Shouldn't all pediatric physicals include breast and genital exams?

I can't say I had such exams as I simply don't remember. My first genital area exam was at the age of 18, during military service exam. Should it be included? I guess yes, because it is important to catch any early warning of possible illness or non development.

As a child at the doctor’s office, I was usually quite fearful of having my genitals and rectum examined. While it actually happened (only two times that I can remember), the threat of it was always imminent while bottomless or ‘underwearless’, as was often the case.

I do know that after the deed was done, I was always relieved to hear “everything looks in order down here.”

As an adult, I definitely think that no stone go unturned at a child’s yearly exam. It’s not a matter of correctness; it’s a matter of what must be done to ensure a healthy body.

@arttemp what happened during these two exams?

I never minded the genital or rectal exam. I just figured they were part of the exam, so I let him do his thing and followed directions. When A doctor (always male) said “I'm going to check your plumbing/penis/genitals”. I always thought “OK”. Still do.

I only remember the doctor checking me for a hernia. I’m sure that some doctors do things differently. My pediatrician was not at all invasive. Not even a rectal temperature.

Honestly, I think hernia checks are just a macho athletic excuse for checking Tanner Stage, which is super important, but which would not be tolerated by most teen boys on that basis alone.

Boys are more susceptible to inguinal hernias and account for 80-90% of diagnosed Cases. Part of the intestine bulges through the groin muscle. Adolescent boys are physically active and while muscles are developing they are probably more at risk (My uneducated guess)

Search the web for info - I’m not a doc but I suspect that’s why young boys/men get tested. My son had a double hernia around age 25 while doing some serious weight lifting.

My exams included the doctor visually inspecting my breasts and genitals, but no touching. I’ve never had any health issues, and I’m sure if I did, the exam would have been more in depth.

My exams included the doctor visually inspecting my breasts and genitals, but no touching. I’ve never had any health issues, and I’m sure if I did, the exam would have been more in depth.

So there was never any separation of the labia majora? Sounds like assessing tanner stage rather than examination of the area.

I believe that the exam should include all appropriate age related exam procedures. I don't think that having a genital or rectal exam has much to do with my having a positive body image. I do think having good relationship with the provider is key to feeling confident when such procedures are indicated. I do get that one may have some discomfort with the level of exposure involved and this could relate to one's body image satisfaction. Likely if this is the case that comfort and confidence play a role.

So when I asked my doctor now about why do doctors examine the genitalia of boys but then it stops when older the answer I got was as a child or teen they are looking for developmental problems. But once older those aren’t likely to happen so they only do those exams if there is a specific reason. For me the changeover was about 25 but that was coincidental to me changing doctors as well. Doctor now only checks if there is a reason (like pain). He does encourage self exam and monitoring but with the ”let me know if there is a problem or concern”.

So when I asked my doctor now about why do doctors examine the genitalia of boys but then it stops when older the answer I got was as a child or teen they are looking for developmental problems. But once older those aren’t likely to happen so they only do those exams if there is a specific reason. For me the changeover was about 25 but that was coincidental to me changing doctors as well. Doctor now only checks if there is a reason (like pain). He does encourage self exam and monitoring but with the ”let me know if there is a problem or concern”.

I understand the difference in medical concerns but I think it's a bit naive to assume a patient would necessarily share such concerns for a number of reasons:

A physical should be just that, no matter how old you are or what the history indicates. IMO the doctor should perform the exam under the assumption that everything on the chart is wrong until proven otherwise. But muh profits.

So when I asked my doctor now about why do doctors examine the genitalia of boys but then it stops when older the answer I got was as a child or teen they are looking for developmental problems. But once older those aren’t likely to happen so they only do those exams if there is a specific reason. For me the changeover was about 25 but that was coincidental to me changing doctors as well. Doctor now only checks if there is a reason (like pain). He does encourage self exam and monitoring but with the ”let me know if there is a problem or concern”.

I understand the difference in medical concerns but I think it's a bit naive to assume a patient would necessarily share such concerns for a number of reasons:

A physical should be just that, no matter how old you are or what the history indicates. IMO the doctor should perform the exam under the assumption that everything on the chart is wrong until proven otherwise. But muh profits.

My childhood doc, a GP not a pediatrician, always did a hernia check and I assume he checked my genitals at the same time.

I can't recall a physical not including panties coming off at some point, always assumed it was pretty standard across the board.

Yes genitals and breasts are part of one’s body no different then the torso, feet and all other parts

Depending on the doctor, and the region of the world , where they practice, you might come across everything, from invasive, to non-invasive exams. If you look hard enough, you’ll probably find some relics of the past, still insisting on rectal temperature taking, with a glass thermometer, and Vaseline! I was a kid during the 60’s, and my pediatrician never “ inspected “ my penis, outside of a hernia exam. If they required a breast “ inspection “ for girls, I’ve never heard about it. I also was never asked to remove my clothes.

Fascinating responses. If only I’d been able to read others’ experiences as a young teen!

I always was fully examined during my pediatric physical exams. I didn't have to start really taking my panties down until I was starting to develop but there was always a look at least. After development started there was always a breast and genital exam with spread labia.

Mine always included a genital exam, hernia, tanner assessment and rectal look. always

It’s highly unlikely that you’re not going to have to have your most intimate body areas exposed and medically examined at some point in your adult life. Besides catching any possible health issues of a fast developing child’s body, learning to be exposed and to submit to medical professionals is also probably best learned early on in one’s life. No areas of the body should be passed over without inspection, especially the breasts and genital area.

I posted in this thread years ago but it's been very active recently, which is cool. I may have gone to the doctor for various things like illnesses or injuries that didn't require a genital exam, but I never, ever had an actual physical exam as a kid or a teenager where they didn't examine genitals. Both private doctors and school doctors always did a genital exam.

I agree, for sure there should be more complete routine examination of children. Pediatrician and family physicians hold an extremely important job of not just checking for current problems but also looking for future ones. They should always be thinking about the long-term and should be doing a better job of examining their young patients better in order to ensure they are in good health as well as educating the kids on better ways to stay healthy especially regarding genitals which can be an uncomfortable conversation for parents. It is their job to keep people healthy in the long run and that means having those uncomfortable conversations and exams.