Age Of First Recto-Vaginal Exam?

How old were you when you had your first recto-vaginal exam? Thank You.

I was 22. Started going to a new GYN who did them as a standard practice

18 and heading off to college; it came with a full gyn exam

I was actually just 15 it was my first girly exam and I admitted to having anal intercourse so I got one then...guess they marked it in my chart because I have gotten one ever since

My doctor performed a recto-vaginal at my first GYN exam when I was 16. He asked if I was sexually active and I told him that I was. I later found out from a friend that he just did that exam on all his patients, even first-timeers like me.

I was 17 my first appointment for that type of exam.

Tammy, I doubt it really would have mattered you admitted to anal sex or not. You would have gotten one anyway.

I was 15 when I got my first examination.

My understanding is that some OB/GYNs do not start performing recto-vaginal exams until a woman is, say, 35 or 40. Has anyone experienced this whereby your OB/GYN has not performed one in your past exams, but tells you that he/she is going to do one because you have reached a certain age? If so, did your doctor tell you why the arbitrary age made a difference?

My wife who is 41 was just in for her yearly exam and I thought for sure she would have her first recto-vaginal exam but she said she did not get one. I thought that was strange.

My wife is 29 and has never had one in real life. I do throw her the shocker every once in a while so that she is prepared for it. I always figured the exam was being phased out. I've only talked to a few girls that have had one.

When my wife was expecting many years ago I went to her on exam and the dr did an anal exam on her and was looking for hemorrhoid.

From what I have read here, and heard elsewhere, recto-vaginal exams are becoming more and more common.. here in the USA at least.

Doc Rob

I frequently don't do RV exams in the patients I see. Since I work in emergency I tend to do problem oriented exams. When I need to examine a retro flexed uterus ot to examine the posterior vaginal wall I do one. To examine for rectal pathology I tend to do a simple rectal exam. I tend not to do screening exams. I'm not impressed that we are doing more or less than before.

I think the individual doctor in question is the determining factor even more so than age (unless there are other conditions present that would require one). My wife had one at age 27 for the first time, but it was because she switched to a new doctor. None of her previous doctors ever conducted a rectovaginal exam. She's 31 now and I doubt she would have had one yet had she stayed with her former gynecologist.

Based on her experience and what I've heard, some gynecologists perform them routinely on most (if not all) patients, while others never perform them unless other factors are involved.

I had my first recto-vaginal exam in college, around 20 years old or so. Fairly uneventful. While I'd never seen that doctor before (and I never did again due to graduating), she didn't act like what she was doing was out of the ordinary, so I'm assuming it was standard practice.

The wife doesn't get one annually, the only time she has had them was at her 6 week post pregnancy exams.

I'm fairly sure that recto-vaginal exam is not standard practice in the UK.

I get them fairly regularly from my urologist .

If you don't do a RV exam how do you evaluate possible rectal CA? Or the integrity of the posterior vaginal wall?

Right, liquidsky. About twenty years ago my wife had to have surgery to repair a rectocele. Good care and exams identified the problem and fixed it.

I am 40, have had six pregnancies/four deliveries, and have not had one yet.

If you don't do a RV exam how do you evaluate . . . . the integrity of the posterior vaginal wall?

If the penis is inserted in the vagina and it comes out brown, the posterior vaginal wall is compromised.

Susie, Don't you just hate it when that happens?

That's like a dipstick except you'd rather be three quarts low.

I probably could be three quarts low. My car takes like 10 quarts. I think they designed it with idiots in mind.

Still waiting...

I was 15 when I received my first recto-vaginal exam. It was done as part of my very first gyn exam, so I assumed it was just part of it. I've received one at most of my exams since.

My wife has never had a recto-vaginal exam. After the bimanual exam, her doctor will do a rectal and repeat the bimanual that way. It only takes about 10-15 seconds. My wife is in her late 40s and her doctor is female.

Also from what I know about others that use my same doctor....my gynecologist makes it standard for eveyone