Seated breast exam?

How many women have actually had the seated portion of the breast exam (in addition to lying) during a routine on/gyn appointment?

They always show the seated portion of the exam in tutorials, but I've heard it's never done in reality.

My other question was, if you've never experienced the seated breast exam, would you think it was strange if you went to a new doctor and he/she did one?

When I used to go with the SO she got them both sitting and laying back every visit. Also arms at her side and over her head. She has smallish breasts too.

My very first proper Breast exam I had in June this year was done first with me sitting on the exam bed and then the Dr asked me to lie down and he done it again . After he had checked with my hands at my sides he then checked them again whilst my arm was up and hand behind my head . The Breast part of the exam took about 10minutes.

My girlfriends gynecogist always does her breast exam both ways seated and then has her lay back on the exam table for the other part of the breast exam

Ive had it done both ways usually in the same exam

Whether I have seen my gp or gyno in the past, my breast exam includes the doctor looking at my breasts while my hands are behind my head and then when I lean over. Next is the palpitation of each breast with an arm behind my head and when she has finished with each breast, she will inspect my nipples...gently.. Finally I am told to lay back and she exams each one again with my alternating each arm behind my head. The whole thing lasts about 5 minutes or so of full exposure.

When I was married, my X and I sometimes attended each other's exams, mostly for my benefit as she didn't enjoy ANYTHING kinky. Her breast exams always included supine, seated and leaning forward. Anything else is incomplete.

Having gone to multiple exams with several old girlfriends and now my wife, I have to say that the seated exam is more rare but it indeed does happen. Most physicians seem to skip it, but my wife's OB/GYN starts with her sitting up and finishes with her laying down...

My female gynecologist examined my breasts when I'm sitting on the examination table .

She is looking at my breast and i have to do my hands behind my neck .

She scans separately both breasts .

I have had an examination in the Czech Republic. There my breasts were inspected

by sitting on the examination table and lay back on the exam table.

Sorry for my bad english ;-)

My wife's gyno only does them while she is laying down. But many times there is a student in the room so they both get to handle them, she has big breasts by the way, 38DD.

Sorry for my bad english ;-)

Your English is much better than my German.

My wife's doctor always has her sit up and the doctor looks at them from afar then does the actual exam while she is laying down.

I've only been lying down or reclining for the breast exam. I still put one arm behind my head and then switch. I think a lot of doctors do a sitting breast exam as it's a good way to visualize irregularities, but I guess for whatever reason any doctor I've had has decided to skip that part with me. If a new doctor decided to have me sit up instead of or in addition to lying down, I wouldn't think it was weird at all.

Ladies, if you are not receiving the full breast exam with leaning forward, sitting upright, laying down with your arms in all recommended positions and full exposure etc, say something to whomever is doing your clinical breast exam! Create an open dialogue with them. It is your body, your health. Be proactive and assertive.

Suggestions to create an open dialogue:

*Ask them to make sure you are doing your own monthly BSE (breast self exam) correctly and if there is anything they see or have palpated that you should be aware of. Such examples where there is a thickening of the tissue, lumpiness, if it is normal or something to be watched.

*You could mention that you have read research on how a clinical breast exam should be done along with a BSE. Mention you are curious to the reasoning why your clinical breast exam is being performed on you differently vs current guidelines.

*I would strongly suggest being tactful and complimentary to whomever is doing your exam, i.e. physician, PA, NP, RN radiologist etc.

*Knowing what is your "normal" at various times of your cycle is also important information for you and for whomever is doing your clinical breast exam. You can include this in your open dialogue with them.

Tact and honest compliments go a long way in breaking down barriers to lead to open dialogue and conversation, especially when it can be uncomfortable, embarrassing etc to talk about something.

Ultimately, if they are not open to this, willing to work with you, you can always change providers.

Andie

My current gynecologist examines my breasts in both the sitting and laying down position. Sitting up I get the visual exam with my arms in various positions and also feeling my armpits and glands. Laying back I get a thorough palpation of each breast, including the nipple squeeze. I've been examined sitting up and laying back with other doctors but not all I've been to.

My wife's gynecologist gives a very traditional exam and does her breast exam both seated and with her laying down. With all the time constraints placed on medical professionals today, it's nice to see her doctor perform the exam with almost all of the thoroughness that most medical texts call for.

As wwick718 has said, I'd expect that a full well-woman exam would include a breast exam in both the seated and reclined position. At least that is my protocol in play exams.

