State of dress or undress for male physical exam

This has been discussed in different ways on numerous posts...........but I'd really like to hear from the males (females require a different exam) who have had an annual physical as to how much clothing do you remove? are you normally offered or requested to where a gown? do you take off no clothing and only lower your pants for that part? I'm curious to hear what is normal/usual these days.

Never offered a gown. The last doctor I had gave me the choice. Did I want to undress as we went or go straight down to my underwear. It felt he was asking because he had to and wanted me to undress so he could get on. As he wanted that I said I was happy to undress so stripped to my underwear while he sat at his desk writing up notes. The next time he looked up I was standing in a pair of blue RL pants and he got on with the exam.

Except for the dermatologist, I rarely take anything off, just drop drawers for genital and rectal exams.

I had never a gown, this is not usual in Europe. Normally I can keep my trousers. In one case only boxer briefs.

Gowns are common now. I'm usually given one and told to take everything off but my shorts and socks. When the time comes, he asks me to take my shorts down for the prostate exam. I'm in my 70's now and he no longer does the hernia check. When I was younger, through the 1980's, the customary thing was to just strip down to your shorts, no gown, for the entire exam except when they'd come off for the last part.

I haven't been to a doctor in many years who did any kind of regular physical with an "undress as you go" routine. Not even sure that I have ever had a true physical that way, but have had a couple of doctor appointments years ago where I had a specific issue and the doctor ended up having me undress some as he tried to figure out what was going on. The last time for that was not really "undress as you go" as some have described here. I thought that I had a hernia and the doctor had me dropped my jeans and underpants to check for that and then, to my surprise, did a DRE to see if my prostate was infected. My shirt was already off but my jeans and underpants never went completely off.

Other that those experiences, I have either been in my underpants only or in a gown for a regular physical exam. And I mean since I was a kid. My current doctor's office is a "undress to your underpants" place for males only I assume as I have had three exams there with two different doctors. Two different nurses said almost the same to me: "undress to your underpants only and take a seat on the table, please". The doctors then come in and either talk with me first or start the exam right away. Both doctors have been male so it is not awkward for me or them.

I've been in a gown before for a physical but it has been years since that happened. Almost every time I have been told to "take off everything and put on the gown". Some nurses or doctors are even clearer and say something like "take off everything, including your underwear, and put on this gown". I had only one doctor who told me to take off everything but my underpants and put on the gown.

The last time I went for an actual physical exam, I didn't remove any clothing at all. Blood work and a series of questions was about the extent of the "exam". There was no genital exam whatsoever, or a prostate exam.

When I go for my annual urology exam, I drop my pants and undershorts while the physician ass't does the penis and prostate exam. The only time I actually undress is when I go for my annual dermatology exam and then it's to my undershorts with a gown on.

Back in the 70s and 80s, I was asked to undress to undershorts with no gown, and then had to drop my briefs for the genital exam--I haven't done that in years. Gowns and modesty are the thing in today's era.

As the OP stated this subject has been covered in numerous topics before. I just do not understand the need/desire to start this topic again. Rinse, lather, repeat.

I've had 3 physicals as an adult and each of them required different gowning. I stayed fully dressed for one, only lifting and lowering clothing as needed. For another, I was provided disposable exam shorts and was asked to undress fully (which I understood to include underwear) and put them on. For my third physical with the same doctor as the second physical, I was provided a gown. I didn't receive specific instructions and left my underwear on for comfort.

As the OP stated this subject has been covered in numerous topics before. I just do not understand the need/desire to start this topic again. Rinse, lather, repeat.

It is difficult to find a new subject who has not be covered on this site.

Yes, often asked, but it's a large question, and we sometimes get part of the picture? Males this time only. Annual physical, so not a specific part exam, and not a dermatology exam. And we are being surveyed on now, not what were your experiences growing up, in sports, etc.

Now, which I have posted, for two years my doctor provides exam shorts, non-disposable, and lists shirt, shoes, socks, pants, underwear: he wants male patients naked underneath the shorts so he can include skin. His nurse tells me about wearing the shorts after the doctor has spoken to me. The doctor does his list after speaking with me. Yes, this is a change back to what we did up until gown 'intervention,' or strip-as-you-go.

