I didn’t know what subreddit to put this under😭 I 16(F) was talking to my best friend 19(F) about physicals at the doctor. She mentioned something about having to go in for a physical for her sub job and i said “i hate physicals so much, id much rather get shots then do that” and she said she hates shots and i asked what all they did in her physical since she’s an adult now, and she said the normal routine at the doctors office but didn’t say anything about having to pull your pants down and the doctor look around up there (i have no idea how to word it sorry🥲) so i said somthing about it and she said “what are you taking about?” and i was like “um idk what are you talking about?” but then i just said “have you never had to be checked down there?” and she said “um no i’ve only had to take my pants off to put a gown on but have never had to do that” and i just said “lucky. i had a man as my doctor when i was little and he creeped me out and every time i went to him he always had to check” then she said “i don’t think that’s normal” then i started thinking i’ve never had to be checked down there since i switched doctors (i begged my mom to switch my doctor to a woman) and she only pulled my pants down slightly to look at my hip bones. i also had a male doctor again once and he never checked down there ethier, he only asked me if i had a period and at the time i did not.
also for reference the friend mentioned played 3 sports in highschool so she had many sports physicals while i have never played a sport my whole life and am online schooled at the moment.
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I’m really sorry you felt creeped out by that one doctor!! I (32F) remember the pediatrician checking my genitals when I was very young but once I hit puberty she stopped. My current doctor doesn’t check down there either. I guess as an adult you’re supposed to go to a gynecologist/urologist for that area.
So it’s definitely not ABnormal for a pediatrician to look down there, but you should always have had a third party in the room with you (either a parent or nurse/medical assistant or both.)
My (F) female pediatrician did and I always hated it too.
They do for little kids. I’m assuming they are checking for normal development but also for signs of abuse. Once you turn eighteen, you go to either a family practitioner or gynecologist. The gyno should check under the hood every so often. The gp will check it if you have a specific complaint. This has been my experience.
It’s normal, especially since minor girls don’t usually go to a gyno yet and typically aren’t honest with their parents about their sexual activity. Good to check for any abuse or STD’s that minors may be too afraid to talk about. If you’re uncomfortable though, you can absolutely tell them you don’t want to do it. It’s your body.
Yes it’s regular for them to check there, it’s a body part just like any other and needs to be checked for abnormalities.
That being said, you are legally allowed to deny anything you want. Just say sorry I have no concerns and would prefer to not be checked there, and they’ll just move on.
No. My daughter is 20 and she has never had a doctor check her genitals the way you are describing.