And I agree, that as time seems to be more important to some doctors than patient care, they may often skip the seated portion.… sadly.

Doc Rob

The one girl that I know who I had asked about this stated that her exams were done seated, while also having to manipulate her arms.

I actually have fine done seated and laying back

How about for play exams ? What are the preferences for play patients and doctors ?

Breast exams should always be done in both sitting and lying positions. Supine positions are best for palpating the breast for nodules and examining for lymph nodes. Sitting is required to look for asymmetry or dimpling.

How about for play exams ? What are the preferences for play patients and doctors ?

For play, use your imagination. Seated, reclining, supine, doggie style, it's all good.

I begin the breast exam by having the patient lower her gown while seated and I observe the breasts for symmetry and any abnormalities. I will have the patient change position by leaning forward, sitting erect, placing their hands on their hips and on their head with elbows extended to the sides. I will also palpitate the breasts while she is seated before she lays back and I again examine each breast and lymph nodes while they place their hand behind their head. I'll also pinch the nipple to check for any discharge. I'll inquire about the time of their last mammogram, family history of breast cancer and if they routinely conduct self exams. I'll show them how to.

My wifes current Gyn examines her both sitting and lying flat. She first has my wife sitting with her arms at her sides, then she has her raise one arm at a time with her arm extended straight up while checking that breast. She then has her place her hand behind her neck and checks the breast and then checks under the armpit and almost around to her back. She then does the same exam to the other breast.

Next, she has her recline on the table and repeats the same exam. The Dr. says that she does this because of my wife's dense breast tissue. Her old Gyn, who moved away 2years ago, also did this.

One time, after she thought she found a new lump, she also had the wife stand beside the table and lean onto it so that her breasts were hanging free and performed a third exam.

Thankfully, routine mammograms have been clear since.

I get my breast exam both seated and laying down

Does anyone do a standing breast exam ? Like how they teach in self exams to lean over to look for abnormalities

Definitely never had one standing . Have never been taught to self examine like that either .

Mine are always done both ways seated and laying down.

As already stated a breast exam should be performed as part of any clinical breast exam. During the seated exam you should be asked to removed your arm from the gown and let it drop to the waist, so that both breast can be observed. You may be asked be asked to place your hands on your hips and push tightly, raise your arms above your head , hands at your sides or lean forwards or a combination of these.

The visual examination of the breast during this seated exam is to look at your breast for changes in size, shape or symmetry. In addition to looking for evidence of skin or nipple dimpling (hollow area or crease) or retraction, discoloration, obvious masses, rashes, redness or sores.

Pushing tightly on the hips contracts the pectoralis major muscles and enhances identification of asymmetries which can further be enhanced with the arms positions above the head and at the sides as well as leaning forwards.

Following this visual inspection palpation of the breasts should be performed , which can be done using 1 of 3 methods, Vertical strips, Pie or Radial Spoke Pattern and the Circular Pattern using the pads of the index, third and fourth fingers. Looking for consistency, nodules, elasticity, tenderness and masses. Breast tissue in the upper outer quadrant and under the areola and nipple should be thoroughly palpated, as these are the two most common sites for cancer to arise.

After which palpation of the cervical nodes, axillary area and supraclavicular area for lymph node enlargement . Cervical nodes can be found along the sides of the neck, the axillary area is located in the arm pit, the supraclavicular area is found along the line immediately above the clavicle (collar bone). Lymph node palpation is usually conducted while sitting up and lying down to ensure a thorough examination.

Following this the patient is asked to lie in supine position (lie on your back) with the arm of the breast going to be palpated placed behind their head or on top of the forehead. This flattens the breast tissue on the chest wall thereby reducing the thickness of the breast tissue palpated. Again repeating the palpation of the breast tissue and lymph nodes.

The final part of a breast exam is to inspect and form a palpation on the nipples. When inspecting and palpating the nipples you or your doctor should be looking for size, shape, inversion, rashes, scaling, discharge, elasticity, retraction, aureola edema, crusting and abnormal masses.

The nipple should then be gently grasped between the index finger and thumb and the nipple and aureola tissue should be compressed. It should then be noted what the color consistency is and the quantity of any discharge released – if any. If there is discharge, a sample may be collected for examination under a microscope.

RN1993^^^Rightly /accurately addressed positioning as it should be in determining correct analysis of any irregularity....Breast health should be important to all women as it is relatively easy to manage on a monthly basis & vigilantly maintained over a lifetime....Karma to ya !