Yes, we really have covered this subject many, many times. Sigh. But here we go again, this time males only, physical exam only, and recent experiences only. Right. Instead of typing this all up again, here's exactly what I said in another thread on 05/18/2015. It all correctly describes how I handle my own annual physical exams. I've included my entire post here again since that's what everyone else seems to be doing -- describing things that they've already described in other threads. 😃

Assuming this is a full physical, I'm completely nude from almost the very start to the very end. For example, here's what happened at my most recent physical. The nurse takes me back and goes over history/meds first. When I entered the exam room I noticed that a gown was already out and sitting on the pillow of the exam table. They use cloth gowns and it was individually wrapped in a plastic bag. After doing the preliminary steps she tells me to "take everything off except my boxers, put on the gown so it opens in the front". As she begins to leave she states that she will be right back to do my EKG. I casually tell her that I actually hate gowns, and don't understand the need for them, so I won't be bothering to put one on. She says "that's fine if you're more comfortable that way" -- the sign of a very good nurse as far as I'm concerned.

I strip down to my underwear (white briefs, not boxers as she assumed) and wait for her to return. She comes in, makes some comment about "so you really didn't use the gown" as if she didn't believe me earlier. My reply is "I told you I really don't need the gown" or something like that. She has me lay back as she attaches the leads. I'm now laying there in just my white briefs as she does the EKG.

When she finishes with that and as she is about to leave I hand her the unopened gown, telling her again that I don't think I'll be needing it. She tells me that she'll leave it with me in case I change my mind, or in case my doctor wants me to put it on. I tell her that I will take a paper drape if she has one, saying that I like to use one of those just to cover up while the door opens and closes. She agrees and hands me the drape.

Once she leaves, I stand up and pull off my briefs, putting them on the chair on top of my other clothes. I'm now fully nude and stay that way until the doctor finishes with the entire exam. Taking a seat back on the table, I put the small paper drape over my waist area -- just to cover myself when the door opens and closes.

My doctor arrives and begins by sitting down and going over my meds and history again. As she approaches me to begin the hands-on part of my physical, I set aside the paper drape, saying something about "I don't really need this now that the door is closed". She agrees and begins the exam. When it's time for the traditional male parts of the exam, I stand up in front of her (she's now sitting on a little stool pulling the exam gloves onto both of her hands). Then for the rectal and prostate exam, I get on the exam table on my knees and elbows.

So that's it. Nude from almost the very beginning to the very end. I've done it this way for some time now with a few different doctors and it seems to work out just fine for me. And so far, I haven't run into a doctor that really objects to it.

- For all of my physicals up until the mid 90's (until i was about 30), briefs only, no gown offered.

- From the mid 90's to 2009 - briefs/boxers only, gown offered, not used

- 2010 - Nude with gown draped over my genitals - full genital exam was included

- 2012 - strip as you go, no gown

- 2016 - Gown open in the front - jockstrap underneath

For dermatology semiannual skin exams

1st time - boxers or briefs under gown

2nd time - briefs, no gown

3rd time, boxers, no gown

last several times - jockstrap, no gown

I am asked to completely undress including underwear and put the gown on open in the back.

Starting with a new doctor this week, I guess we'll see how it goes. He's older, so maybe he's old school. One can only hope. I have been disappointed that what used to be an annual full physical examination has turned into a "Well Visit" with BP, blood work and BMI being the primary purpose visit.

Doctors seem much less hands on unless you describe a specific concern. I can't find dermatologists that checks everywhere anymore, one even said 'if you have a concern in the genital area in sure you'll tell me" then why bother with an annual visit to the dermatologist, just tell me to come in when I have a concern. (end of rant)

I'd date old school through the 40's-80's. Assume that doctors were in their 20's in the 40's under training as it was then? You can spot this with JTMac's list, when new school/gowns started to appear.

Interesting that one of the posts below said that he is in his 70s and no longer get a hernia exam. Didn't know that there would ever be a reason not to check for a hernia as those can happen at any age. I understand that at a certain age there might not be a reason to worry about prostate cancer as men will probably die of something else first once they get to be 80. Also, testicular cancer is probably really rare in old age. Some docs may not check for testicular cancer in a 50 year old although my doctors still do.

Well I had my appointment with the new primary doctor, as I mentioned in my post below. And like I thought, he was older and old school and he did a pretty thorough exam with me naked in a gown. This is only the second doctor that ever had me naked in a gown, the first was a dermatologist many years ago.

