What does your doctor say just before and during your rectal exam?

My PMD, a Family Medicine doc, about 60, has always said “Okay, time for your favorite exam.”

Eric

It's probably a good thing I never became a doctor because during the rectal exam, as a joke I probably would have said something like “Look ma, no hands”. A non Ziti like patient might not find that humorous 😬

No hands? What? Isn’t the doc’s hand inserted in your butt? Enlighten?

Thanks, Eric

My doctor always makes the announcement that he has to do a rectal exam so tells me to drop my pants and bend over the table. He's not gentle at all and drives his finger all the way up as i tell him easy doc and usually l let out a big moan as he turns his finger all the way around in my rectum. I think he get's off on not being gentle. His assistant is a very good looking man and every time i see him i only hope he would do the rectal exam but haven't been that lucky yet.

Here we go, just relax…

For a recent exam he actually said, ok, drop the pants, grab the table, and assume the position.

Last doc said, “turn around, let’s get this over with for both of us.“

Simple. Pelvic exam is near complete. This is the final part. Recto vaginal exam followed by just a rectal exam. I’m already in the stirrups. He instructs me to bear down to make insertion of his finger easier on both of us.

I've been going to the same primary care physician since 1996 (unfortunately she's retiring in a couple weeks). I have had an annual physical with her, almost always including a genital exam and a rectal exam. She has always strongly encouraged me to have the annual physicals. It's become very much a matter of routine. She allots 30 minutes of her time for the physical. Here's how it goes:

I have lab work done in advance of the appointment. On being called from the waiting room by the medical assistant, the assistant takes my height, weight, blood pressure, and checks my vision. She then updates my chart regarding my meds and family history and whether there is anything in particular to discuss with the doctor. She also does the EKG. The assistant then tells me to strip to my underpants and sit on the table to wait for the doc. Sometimes she also gives me a drape, if there is going to be a student present for the exam. That happens maybe about 25% of the time. But no drape if it's just the doc and me.

The doc then comes in. After a little small talk, we discuss whatever might be ailing me, if anything (but there's usually something to discuss even if minor). Then the doc examines my head and neck, then heart and lungs, as well as skin on my upper body. She then has me lie down, so that she can palpate my abdomen and my femoral pulses (the ones in the groin) and tibial pulse (ankle pulse). She also checks my nail beds while I'm lying down.

Next she dons her gloves, gets the tube of lube, and the card for the fecal occult blood test. I'm still lying on the table, but I know what's coming. So without prompting I take down my underwear to my knees. She examines my testicles but never my penis. She then tells me to roll over on my left side and draw my legs up. She then proceeds with the rectal exam.

While lying down, she's probably also examining the skin on my lower body, although she never makes a big deal of it. However, one time she recommended having a mole removed from my leg, which I subsequently did have done.

I then pull up my underpants and sit up. We then discuss the findings, usually emphasizing the lab work and any needed follow up. She says, “see you in six months”, and I say “thank you, bye”. And that's that. I'll miss my doc.

My doctor usually does the genital exam and when he’s done with that will say- “ok- I have to poke ya with a finger in the behind” “go ahead and turn around and lean on the table.”

She says stand facing the table, feet spread and bend over with your elbows on the table.

I don't like to admit this but I enjoy getting a rectal exam and do not mind having an enema . Like the nozzle or someone's finger in my rear end. During a wellness visit the nurse asked me if I had a rectal exam recently. No ! but I felt I needed one. She then recommended that I request a TRUS and to make sure you have an enema prior to the exam. I then blushed so badly my face was burning

When I first got out of nursing school 40 years ago there wasn’t any female doctors at my hospital but the male doctors they went by themselves to examine a male! If they were going to examine a woman we had to take them to the exam room that had stirrups and we had to drape their legs and part of the sheet covering the privates up! The doctor came in after we had them all covered up and talked to them and he had gloves everything ready before he lifted that part of the sheet! They never said spread your legs as far as you can! They examined and left the room and went to the lady’s room after she got back to her private room!

I have seen doctors especially old women that needed an examination raise the bed, we would hold her over on her side and try to hold one leg up and he would go in from the back direction! We’ve put catheters in like that when little old ladies were contracted! You can always figure something out to get it done!

My female physician tells me to remove my underwear and to lie back on the table. She then feels around my abdomen and pelvic area She then tells me to spread my legs and puts a pillow type wedge under my lower back. She then says whe is going to get gloves to do an rectal exam. She returns and tells me to relax and says, “it won’t be bad and you will be glad I have small fingers”. she then spread my cheeks, advised I have a fissure, and then probed the anal area very thoroughly!

@Eyeman Did she explain her treatment plan for the fissure?

Turn around put elbows on table. Spread your feet apart. You will feel a little bit of pressure back there. Here we go.

The Dr I have now just tells me he is going to check my prostate to roll on to my left side and doesn't say anything else just starts by spreading my cheeks and looking then l can see him as he lubes his finger. then I can feel his finger touch me and he just pushes it in twists it around and is done then tells me I can get dressed.If I ask how my prostate is he will tell me otherwise he doesn't say much but see you next year I have had other doctors that were a little bit more informative as they went which I like better.