Exposure during breast exam

Yes, I wondered about that myself as I was sitting there watching. I wonder if the doctor did a less thorough exam because I was in the room.

It seems like more and more these days cursory quickie exams are becoming commonplace. Maybe since it was a prenatal exam a more thorough exam wasn't necessary. Perhaps she had an annual exam in the months prior to the prenatal exam. But when a doctor won't even examine you properly during a complete physical, what do they hope to find? Five second breast and pelvic palpation isn't likely to detect much except advanced disease. Seeing or feeling something that's relatively small can mean something was caught early when it is more treatable and long term survival rates are much higher. Neither my wife nor I would keep seeing a doctor that only gave us such brief exams. And insurance companies that pay for preventive exams pay a hefty sum for it. At least our insurance companies (we have separate plans from our employers) get their money's worth. When we have our physicals, we have thorough health histories taken, then we are thoroughly examined from head to toe, with all body parts and skin checked. The way it should be.

This is only my opinion, I know I'm no expert. Now I'll get off my soapbox!

It seems like more and more these days cursory quickie exams are becoming commonplace. Maybe since it was a prenatal exam a more thorough exam wasn't necessary. Perhaps she had an annual exam in the months prior to the prenatal exam. But when a doctor won't even examine you properly during a complete physical, what do they hope to find?

Totally agree. I hope a breast exam during a routine physical was more detailed than what my wife got that morning. But this was 18+ years ago so I have no way of knowing if she had recently had a more thorough breast exam or what. The doctor did do a detailed pelvic exam as well as a transvaginal ultrasound during that visit so she definitely wasn't afraid of looking.

... so I have no way of knowing if she had recently had a more thorough breast exam or what.

Sure you do. You can ask her. She's your wife, after all.

The doctor, a really cute female, reached in from the side and checked each breast that way. There was no exposure. I didn't see anything except her hand sliding into my wife's drape.

Sounds like she was more concerned about something not feeling right, and not so concerned about detecting anything visually wrong. In which case, she may have thought either of you would have said something if something didn't appear right. Perhaps the doc thought she was saving your wife being physically examined while exposed in front of another party, even though you are her husband. And with patients' gowns worn like smocks, perhaps that's how she typically examines breasts.

Just like not all skin docs examine genitals when performing skin exams, some docs may not visually look at breasts, and instead rely on feel alone for an assessment.

Sure you do. You can ask her. She's your wife, after all.

Unfortunately, my wife isn't remotely interested in medical fetish. So even if there was a remote chance of her remembering when she went in for her annual pelvic/breast exam in 1999, she probably wouldn't want to talk about it.

I was just thinking you could have asked out of curiosity. That she doesn't have to have a medical fetish to discuss it. Although if the most recent one was about 20 years ago, then you're right, she probably wouldn't recall it.

I was just thinking you could have asked out of curiosity. That she doesn't have to have a medical fetish to discuss it. Although if the most recent one was about 20 years ago, then you're right, she probably wouldn't recall it.

This exam I sat in on was 18 years ago, when she was pregnant with our first child. I'm sure she's had more detailed breast exams (and mammograms) since then.

My point was, it would be pretty awkward for me to bring up a breast exam from that long ago.

My doctor exposes one at a time during the exam, although I am wearing a very flimsy paper vest that doesn’t cover much in the first place. Before he starts the exam he holds both sides of the top open and looks for a moment, but then only uncovers the breast being examined.

The only breast exam I have had was a part of quick university physical in a temporary setup in our college. We were not given gowns. We were in our street clothes. When I entered the room for gyn exam, I was told to strip to waist for the breast exam.

I've had exams where I felt totally exposed for the breast exam and others not so much. My 1st exam the female NP ob/gyn had me put the cloth gown with the opening in the front for total access to breasts. She uncovered both breasts at the same time. Since relocating my male ob/gyn exposes one breast at a time and with very little exposure.