Here are the details:

The nurse brought me back to the exam room after checking my height and weight while fully clothed in a different room. She asked me to sit up on the exam table, with the crunchy paper, and took my BP and pulse manually. She then told me to wait for the doctor. While waiting I noticed that this exam room, on the second floor of a medical building with stores below, had windows facing the front parking lot. If someone in the parking lot would look up they could see in as the blinds were set to look down at the parking lot.

The doctor arrived and spent quite some time talking, getting to know me and my medical history. He then said, "Lets have a look" and took a sleeveless cloth gown out of a drawer and handed it to me. When he didn't offer any instructions I asked, "What should I remove" and he replied, "Everything off." I thought to myself, finally after all these years, a doctor who's ok with a real exam and not intimidated by nudity.

As I began to remove my clothes, I remembered that the blinds were in a position so that those outside could see me if they looked up. I considered adjusting them but didn't. (it would be easier to see in at night but this was early afternoon- still it was a weird thrill). after I removed all of my clothes, including socks, I was standing there naked and I heard the doctor knock on the door and call, "are you ready?" Unfortunately, I instinctively responded, "One second" quickly grabbing the gown and said, "Ok". He came in as I was pulling it on. Without time for me to adjust the gown and it was still wide open in the back, he said "come sit up on the exam table."

The exam continued with stethoscope to my exposed back while sitting and tapping my back, then lowering the front of the robe to listen to lung sounds from the front. He then put the robe back up on the front and guided me to laying on my back with his hand, without saying to lay back. He slid the gown up above my waist so that my genitals were exposed and then palpated my abdomen. He did not check penis or testicles now, and although I thought he would do it later...he did not (surprising but he was otherwise thorough). he slid his hand down felling my leg to my ankle. He then got gloves, lubed his hand and said, "I have to do a rectal exam" and then motioned for me to roll onto my side. He dove right in, and I mean quickly with force, then said, "Prostate is fine".

After that he asked a few more questions and said I could put my pants on so the nurse could do an EKG. When she was done he came back and we discussed the results and how to mange various health concerns.

I liked this doctor, and I think I will be staying with him for as long as I can. He didn't cover all the details like HEENT but he was caring, knowledgeable, and very comfortable with the patient and his naked body. He even left his hand on my waist while talking. I found him to be real and comforting, not in a rush. Maybe that's the real definition of old school.

Thanks for reading.

The interesting trend i'm seeing from reading what people share in comparison with my only recent exam almost a year ago is that the hernia and genitals seem to be done away with once we've hit a certain age, with the prostate being the sole focus in the privates region.

I remember during an annual exam when I was around my late twenties, the nurse having me sit & watch a video on performing a self testicular exam. It said after getting out of the shower was like the ideal time and so on. Then when it was time for the hernia exam while the doc was examining me later on, he would ask if I wanted my testicles examined. Not being too fond of being touched by a man at the time, i remember a few times i would decline, saying my masseuses take care of that for me. i figured since they were always feeling my balls as i'm sure other guys', someone would've said something if they noticed something not right.

But other times, i took advantage of the offer. i remember once or twice the doc saying i should really do it on my own once a month, but i would reply that i thought it was good to get a professional opinion once in a while. And on one occasion, i mentioned to him that i thought i had felt something at the head of one of them. After he checked for me, he remarked he thought it may have been built up semen that I had felt.

And now I still believe in the importance of getting a professional opinion. A doc may notice something I don't. Classic example is having carcinoma on the back of my hand and not realizing it. I let it go for so long without seeing a dermatologist, not realizing what it truly was. Any docs that asked me about it, i just thought I gotten bruised but forgot how it happened. It was there for so long, the surgeon literally had to cut down to the bone, as I actually saw one of my phalanges when I looked down at the open wound.

So in a way, i don't like that they leave it up to me and my observations in order to look at / check / examine private areas. With the whole gowns thing, it makes me think that the concern has shifted more toward modesty and not having to subject patients to being examined in private areas if possible. Yet, i think it creates a more awkward situation, if you want to be checked just to make sure, to have to ask / request to have your genitals examined, instead of the doctor just going ahead as part of standardized procedure.

Speaking of standardized, it's ironic that I've seen videos of older standardized patients being examined for hernia and genitals (in addition to prostate). Ironic because for us, it seems that that's being done away with as we get older.

