State of dress or undress for male physical exam

These days, I don't even remove my shirt, weighed fully clothed, whatever value that is, BP measured over shirt, Doc never sees any part of my body, looks in eyes, ears mouth, I give some blood for blood work, that constitutes an annual check up these days, there is clearly not the time to do anything else, with a copay of $20 and then I get billed an extra $100-$145 on top of that.

These days, I don't even remove my shirt, weighed fully clothed, whatever value that is, BP measured over shirt, Doc never sees any part of my body, looks in eyes, ears mouth, I give some blood for blood work, that constitutes an annual check up these days, there is clearly not the time to do anything else, with a copay of $20 and then I get billed an extra $100-$145 on top of that.

Other than the money part, that's the way it is for me as well, except for the dermatologist.

For my annual physical, I am always asked to take off everything and put on a gown. For other times it will vary from no undressing to just dropping my pants and underwear.

For my annual physical, I am always asked to take off everything and put on a gown. For other times it will vary from no undressing to just dropping my pants and underwear.

I wish, not only for the thrill, but more so for a true, complete physical exam that can extend my life.

From high school through college I saw a male doctor for all my exams and sport physicals. I would always keep all my clothes on for most of the exam. At the end he would sit on his stool and ask me to drop my drawers. I pulled my jeans down to my knees then my boxers. I'd then lift up my t shirt for him to give me a quick hernia exam. I'd pull them up afterwards and the exam was over.

Now I see a female doctor at a new practice. At the beginning of the exam the nurse has me undress and change into a paper gown. She says to keep my underwear on. Throughout the exam the gown tears and starts to fall off. At the end of the exam when it's time for the genital part, I took off the gown because it was falling off anyway. The doctor just laughed and said those paper gowns never stay on. Standing there in my boxers, she then had me pull down my boxers for a quick hernia and testicular exam. Afterward, I just sat on the exam table in my boxers as she finished the exam.

Paper gowns - useless and, for me, actually increases anxiety as it refuses to stay in place and tears.

Paper gowns - useless and, for me, actually increases anxiety as it refuses to stay in place and tears.

I absolutely agree. There's just something about wearing a gown that makes me more apprehensive during the exam. All of the peeking and poking from the doctor while they try (and usually fail) to protect my modesty just adds to my nervousness and anxiety level. I honestly feel more relaxed and at-ease without the gown. That's why now I very rarely use one. And when I do, it's usually when I'm seeing a new doctor for the very first time. After that, it's no gown for me.

I'm now on a 3 month schedule with my dermatologist. I'll need to broach the subject with her. She can't possibly do a really complete skin exam while adjusting the gown.

I have the same issue with massage. I don't mind (and actually prefer) undraped massage. I get anxious when it feels like the sheet is slipping.

My last two physicals have been with different doctors. One had me remain in my clothes. The other had me put a gown on, but I could have stayed in my clothes as the exam itself was minimal. Both tended to focus more on what the lab results were.

Others have commented about doctors being brief in their exams and telling patients to let them know if they ever find anything wrong. I prefer a hands on doctor which seems to be a thing of the past. It was during a physical that it was discovered that I had a hernia which led to surgery. It has been several years since I have had to turn my head and cough. I know what my balls feel like, and I can check them.. I do not know what other men's testicles feel like. So what may be normal to me may in reality be abnormal if checked by a physician. I definitely can not check my prostate. If I did feel one I would not know if it was normal or not.

I'm now on a 3 month schedule with my dermatologist. I'll need to broach the subject with her.

With my dermatologist with whole i've been on a 6 month schedule for 2 years, after the 1st exam, i just didn't put the provided gown on. I just ignore whatever the assistant tells me.

In your case, it should be even easier. Your derm doc examines your body 4 times a year. She's probably near close to having memorized all the little details of your skin with their respective longitude & latitude on your body. I'd just give it a shot to not even put the gown on. If she comes in & sees you haven't put it on, chances are she won't say anything, unless you're completely nude. If you don't want to bother with the gown, I'd say just keep your underwear on. If she comes in & gets upset & says anything, you can always put it on at that point. (But what's the point ? She knows very well what you look like by now anyway)

Others have commented about doctors being brief in their exams and telling patients to let them know if they ever find anything wrong. I prefer a hands on doctor which seems to be a thing of the past. It was during a physical that it was discovered that I had a hernia which led to surgery. It has been several years since I have had to turn my head and cough. I know what my balls feel like, and I can check them.. I do not know what other men's testicles feel like. So what may be normal to me may in reality be abnormal if checked by a physician.

I share the exact same sentiment. I didn't even know I had skin cancer on my hand for several years until I saw a dermatologist who took a biopsy of it. So in terms of my current doc neglecting to check for hernia or testicular, I could be missing something I'm not even aware of. Chances are if there were a problem, i'd probably know it...., but not necessarily.

