Prostate Exam Positions

The vast majority have been standing with elbows on the table. 2nd most is laying on my left side. Only once on all fours.

Now in play....

I'm asking this about the "real" world.

What position has the examiner put you in for the genital exam including the hernia test?

For me, the most common is standing but I teach exam skills at a medical school and we teach reclining at about 45 degrees on the exam table.

A couple time been examined lying back, but in all cases had the 'tradional' hernia exam where I am standing and the doc is seated in front of me

Usually whilst laid flat on exam couch & told to 'slip my underpants down' turn my head towards the wall and cough, but have also been examined stood up and had to lower my underpants down to knees.

Never layed down for an exam. In the doctors office it's always leaning on the table. Once leaning over one of my kitchen chair backs in the living room getting an insurance physical. Once leaning over a chair back in a room in a church getting a Boy Scout physical (that was supposed to be a waist up physical for boys and leaders alike.)

I had a first the other day when doing my routine employment physical. I was in my underwear and had finished the heart, lung, and abdominal portion of the exam when the doctor reached out for some gloves and told me he needed to check for a hernia. I stood up as he was donning his gloves and began to lower my underwear when he said there was no need for that. He said the hernia exam is a "feeling" exam and not a "seeing" exam. That was the first time I had a hernia checked with my underwear on. I did stand for the check and did the routine cough.

I'm asking this about the "real" world.

What position has the examiner put you in for the genital exam including the hernia test?

For me, the most common is standing but I teach exam skills at a medical school and we teach reclining at about 45 degrees on the exam table.

More commonly I have been standing for the genital and hernia examination. However when I had an inguinal hernia I did have some examinations of my genital area lying down. Those were very thorough hernia exams, with the doctor pushing a finger quite far up into my inguinal canal which was a bit uncomfortable.

I've have had it done while standing up. I have also had the genital exam test done while laying down, but don't think I've had the hernia test that way.

My doctor has me stand in front of her for the genital exam and then bent over for the prostate exam.

All of the genital and hernia exams I have ever experienced were performed with me standing in front of the doctor with my underwear pulled down far enough to completely expose the penis, scrotum, and lower abdomen. The doctor has usually been seated on a rolling stool, but a few times, he has stood up. I had one exam which was performed differently. After the abdominal exam had been done, obviously we me lying supine on the table, the doctor pulled down my underwear and examined the genitals, and then had me stand and did the hernia exam.

I should have specified that we teach the hernia exam standing. You need gravity to help.

The idea of doing any genital exam without looking is akin to malpractice. What are you missing by not observing the genitals? Could you be missing a rash, skin cancer, crabs or lice?

I had a doctor try to examine me without exposing me. That was the end of our medical relationship.

I had a first the other day when doing my routine employment physical. I was in my underwear and had finished the heart, lung, and abdominal portion of the exam when the doctor reached out for some gloves and told me he needed to check for a hernia. I stood up as he was donning his gloves and began to lower my underwear when he said there was no need for that. He said the hernia exam is a "feeling" exam and not a "seeing" exam. That was the first time I had a hernia checked with my underwear on. I did stand for the check and did the routine cough.

How were you and the doctor positioned when you got to keep your underwear on?

I saw a pediatrician at the practice I went to when I was younger who would have me standing for the hernia exam, but he would stand behind me and reach around to the front to perform the exam. He couldn't see anything from that angle.

Of course, another doctor at the same practice did the hernia and genital exams with me laying flat on the table.

I've always had my gential exam standing up in front of the doctor. Each time, the doctor has always been sitting on his stool in front of me. Although, during my pre-employment physical the NP was standing. It was very awkward to be standing about 2 or 3 feet from him, holding the gown up and him leaning way over to barely check for a hernia. Then at the end of that he decided to quickly feel each of my testicles. As I pulled my pants up he said "like I said, it's important to check yourself" as he drew a testicle on the exam table paper and pointed to the various parts. Akward!