I had a female NP at the campus clinic when I was in college who performed my breast exam during my well-woman each year. I've had a male ob-gyn since then (for the past 13 years). At all exams, the NP and ob-gyn had me lower the gown, exposing my breasts. I put my hands on my hips, then above my head, so they can get a visual inspection of my breasts. I then lie back, arms over my head, for the actual breast exam. Both breast are exposed fully at the same time for the duration of the exam.

Many of my friends tell me they just get a quick exam, with no visual inspection at all, during their annuals. However, I have lumpy/cystic breasts, so I'm glad my practitioners have always given mine the extra attention and time.

My doctor always has me lower the gown to my waist.

I've only had one breast exam and it was from a play doctor and I was fully nude.

I've only had one breast exam and it was from a play doctor and I was fully nude.

Sub, welcome to Zity !

So I take it you don't have annual physicals then ?

When I perform breast exam it's usually part of a complete physical exam, so patient is completely nude or wearing only panties

My gown is always lowered to my waist to where my breasts are completely exposed and my doctor will examine me like that with my hands on my lap or behind my head.

Think purely depends on doctor. I have had both breasts exposed at times then others one at a time.

My current gynecologist uses paper exam vests. He sort of tucks the front behind my back during the seated part of my breast exams, so I am fully exposed. During the supine part of the exam, he tries to uncover only the breast that he's examining, but well, you know, gravity and larger breasts being what they are, things kind of move around on their own and I end up being fully exposed.

Our internist uses cloth gowns, open in back, so both of my breasts are fully exposed during both the seated and supine parts of the exam, as well as for my cardiac and anterior respiratory exams.

My doctor, like many I suspect in the UK does not bother with gowns, so he simply asks me to strip to the waist.

I love that, ‘strip to the waist please,’ from your british doctors.

my wife's doctors have always dropped the gown to her waist. And as several have explained, they do a visual inspection and ask her to push on her waist while they look, and then put her hands over her head while they look some more. I love it. several, but not all, also had her put her arms out in front, one described it as, ‘pretend you are superman.’ then either put her hands on his shoulder or on his outstretched arm. so he can pull her forward but she will not fall off the table. that way they can visualize the breasts while hanging down

but one doctor, years ago, didnt want to let me stay for the exam. my wife had to argue with him to get him to acquiesce. and he was clearly not happy about it. throughout the exam he did his best to stay between me and her so i couldnt see what was going on. He did the breast exam by just putting his hands under the paper cape. A very shoddy way of doing a breast exam.

but one doctor, years ago, didnt want to let me stay for the exam. my wife had to argue with him to get him to acquiesce. and he was clearly not happy about it.

@XposeHer Very odd. The doctor didn't want you to see/watch him examining your wife's breasts. Makes you wonder if a previous experience with someone has made him uncomfortable touching a patient in front of a spouse. Unless he senses something about you, not that he knows your username on here (wink) or anything.

In the uk you are topless from the start as we do not normally have gowns.

As a breast examination should include a visual inspection including a comparison of both breasts they should ideally both be exposed.

Jtmac, i think he was just old school. doctors were just not used to a husband wanting to stay. now it is common

I wasn't welcome at either of my son's births. The doctor didn't want me in there.

I wasn't welcome at either of my son's births. The doctor didn't want me in there.

That sucks. I got to cut the cord. I should have videotaped it, although back then, I still had a full size VHS cam. The only time I was asked to leave the room was when they administered the spinal epidural.

I have one breast exposed at a time. They go back behind the gown when my doctor is done with them.

When I go to see a breast surgeon, I lift my Tshirt up and undo bra to expose breasts completely.

If you're going in for a breast exam why do you bother wearing a bra anyway?

As a play doctor, I don’t know why but I find it 10X hotter when only one breast is exposed at a time during during the breast exam. I’ve thought about quite a bit and cannot, for the life of me figure out why!

I wasn't welcome at either of my son's births. The doctor didn't want me in there.

That is a shame - being present during birth is an incredible experience. I was present for all three of my son's births. And contrary to what my wife said, It wasn't painful at all!