Armpit questions

Does your doctor touch or look at your armpits??

How deep does your doctor go in your armpits??

For fun would you think it's weird for a doctor to look or touch your armpits??

It's an important part of the breast exam. That's where the lymph nodes that drain the breast live. Breast issues will cause the lymph nodes to be abnormal.

My doctor exams my arm pits when I have a full body skin exam. Only had her touch to remove a suspicious mole .

The routine breast exam includes feeling the lymph nodes in the armpits, not just looking.

My doctor exams my arm pits when I have a full body skin exam. Only had her touch to remove a suspicious mole .

Remember that we're talking about gynecology here.

As others stated above, my doctor typically examines my lymph nodes in the armpit. That can be fairly rough but not "painful" but they are searching for lumps and stuff that isn't typical so it can be pretty thorough.

My doctor does it during breast exams. It's strange because if anyone else were to touch me there I would jump and giggle. But it doesn't have that effect on me with her. She doesn't jab or go really deep

Yes, my armpits are examined as part of my breast exam. The palpation is deep with pushing in and around but it is not painful. It was a little strange the first time but is now just an expected part of the exam.

I think the original question was pointed toward a female response but since this is also an open forum for general medical questions I will put out a male perspective. When I go for my annual physical my doctor also does a breast exam on me. He has me lie down on the exam table as he pushes on my breasts and then lift my arms to touch both my breasts and the insides of my arm pits. There are lymph nodes there that he looks at. The first time he did this exam on me I thought it was strange but I have known a few males to get breast cancer so when he told me what he was doing I am totally in agreement that it should be done. When I told my wife she also thought it was strange until I reminded her that males too can get breast cancer so it is much better to be safe than sorry. I think a lot of times people forget that it is a disease that effects both sexes.

As others have mentioned its very important for the doctor to assess the lymph nodes in the armpit during any breast exam. The Lymph network is a part of the body’s immune system. It collects fluid, waste material, and other things (like viruses and bacteria) that are in the body tissues, outside the bloodstream.

When there’s a problem near a lymph node, such as infection, injury, or cancer, the node or the group of lymph nodes in that area may swell or enlarge as they work to filter out the “bad” cells. Swollen lymph nodes tell you that something is not right, but other symptoms help pinpoint the problem. As Jill2doctor said " The palpation is deep with pushing in and around but it is not painful."

In addition when performing a complete and through chest auscultation the doctor should listen under the armpit with their stethoscope ( a lot of doctors don't listen under the armpits). It is performed to listen for crepitant rale which establishes the existence of pneumonia. It is normally discoverable or pronounced towards the root of the lungs, under the armpit and beneath the clavicle, inasmuch these are the areas less easily pressed upon by an effusion ( excess fluid built up around the lung).

It's unfortunate that, due to time constraints, patient modesty concerns or something else, most doctors I've found skip a majority of the physical exam. I've never had a professional breast exam nor have I ever had a full ascultation. Everything is abbreviated.

A few years ago, I bought a Groupon for a full physical at a NYC medical practice. Same half assed attitude.