Full physical exam????

Question

ok, so im 13 years old, and a girl and i had to see the doctor about something a few weeks ago and they said soon i would have to come in for a full physical exam. and i know this probably sounds really stupid but i heard u have to take off ur clothes and stuff so they can check "those areas" and im the kind of person where that makes me COMPLETELY UNCOMFORTABLE, i dont care if i know u, or ur a doctor, or whatever no matter who it is i HATE IT, and even if ur a doctor just checking to see if theres something wrong with me there it wouldnt matter to me. is there any way to avoid them doing that? do i have ANY say in it? please help, thanks

Answer 1

Leah, you don't have to be uncomfortable at all.  Try to relax.  I know it's not the most pleasant experience but it's all for your well being.  I'll try to explain what will happen and what generally goes on during a full physical.  Before going in, make sure you empty your bladder so you can be more comfortable during the exam.  When the nurse calls you in from the waiting room, she will take you to the scale.  She'll ask you to take your shoes off and step up on the scale so she can get your weight and height.  You can leave your socks for the time being.  After your height and weight check, you can put your shoes back on.  The nurse will take you to the bathroom and give you a plastic cup where you will give a urine sample.  After that, the nurse will take you in the exam room.  You will sit on the exam table and the nurse will take your temperature and blood pressure.  She will ask some questions about your overall health.  After that, she will give you a paper gown with a plastic strap tie.  You will be asked to get undressed.  You will have to take off your shirt, your pants, your shoes, your socks, your bra and panties.  You will put the paper gown on with the opening in the back.  The doctor will come in and ask you some questions about your health.  He will then take off your paper gown and start examining you.  He will first look into your mouth, your eyes, ears, and inside your nose.  He will feel your neck for any bumps.  He will then listen to your heart and lungs by placing a stethoscope on your back and chest area and have breath in and out.  He will then examine your underarms and b*****s to check for lumps and normal development.  He will then tap on your knees with a little rubber hammer to check your reflexes.  You will then be asked to lie down and the doctor will press down on your tummy and abdominal area to make sure everything feels normal.  He will then check your ankles and feet.  He will look in between your toes to make sure you don't have any infections and check that your feet are developing correctly.  After, he will put your feet in footrests at the bottom of the exam table and ask you to move your bottom to the end of the table.  He will begin by looking at the outside of your v****a and r****m.  He will then place a tool called a speculum inside your v****a which holds it open.  He will take a long cotton swab and move it around inside your v****a.  He will remove the swab and rub it on a glass slide and send it to a lab for testing for abnormal cells.  After, he will remove the speculum from your v****a.  He will then put two of his fingers into your v****a and feel around for abnormalities and cysts.  He will then put one finger into your r****m and feel inside for any lumps or lesions.  After, he will let you put your gown back on and a nurse will come in to draw some blood to do some basic blood tests.  After, you will be asked to get dressed again, the doctor will talk to you, and that will be the end of your physical.  It will take about an hour for the whole thing.  Just relax.  

Answer 2

Your first female exam is a little nerve wracking, but it is to your benefit! Sooner or later you will have to get used to it and its not that bad. If you feel uncomfortable, say so, a good doctor listens to his or her patients. Relax, take a deep breath, and its over.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Talk to your doctor before you take off all your clothes and explain your feelings.