I'm beginning to think that the best patient response to questions about the patient's own observations is "I don't think so / not that i know of, but i'm not sure." That might open the door to them offering to check stuff that used to be checked routine but no longer is. To have to specifically make a request for them to check genital / hernia, it's an awkward point that lies somewhere on the spectrum between embarrassing to bring up if you don't notice anything specific to not wanting to come off as a pervert.

I would be more comfortable if they at least made an offer to check, to give me an opportunity to accept (or perhaps decline), but better yet, if they just went ahead & did it as used to be done routinely.

If it's not part of their practice to do it, then I'd almost rather find another doc whose practice is to do it routinely or at least offer, vs having to proactively request "Hey can you check...?"

We have zity, and so we have insight into what 'our crowd' feels about physical exams, the state of dress or undress. For so many doctors coming out of med school, they likely hear what they are told, by instructor, who repeat what they are told by administrators, without this 'other side' arguing that 'we' don't feel bothered by undressing, in fact we would prefer it over attempts at 'modesty' someone has assumed that 'we' want.

.... in fact we would prefer it over attempts at 'modesty' someone has assumed that 'we' want.

Modesty (gowns for male physicals in particular) & political correctness seem to have emerged around the same time, as if one were part of the other. And now i think society has begun to see the rising discord many folks have with political correctness. With that, it may start to become more accepted or understood that especially with older "old school" male patients (because i can't speak for millennials), that physicals sans gowns may sometimes be the patients' preferred way to go.

it may start to become more accepted or understood that especially with older "old school" male patients, that physicals sans gowns may sometimes be the patients' preferred way to go.

I like to think that I'm still the primary consumer when it comes to any type of medical treatment/exam/procedure. And I realize that the insurance companies have a great deal of influence on what most doctors in this country will or won't do (mostly based on their contracted schedule of payments for each procedure). That means that I don't have as many options available to me that I might have had just a few years ago. But at the end of the day, I still feel that if I'm not receiving the type of care that I want from a doctor, I'll walk! I'll just find a different doctor. And if I don't like that one, I'll look for a 3rd, or 4th... And I'll keep going until I find one of the few that are left that actually still do things the way I'd like them done, and that I feel are competent to treat me.

And I realize that the insurance companies have a great deal of influence on what most doctors in this country will or won't do (mostly based on their contracted schedule of payments for each procedure). That means that I don't have as many options available to me that I might have had just a few years ago.

I want to believe, in my heart of hearts, it's not so much about the insurance companies' stipulations as it is in the wave of modesty & concerns about potential claims of sexual harassment &/or impropriety that docs have cut back on hernia & genital checks. I tend to think they think they are trying to save on not only any risk of accusation, but also putting a patient through an awkward, rather-it-not-have-to-be-done procedure that comes up in almost all cases as clean / no worries.

Because if it is all about insurance companies not wanting to assume coverage for a hernia or genital check that takes how many seconds, that's really a bad way to go about dealing with patient health & well being.

Now i did read a recent post by an older gentleman who claimed he couldn't be covered on regular physicals by his insurance provider, unless he mentioned something specific.

Jimmy, I do tend to think you're right when you allude to this being about the insurance companies. I just hate to think that that's where the predominant control over the situation is.

Either just in boxer shorts...with gown on and boxer shorts, or gown on and nothing under it.

I want to believe, in my heart of hearts, it's not so much about the insurance companies' stipulations as it is in the wave of modesty & concerns about potential claims of sexual harassment &/or impropriety that docs have cut back on hernia & genital checks. I tend to think they think they are trying to save on not only any risk of accusation, but also putting a patient through an awkward, rather-it-not-have-to-be-done procedure that comes up in almost all cases as clean / no worries.

Because if it is all about insurance companies not wanting to assume coverage for a hernia or genital check that takes how many seconds, that's really a bad way to go about dealing with patient health & well being.

Now i did read a recent post by an older gentleman who claimed he couldn't be covered on regular physicals by his insurance provider, unless he mentioned something specific.

Jimmy, I do tend to think you're right when you allude to this being about the insurance companies. I just hate to think that that's where the predominant control over the situation is.

I'd be curious to find out just how much say, if any, the insurance companies have in determining the components of a yearly physical or health screening. I always thought that insurance companies provide basic descriptions of services but that it was up to doctors to determine how they treat the patient.

I admit I'm ignorant about the insurance process but that's because I'm an infrequent user of the system. I'm sure my insurance company loves me. I had a single PCP visit in 2016 which was my yearly physical and 2 visits to the dermatologist. No prescriptions and no medical equipment required. Maybe if I went to the doctor more I'd have a better sense of the insurance companies' role in determining my level of care.