Always had genital exam standing, but it happened long time ago in past, i must say in France not very common actually to have those kind of exam when you come to doctor.

I don't remember when the first one was. Usually the doc says, "Let's take a look at that prostate" or "Let me examine (or feel) your prostate." All of my DRE's have been done with me standing up, leaning over the exam table with my chest on the exam table. In general all the exams have been done in no more than 4 to 5 seconds. Personally that seems awful short to me, but maybe they are afraid of being accused of something or maybe they are all just that good at detecting things. I would like to have them in some of the different positions mentioned here just to see what it feels like, including with my feet in the stirrups as I have read some guys get..

Always, the genital exam performed by my regular doctor are performed while I was standing in front of the doctor who was sitting on a low stool in front of me. I am then asked to lift my gown up my chest and hold it there until the doctor completes the exam.

Several pre-op and post-op circumcision exams performed by the urologist were also done while standing. The main difference, as compared to my regular check-ups, is that I was asked to stand in front of him with my feet kept on the floor wider than my shoulders and my hands held together behind my back. The nurse assisted the urologist by standing next to me and holding my gown above my chest.

I have had both standing and lying. I have never been reclining at the angle you said.

My last several prostate exams have been done by the urologist's assistant ... a female. Last exam I was bent over the table. When she withdrew her finger she took tissue and wiped the KY from my anus. First time anyone has wiped me! I still get stiff thinking about her.

For all but one of my genital exams I have been standing with the doctor also standing in front of me.

The other exam was in hospital where I was referred because I had a continuous pain in my groin. I lay down stripped from the waist down and the consultant felt my groin, penis and testicles.

I have had genital exams while standing & lying supine, have not yet had 45 degree angle yet. But I was examined once while a male doc that was able to push my inguinal hernia back in, while I was laying in Trendelenburg position with my shorts & jeans below my knees & shirt raised to my chest.

Almost all the time standing except most recently laying on table

Every time but one I was standing, either with my pants around my ankles or naked with or without a gown. One time my GI doc had me lie flat on the table with my pants down as he felt each testicle and told me I should do that at home monthly.

For the prostate check I've mostly been told to put my elbows on the exam table. The exception was when my female doc did a prostate check. She had me lie on my side for the GRE. When I was younger,one doc had me lie on my back with legs bent.

I think my first ones were me lying on my left side, naked, at the end of a physical. I wasn't even sure why the doc was poking his finger in my anus for at the time. Most docs have me bend over and rest my elbows on the exam table, with my pants either around my ankles or naked with or without a gown. My female physician had me lie on side on the exam table for the DRE.

Most of my genital exams have been when I was standing; only two when I was lying down. The first such exam was when I was about 5 or 6 and the doctor just pulled down the front of my briefs for a quick peek; the second many years later was a bit more involved.

I have had a few rectal exams. The first time I was lying on my left side. The next 4 times I have been in lying on a gynotable (I dont know if that is the actual medical word), with my feets in the stirrups.

My first DRE I was about 20 and was lying down with my knees up and the heals of my feet touching my butt

My current Doctor I am standing but my previous Doctor I would be lying down.

I had to ask for a genital check on my last to physicals. two years ago my genitals were examined with me laying flat on my back, the next year i my genitals were examined laying flat and also while i stood , I like laying flat because the doctor had to move my flaccid penis out of the way to feel my testicles on one side.. that was pretty much the most my penis has been touched by a doctor since i was a teenager. I also really liked the feel of the doctor pushing her hand deeper between my upper thighs to feel the back of my scrotum 😉

I have only had this done while standing, examined either by a man or woman. I have never had this done while lying down. I can't imagine how you could do a real male genital exam other than standing up, especially for the "hernia cough." But it might be interesting to have it done supine. Probably have to have it done in stirrups? Hafd to visualize, but would be worth a try.

I would always be lying down for the first part and then have to stand up for the final hernia check.