JTMac, without saying it, when my young doctor picked up on my comment to him about having to instruct male patients about what 'everything' off means, he noted that he was aware of (surprise? mild resistance?) because the new school pattern of modesty over all had become ingrained, and his male patients expected a superficial exam, not one which included a close look at all the skin from the head down.

Well I had my appointment with the new primary doctor...Here are the details

Thanks for sharing the details jme. It's good that you feel comfortable with this particular doctor. Perhaps in the future you can get him to expand the exam to be a bit more thorough, including a full genital exam, etc. Although I do wonder what your doctor would have done if you were to set the gown aside after he entered the room (sitting on the exam table completely nude). Or if when he asked if you were ready, you told him to come in and he saw you standing there nude and without the gown. If I were in that situation, I would have said something like "well, I guess I don't need the gown now that you've already seen everything", and I would have crumpled it up and just sat on the exam table that way. Perhaps he would have done the genital and hernia exam in that case.

I'm a very strong believer in trying to send those kinds of signals to the doctor that is about to examine me. Let them know that you're not embarrassed or overly modest by completely uncovering yourself. That way they'll know that something as simple as a genital or hernia exam won't upset you.

i don't like that they leave it up to me and my observations in order to look at / check / examine private areas.

Exactly my feeling as well. I'm not a doctor, and no matter how many self-exam videos I watch, I won't ever be one. I'm going to the doctor because they have years of education in the field and decades of experience. I want them to use all of that expertise to diagnose any potential health concerns. I'm not qualified to do that.

Although I do wonder what your doctor would have done if you were to set the gown aside after he entered the room (sitting on the exam table completely nude)..

Thanks for the comments. While it might be fun to think about what would happen if I did what you suggest, in real life, it would be way too awkward not to follow the instructions, I'm sure I would have turned all shades of embarrassed even though I had no problem with him exposing me when he did. I think not following instructions just makes the doctor think I'm a perv. If he walked in suddenly or accidentally that could be different (as I described in an earlier post when I was walked in on while stripping for a sleep study.)

I don't think that it is ever a matter of following instructions if we don't know the basis of them? Somehow each doctor or practice or medical facility comes up with policies, which could come out of number crunching, laundered versus disposable, or someone's perception of what patients want. When you are not comfortable with taking the initiative, not wearing a gown, not having the opening in the back, then, yes, you can't force things. You wouldn't be a perv, but your discomfort would be clear.

Usually for a physical I'm instructed to completely undress and put on a paper robe which I put with the opening in back unless instructed otherwise.

I actually just went to my PCP yesterday for my physical. She has never had me remove a single article of clothing, ever. She goes over my lab work and asks questions. She looks,listens, and pokes my back, chest, belly, and face but that's it. Of course, I'm also fairly healthy with no symptoms of anything.

I actually just went to my PCP yesterday for my physical. She has never had me remove a single article of clothing, ever. She goes over my lab work and asks questions. She looks,listens, and pokes my back, chest, belly, and face but that's it. Of course, I'm also fairly healthy with no symptoms of anything.

I DO have heath issues and have the same experience.

When I see my current PCP, and I have a EKG, I just remove my short and roll up my slacks. For the exam and asked to removed everything except my underpants and socks and I am given a gown. The underpants come down for the hernia and prostate exam, but that's it. If am not scheduled for the prostate exam, the doctor sees me fully clothed.

My formed PCP, whom I saw for almost 30 years until I moved to a different state 15 years ago, had me remove all my clothes and I was covered in a sheet.

With my primary provider, my annual is much like several others. A review of blood work, a listen to heart and lungs, a blood pressure check and every couple of years a digital rectal exam. My clothes stay on except of course for dropping my pants for the digital. I also see a dermatologist on an annual basis as I had malignant melanoma and had surgery back in 1999. For that I remove all my clothes and put on a gown. He takes a look at my entire body looking for abnormalities. Since he is the head of a dermatology department at the local medical school, he will often have a student and/or an intern with him. The majority of the times they have been female.

My internist (male) has always had me take off all of my clothes except for my underwear. I lower my underwear when he needs to examine my genitalia. My internist is in academics and gives a very thorough examination.

My female doctor insists that I be completely nude under a gown. She checks every inch of me from head to toe!