I'd be curious to find out just how much say, if any, the insurance companies have in determining the components of a yearly physical or health screening.

So i made a beat-around-the-bush phone call to my insurance carrier last year, prior to my physical, trying to feel out what's covered and not covered. this website was a big influence in making that call, since i had read things about vision screening possibly being a separate coverage, and also given what i had typically been used to, but aware of what seemed to have been cut back.

Needless to say, whomever i spoke with over the phone offered no real details as to what was covered and not covered. So your:

thought that insurance companies provide basic descriptions of services but that it was up to doctors to determine how they treat the patient.

seems like it's the way they go..........

I believe that the state of undress with my doctor comes from his directive, and the staff, knowing his preferences, passes them along to at least male patients. I can assume that he has made the decision to look carefully at skin, hence his preferences. I know that the practice alots sufficient time for head to toe exams.

I am instructed to remove everything except my undershorts, and I can leave my socks on if I want. I am given an exam gown by the nurse before she leaves and she tells me I can wear it if I want, but I never wear it. When the PA that examines me comes into the exam room, I am seated at the end of the exam table in my shiny Calvin Klein microfiber boxer briefs and no show ankle socks, ready to be thoroughly examined by her!

The office I used to go to always had me strip down to underwear and socks, then underwear got slid down for testicle/hernia check. Never had a rectal there. The office I use now, after moving, always has me remove everything, then wear a gown open in back and a drape for my lap. I've been seen by 2 different NP's there. They both just move the gown around as needed, then the testicle/hernia exam is done with me standing, holding the gown up to expose the area.

I'm asked by the medical assistant to completely undress and put on the gown with the opening in the back.

Well I had my annual physical yesterday. I was told to take off everything and put on a paper gown and a drape over my legs. The gown was falling off my shoulders and got pulled down for chest exam. For the genital exam the drape was pulled down. For the rectal I bent over the table and was completely exposed on my backside.

Well I had my annual physical yesterday. I was told to take off everything and put on a paper gown and a drape over my legs. The gown was falling off my shoulders and got pulled down for chest exam. For the genital exam the drape was pulled down. For the rectal I bent over the table and was completely exposed on my backside.

I wonder what the purpose of using both a gown and a drape was? Was your gown open to the front? My experience with a gown at my last physical was the same as yours - constantly falling off my shoulders. I would have hated to be stuck messing with 2 coverings.

I wonder what the purpose of using both a gown and a drape was? Was your gown open to the front? My experience with a gown at my last physical was the same as yours - constantly falling off my shoulders. I would have hated to be stuck messing with 2 coverings.

For the supine abdominal exam, the sheet covers the genitals and legs while the gown is pulled up to just below the breasts.

I wonder what the purpose of using both a gown and a drape was? Was your gown open to the front?

For Monday's colonoscopy, i was given a gown with the opening in the back. I forget how long the gown was, but went I went to lie down, the nurse gave me a white blanket to use as a drape for my mid section. Could have been for any of multiple reasons, from minimizing nudity so i wouldn't gross out the 3 women, to standard procedure for maintenance of patient modesty to helping the undressed patient keep warm. The temperature in the place was nice & cool. I remember it being warmer for previous colonoscopies, though the locations have changed the past 2 times with the same doc. (cooler is better for me)

Last friday i had a physical with my new female physician/resident Dr and i had not had a physical done in a couple years and i found it very odd and strange she did not have me change out of my clothes or shoes for any part of the exam.

She did the physical with my still clothed she did the eyes ears lymph nodes listend to my hear and lungs had me lay back and she briefly did a abdominal exam had me sit back up did reflexes and basically was it. She did not even do or ask me about my penis or testicles or if i ever had any hernias or anything wrong down there. I found that strange i am a 41 year old man so she should have asked me about down there.

She is a new dr and i could tell she was nervous cause she was having problems accessing my file on the computer and she didnt know how to operate the elrctric exam table or where anything was in the exam room. I was hoping they would have me undress to a gown and do a testicular exam at least on me but no so i was kinda disappointed at my last exam with my new Dr.

Cdalberth30, and others who might have posted something similar, now would be the time, having expressed frustration with the doctor, to consider options, rather than finding yourself, in a year, hoping that things would have improved from the year before. Yes, there will be some who accept an examination through clothing, but not everyone. Skin alone is more or less completely missed by the primary doctor.

The furthest I have had to undress at my family Dr. is just taking off my shirt for an EKG. At my dermatologist I have to remove all of my clothes when I see her in September for my full skin exam. When I saw her in December I was told I could leave my underwear on if I wanted to but I opted to take them off but I was given a gown.

Undress to my boxers. Put on the gown. Completely naked when she checks my testicles