to do this test or exam or procedure. Be honest and open about any issues you are having. Bring someone with you if you may not understand what is happening. Write down any questions or concerns and do not let any doctor rush you. And if you are prescribed medication ask for a generic, see what your insurance pays, what tier is the medication, is there a different medication you can take, does the doctor have samples before you fill that $90 script so you can see if you have any problems with that particular one.

Sorry I got off topic but having worked in the medical field I have seen to many patients taken advantage of in so many ways.

From all I have heard and read about exams, in the US at least, a rectorvaginal is pretty much standard after age 35... for most/many women at least/

Unfortunately we do not get them as standard in the UK and only get a smear test (and if you’re lucky a bi manual exam).

I would love the doctor to do a rectovaginal exam though and to be more thorough.

Unfortunately we do not get them as standard in the UK and only get a smear test (and if you’re lucky a bi manual exam)

You need to schedule a trip to the USA Holly.

Unfortunately we do not get them as standard in the UK and only get a smear test (and if you’re lucky a bi manual exam).

I would love the doctor to do a rectovaginal exam though and to be more thorough.

They are standard in the private sector in the UK. If a woman has a well woman type medical at BUPA or Nuffield or a similar type clinic, then she will be examined rectally if she is over a certain age, late 30's onward normally.

With the exams I've had, my doctor doesn't perform this part of it. I've never had one done.

I never had one in real life, for better or worse! First time I switched to a new gyn a few years ago she did a standard rectal exam, but that was it, she hasn't really touched that hole at all since.

As holly says, they aren’t standard in the U.K.

I do often have a couple of gloved fingers inserted before my Pap smear to check the position of my cervix, (this can be good if it’s a male doctor as they have larger fingers...) but never a rectovaginal or rectal examination. Not even when I visited a private gynaecologist.

I wish they would do one, I’d like to feel two gloved, lubricated fingers simultaneously sliding into my vagina & anus.

As holly says, they aren’t standard in the U.K.

The only gynaecological check that is standard on the NHS in the UK nowadays is the 3 year smear test for women aged over 25 years, I think in Scotland women are offered it from age 20. It's nearly always done by a female practice nurse and takes around 2 minutes at most with a plastic speculum. More thorough internal vaginal and breast examinations used to be done very regularly by doctors at NHS family planning clinics and GPs, when a woman went on or was on the pill, but that practice was stopped around 30 years ago. Rectal or recto-vaginal examinations were never part of those NHS medicals and I doubt if many women in the UK have ever experienced one.

Of course, as a role-play doctor I do offer them as optional during a play exam and I have to say that they are very popular, I've never had a refusal yet in the 18 years I've been doing this....

My gynecologist does it everytime so every 6 Months

My gf has had a recto-vaginal and DRE at every one of her annual exams.

Sometimes twice a year. My Gyn always does one at my annual exam. Sometimes my urologist does one, as well, but sometimes it's a rectal exam after and separate from the bimanual exam, rather than a rectovaginal.

My wife has never been given a rectovaginal exam by any of her gynecologists.

The gyno doctors office I go to has a policy that they perform a rectal-vaginal exam with each Pap test, so you are going to get one whether you like it or not. Who's complaining? For an enema enthusiast like myself, I actually look forward to it. I must admit, the doctor's fingers felt larger than life in there and surprised me as she is female and I expected it to feel almost non existant, but I was pleasantly surprised.

In the uk as Bluebella has said they only seem to perform these test when you have asked for an appointment to investigate an issue you may have

As holly says, they aren’t standard in the U.K.

I do often have a couple of gloved fingers inserted before my Pap smear to check the position of my cervix, (this can be good if it’s a male doctor as they have larger fingers...) but never a rectovaginal or rectal examination. Not even when I visited a private gynaecologist.

I wish they would do one, I’d like to feel two gloved, lubricated fingers simultaneously sliding into my vagina & anus.

I do often have a couple of gloved fingers inserted before my Pap smear to check the position of my cervix, (this can be good if it’s a male doctor as they have larger fingers...) but never a rectovaginal or rectal examination. Not even when I visited a private gynaecologist.

I am very surprised with this answer.

It is strongly recommended not to perform a vaginal examination before taking the smear.

Just as you should not pollute the cells by lubricating the pseculum, you should not insert your fingers into the vagina.

The positioning of the cervix is ​​sufficiently well observed through the speculum and can be guided by palpation of the abdomen.

Rectovaginal examinations are not something that is done routinely in the U.K., there would have to be symptoms which led the doctor to believe there was an issue, which would be detected by a rectovaginal examination. Even in those cases it is unlikely to be done in a GP setting, more likely to be a referral to a specialist.

My wife gets that done every visit. She told me once that it actually turned her on. Of course only mentioned it once….so I imagine there were several other following instances.

Where I am it is standard for women over 30 who have had a vaginal driver previously. To check for possible fissures.

Where I am it is standard for women over 30 who have had a vaginal driver previously.

Where do I apply for THAT job?!

My wife used to have one every year during her annual exam. However, the last time we went the doctor said that the new recommendation was to have a PAP only once every three years, and if you also get a HPV test you only need to retest every five years.

At that appointment he said he could do the manual portion of the exam, and i encouraged her to say yes. We also wanted him to do a breast exam because my wife will not get a mammogram.

So that was the last one. and when we got home and read the most recent recommendations, we learned that they no longer think that there is much to be gained by a manual exam at all. If the woman is not experiencing abnormalities.

So that is all a big bummer.

and she was sorta pissed that I coaxed her into letting this stranger finger her when it wasnt really necessary.

I don’t get one enough. Wish they were mandatory for all appoints.