Am I supposed to take my underwear off under a hospital gown?

r/

So, my boyfriend and I were high, talking to a friend about his most recent hospital trip, and my boyfriend complained about how his balls were always cold when wearing a gown. This then led to a back and forth high funny ass conversation with us arguing over whether or not you need to take it off every time. My boyfriend said movies always showed them without, so he thoughts that’s just how it was done. I say that you don’t have to unless you’re told or you’re there for specifically a problem that requires it. Honestly, I’m too scared to try to Google this and what the search results may say. So, am I or my boyfriend the weird one?

Comments

  1. Stillcouldbeworse Avatar

    I was told to leave them on

  2. OutrageousFanny Avatar

    If you have no issues with what you have under your underwear, there’s no reason to take them off

  3. M15tre55W1tch Avatar

    It depends what you’re in the hospital gown for.
    If it’s a scan? Yes, leave them on.
    If you’re going for surgery? Probably take them off – but check with your nurse. Usually you can leave them on until you get into the operating room.

  4. xXFenrir10Xx Avatar

    I was required to remove all clothing before putting on the gown before my last operation that happened a few weeks ago. And as far as I know it is the standard where I live(Germany). I was given a special pair of underpants that were just a net. And those try their best to crawl as far up my ass as they could.

  5. xXFenrir10Xx Avatar

    I was required to remove all clothing before putting on the gown before my last operation that happened a few weeks ago. And as far as I know it is the standard where I live(Germany). I was given a special pair of underpants that were just a net. And those try their best to crawl as far up my ass as they could.

  6. Serebriany Avatar

    They’ll tell you what to do—when they hand you the gown, the person will usually tell you if you need undies off or can keep them on. If they don’t tell you, or you aren’t sure, you can just ask. I always leave my panties on unless I’m asked to do something different. I’m cold enough as it is, even if they bring me a heated blanket every 10 minutes—I’m not taking anything off unless it’s necessary.

  7. academic_dog Avatar

    You can keep all your clothes on under the gown, only time you’d need to be skin naked under the gown is if you’re going for surgery

  8. Drakeytown Avatar

    I play it safe and take everything off before I enter the building.

  9. screamingintothedark Avatar

    I had leg surgery and they tried to make me take my underwear off. I refused and got permission from the surgeon to leave it on. They made me take my bra off. They couldn’t explain to my why they needed access to my genitals for a 3 hour day surgery. Hospitals are fucking weird.

  10. Evrydyguy Avatar

    Multiple surgery haver here: Undies stay on unless the parts that the undies cover is included in the operation.

    Avid movie watcher here: What type of movies is he watching? He pay that close attention to everything or just nudity? I think he’s projecting and being a dork.

  11. Dogtanion284 Avatar

    It depends, I was getting an ultrasound on my testicle and they told me to leave my underwear on when I was getting ready.
    I got into the ultrasound room and they said "why have you got your underwear on, how are we going to do the scan".
    So I had to awkwardly shuffle them off while I was on the table…

  12. iamlepotatoe Avatar

    Only off prior to surgery

  13. Love-and-squalor-08 Avatar

    Think it’s up to you

  14. nowonmai Avatar

    Depends on the surgery. I have had a bunch of eye surgery… they stayed on. Knee and gall bladder surgery, they came off.

  15. fnrsgrl Avatar

    They usually tell you if you need to take everything off. Otherwise, keep on whatever is comfortable for you. The only times I’ve been instructed to remove underwear were abdominal surgery, an mri, and exams in areas typically covered by the underwear.

  16. EmeraldPrime Avatar

    In BC Canada we ask you remove your underwear for several reasons. If any emergency arises we will need to put a catheter in you. Second when we disinfect the surgical site we don’t just do a little spot we do a very large area to prevent any potential contamination from the start to the end when have finished putting on the dressing. When use cautery (electrical ‘stick’ used to stop bleeding) the current is passed from the ‘stick’ throughout your body and is dispersed into a special mat underneath you. We also put another dispersement pad stuck to another large area of your body. The more skin in contact with the mat and pad the less chance there is that you will get a cautery burn. Cautery burns can occur if you have metal on your body. That is why we want all jewelry off including any and all body piercings.
    If you are having your period a nurse will give you ‘party pants’ mesh undies and a pad if you need one. The mesh underwear are easily ripped or cut in case of any emergency. It’s best to not have any tampons in, again in case there is an emergency, we don’t want it left in for extended periods of time. So those are the reasons we will ask you to leave your knickers in the bag with the rest of your clothing prior to surgery.

  17. Scuh Avatar

    I’ve seen most guys wearing boxer shorts. Women can wear underwear if they want to.

    When you’re having an operation, they often give you paper undies. Well, they do in Australian hospitals

  18. Cumulus-Crafts Avatar

    I had a colonoscopy and kept my underwear on under the gown.

    Got to the operating theatre and rolled on my side and one of the nurses told me I had to take my underwear off. I thought they would’ve knocked me out first and taken my underwear off for me. Nah, I had to take off my underwear while lying on my side, which is harder than it looks.

    Woke up to a little ziplock baggie with my pants in it at the end of my bed.

  19. Shoddy-Secretary-712 Avatar

    I have been given mesh underwear when i was supposed to take them off. I have had 3 d&cs, so clearly they need exposure, and I was still given mesh underwear.

    The only time I had no underwear was my c-section. It wasn’t planned, but not an emergency either. I assume, that if it was planned, I would have still been given the mesh underwear.

