Position for vaginal exam

Aside for the frog leg position, I have always assumed that being placed in the stirrups is the routine for a pelvic exam. My friend shared that it can also be done in the knee - chest position or while lying on one's side. I always wondered about having one done while on my side since my doctor does a DRE in that position but has never done a vaginal exam that way. Have any of you experienced different positions and what's that been like?

I've had a fair few pelvic exams the last few months. Lying frog legged, standing with one foot on a stool,lying on the left side and also in stirrups.The standing position with my right foot on a stool was probably the worse one. Due to the angle of your vagina it hurts a bit. The doctor caught my cervix a few times which caused small amounts of pain.The one lying on my side was also a different experience . It wasn't painful at all , maybe a little uncomfortable but I found it really embarrassing lying there as the doctor has access to all areas .If you want any further information feel free to contact me

Nik

Female pelvic exams are performed in the lithotomy position.

As a female I can assure you they are not always done in the lithotomy position. I have experienced all the ones listed, with the exceptions of having a foot up on the stool. I am going to assume that may happen during pelvic exams for bladder issues? In my opinion the frog and lithotomy are most comfortable, I felt really odd being examined on my side (though it could have been that it was done during a rough patch while I was in labor).

Most alternate positions are used with patients who have difficulty lying on their back for the standard lithotomy position here in the US. On the side --Sims position -- is a very good technique as far as access to the cervix and to palpate bartholins glands, inspect the vaginal walls, etc. The Sims speculum is used in this position, but also a cusco works out well. It's more difficult though to perform a bi-manual this way. Knee chest actually works out really well for a bi-manual - you have to orient your hands and think opposite of the usual position in stirrups...but it's much easier to find all the pelvic organs and there is far les résistance than you deal with in the lithotomy position. That said I've yet to see this done in the real life exam room

Oh when I was examined in the knee chest position I filled with air and that was almost more than I could stand. WOW

All my real exams have occurred lying on a table and once sitting in an elevated chair.

Surprisingly, the chair was much more comfortable to endure the exam.

I've only ever been in the frog-leg position but I found that it got uncomfortable after a certain amount of time. It was only for smear tests but between the general time that's taken to start and then the time it takes to find my cervix (which seems to be a bit elusive!) plus all the shifting about, by the time it's done it's definitely more than the few minutes they mention in the leaflet!

All of my wife's exams have been in stirrups.

There are a few ways lithotomy is the main way along with frog leg when you are younger. But their is the sims position, and knee to chest.

Oh when I was examined in the knee chest position I filled with air and that was almost more than I could stand. WOW

Apparently, the air can actually help with getting a better view. Did your doctor state a reason for using the knee-chest position?

I am ALWAYS in the frog-leg postion in the stirrups.I just LOVE being in this postion!!

I have only experienced stirrups, I am not sure I would like the bent over position. I once had a doctor that helped me put my legs into the stirrups which was a real turn on.

I am ALWAYS in the frog-leg postion in the stirrups.I just LOVE being in this postion!!

I'm puzzled.

How can you be in the frog leg position and in the stirrups at the same time?

I'm puzzled.

How can you be in the frog leg position and in the stirrups at the same time?

Rockdoc,

I was wondering the same thing!

Andie

Rockdoc,

I was wondering the same thing!

Andie

I'm puzzled.

How can you be in the frog leg position and in the stirrups at the same time?

I am ALWAYS in the frog-leg postion in the stirrups.I just LOVE being in this postion!!

Like wise, need to know more?

Ive always had to use stirrups for my exams. I would like to use the knee rests one of these days.

I have been in both the military and private side of medicine for a long time now and have seen many different situations. The lithotomy position, or the normal position feet places in the stirrups, is a supine postion in which the hips and knees arefully flexed with the legs spread apart and raised. This is optimum for most procedures/situations and also referred as the dorsosacral position .

On all female pelvic exams for entrance into the military have been done in the frog-leg position which is also a supine position where the soles of the feet are together and the knees are spread apart to expose the perineum. Military entrance physicals are rarely invasive and only include a breast and external genitialis exam. Many children are examined in this position as well.

Now from military experience I know at a certain hospital all pregnant pelvic exams where in the knee-chest position, also referred to as the genupectoral position. In addition, many pelvic ultrasound exams where taught in this position. Strikingly odd the way the corporate culture of a hospital turned routine examinations into very erotic and pleasurable expierence for many women so let due to the position they where in.

I have had patients ask to be examined in the prone position because the feel more comfortable and less embarrassed. I for one find it largely erotic when a patient asks you to examine them in a certain position, knowing full well they are maximizing potential for orgasm and/or sexual pleasure.

I have only had exams using stirrups during hospital appointments, at my own doctors it has always been frog legs. Although once I did experience an exam lying on my side knees towards chest - this was the most uncomfortable position and certainly felt very invasive.

Maybe it was just me, but the one time I did the frog leg position, I felt like I was out of breath. It was kind of under duress, I was in the throes of a miscarriage, so maybe it was just stress. I just remember feeling like I couldn't breathe enough.

Otherwise, just usual stirrups. During labor and delivery, the nurse would check me with my feet together.

Along the lines of this discussion, once you are in the stirrups, have you ever had the doctor adjust them because they are too wide, too narrow, too high, etc.? I imagine that can be a little awkward. Just curious.

Watching my wife have her yearly exam last month the Dr. started the exam and then stopped and readjusted the foot rest to spread her legs out more.

Fantastic. Thanks for the information, Hoss. I'll bet that was interesting to watch.

I loved it. We had a friendly bet earlier this summer that who ever won the bet got what the other wanted. I won the bet witch was she had to shave her vagina before her exam, this is something she has never done before her exam. The Dr. is a friend of ours. She had it freshly shaved and painted her toes. She looked great to say the least!