  20. JasonP27 Avatar

    Just leave them on until you’re told to take them off. Well, I mean you can take them off to shower.

  21. DrFrozenToastie Avatar

    When I had shoulder surgery I was told to take everything but their gown off, but that was an open fracture so they might just have been extra cautious on the sterilisation

  22. mustafa_i_am Avatar

    It depends, do they need access to your privates? If yes then you need to take them off, if not you can keep them on

  23. MothaFcknZargon Avatar

    I had to go for surgery on my right elbow, needed a tendon repair. I kept my underwear on. They put me under and when I woke up they had taken my underwear off for some reason. Still not sure why?

  24. auntanniesalligator Avatar

    I worn gowns with underwear on and off. I’ve never had to guess…the nurse has always specified when handing me the gown.

    It probably depends mostly on the procedure, like no underwear for abdominal surgery or colonoscopy, but underwear on for chest X-ray. Maybe doctor’s preference for edge cases.

  25. vieniaida Avatar

    It depends on the circumstances under which you wear a hospital gown. I had surgery, so I had to remove my underwear. However, I didn’t remove my underwear when I had an X-ray or a scan.

  26. nunxz4 Avatar

    As a dialysis patient who’s been in the hospital time and time again for the past 10 years, no. Unless it is you’re going in for a scan, surgery or any operation where you will be put under anesthesia yes. Other than that no need to take them off if you’re going to be in the room all day. I mean what purpose would it serve you being butt naked underneath a piece of cloth if it serves no purpose in what you are there for. I actually never wear a gown unless I go for an operation but I come right back and put my regular clothes on

  27. AlphaBetaFullRelease Avatar

    I got surgery done on my knee last week and was told to keep my underwear on and take everything else off before putting on the gown. I was also told to keep my underwear on for my MRI a month ago. They’ll tell you what you should do when they hand you the gown and have you change.

  28. jackiebee66 Avatar

    I always wear my underwear. Even if I’m having surgery I ask for a pair of their disposable ones. If the surgery is planned in another area, ie shoulder, I ask the Dr beforehand if I can keep my underwear on for the surgery. I’ve never been told no.

  29. clarkcox3 Avatar

    Is the surgery for something normally covered by underwear? Then yes

    Did the doctor or nurse tell you to? Then yes

    Otherwise, no.

  30. talashrrg Avatar

    Not usually, but sometimes. They’ll tell you if they want it off.

  31. katrose73 Avatar

    For my gal bladder surgery, I did. I was kind of embarrassed because I had my period and don’t use tampons. ( 2004)

    For my knee replacement, they had me keep them on, and gave me an industrial peepad to wear because they do an epidural, and you can’t control your bladder until it wears off. (2024)

  32. Musiqly Avatar

    I usually keep it on unless I’m at a gynecologist cuz well… ya know

  33. demonfoo Avatar

    I’m a guy, but generally when I have to put on a hospital gown (like when I had my gallbladder out a few months back), they are pretty clear about that everything must come off, so… 🤷‍♂️

  34. thunderthighlasagna Avatar

    You can just ask but during my time in the hospital I wore pajama pants under my gown

    The only time it mattered was when they sent me for my MRI, I had to wear nothing under the gown. They let me know.

  35. Basic_Quantity_9430 Avatar

    You can choose to keep them on. I recently had surprise surgery (really healthy, no bad signs, then could not walk). I wore a combination of adult diapers and literal shit pads (pads they put down under you to protect the sheet) and a special device that allowed my to pee while in bed (I was pretty much immobile). The Nurses don’t really seem to care, they dealt with whatever patient situation that was before them.

  36. shoulda-known-better Avatar

    For a procedure not including the bum or genitals the sure keep your undies or boxers on!

    For procedures that go there and for surgeries no lose your undies! For surgeries not in the area you still need sterile dress but are usually provided some type of underwear…. So no to your undies

  37. dankstreetboys Avatar

    Dependent. Any kind of surgery: We ask you take off clothes/jewelry/glasses/etc. nothing but the gown.

    If you’re in for long term IV antibiotics: Wear whatever you want, just keep your IV exposed and don’t wear anything that will catch it and pull it out (long sleeve shirt/hoodie/etc.)

    Also depends on the hospital policies too though, I believe.

  38. Farfignugen42 Avatar

    It depends on what you are there for. You can just ask the nurse who gives it to you.

    When I went in for foot surgery, they told me I could keep my underwear on. When I went in for a colonoscopy, unsurprisingly they said it all had to come off.

  39. Roseora Avatar

    Lol ok, so when I went in for surgery a while back I asked, since I wanted to keep as much of my own clothing on as possible. I was allowed my underpants. Only my underpants.

    But ofc this depends on what surgery or procedure you’re having….

    Although most hospitals have the heating at 20000 degrees, so I don’t get how he was cold.

  40. LouiseWalterWinnie Avatar

    I broke my ankle a few years go and was immediately admitted for surgery – I don’t remember much from before the surgery but I had my period and they had me free bleeding during my recovery! So I had to take my undies off, evidentially.

  41. taniamorse85 Avatar

    In my experience (~3 dozen surgeries and countless other procedures/tests), they’ll let you know whether you can keep them on or need to take them off. Usually, you’ll need to take them off for surgery or certain tests.

  42. Environmental_Ad5942 Avatar

    Just ask your nurse dude