[What's normal at physicals?]

5 minutes ago, amyx4 said:

Yes, boy privates are checked a physicals.

One time something was found that needed to be rechecked by a urologist. It was something the teen was completely unaware of and I definitely would not have noticed/seen/observed. 

Are you a doctor? What was the issue?

[What's normal at physicals?]

On 11/19/2019 at 8:33 PM, katilac said:

I think her biggest error was not making it clear to dd that she should walk down the hall or to the bathroom or breakroom. I would gently explain to dd that her brother's medical exam is private and she shouldn't ask questions about what happened when she wasn't there. 

That's definitely an age when I would be separating them for physicals. You can still bring them on the same day, but they are certainly old enough to stay in the waiting room while the sibling has their appointment. It's also an age when you can expect the doctor to start asking you to step out, so don't be surprised if that happens. They want to make sure the kids don't have questions they're embarrassed to ask in front of their parents. 

She was mostly just curious about why he needed a private exam and she didn't. The only other question she had was what do "foreskin" and "uncircumcised" mean. Thankfully, she waited until her and I were alone to ask me that one 😂.

[What's normal at physicals?]

On 11/19/2019 at 6:39 PM, QueenCat said:

It's completely normal for the dr. to examine the male body parts at this age.

That's reassuring.

[What's normal at physicals?]

3 minutes ago, Ktgrok said:

Generally my thought was the have the child do it themselves, or ask if it can, if there is pain, etc. My understanding is that a non retracting foreskin with no pain is not actually a medical problem, although steroids may be warranted. I have a feeling hygiene is probably just a rote thing they say or she may not even know what she was talking about - there is supposed to be some smegma, just like there is supposed to be discharge with girls. Although maybe she was clarifying not to use soap under the foreskin, or something like that. 

 

She just told him he needed to make sure he was keeping it pulled back when he went pee, and that he was pulling it back and rinsing every day, because he if he doesn't it'll start to get cheesy and smell bad.

[What's normal at physicals?]

3 hours ago, Farrar said:

A check of genitals has always been a part of my boys' physicals. I can't remember from when they were little - but the doctor did actually find a hernia from this check when one boy was a toddler, so I'm glad they do it. More recently, the check and cough thing was definitely part of it. The foreskin thing... I'm pretty sure they asked them to retract it. And they definitely warn them. I'm going to check this, this is why. May I do this. Can you do this. Etc. Just abruptly diving into a genitals check... I mean, not cool. They'd never do that to adults. They'd warn them. They should warn the kids and explain too.

 

That's pretty close to what she did. She didn't just do it with no warning.

[What's normal at physicals?]

15 minutes ago, Selkie said:

Apologies to the OP if this is legit, but it seems odd that someone who just joined is asking for details of kids' genital exams...

 

It's legit! Sorry, I've been here for a while, my account is just new.

[What's normal at physicals?]

5 minutes ago, happysmileylady said:

And with that, I am curious....is there a male equivalent of a gynecologist that boys would go to?  Urologist doesn't seem right, but maybe?

I think urologists are just for when there's problems. I think their general doctor just covers it at annual exams.

4 minutes ago, wendyroo said:

Our pediatrician, who all the kids have seen since they were born (so for over a decade), has always done a genital check during annual physicals.  She always tells them what she is going to do, always mentions that it is only okay for someone to touch them there if they are a doctor and have the child's parent's permission, and then does the exam quickly and matter of factly.  She also always pulls their pants down far enough (as they lie on the exam table) to check pulses in their thigh/groin area.

I don't know how the routine might change as the kids get older, but I do know that as of 10 years old it remained the same.  We, however, decided that 10 years old was a good age to stop having siblings present during exams so we made arrangements for DH to watch the others while I took DS to the doctor.

Wendy

What does she do to examine them?

[What's normal at physicals?]

1 minute ago, Loowit said:

The privates checks for my sons include checking for signs of puberty (when they are younger), making sure testicles are descended, the cough test to check for a hernia.  I don't recall any checks of the penis since they were pretty little, but I don't look during that part of the exam obviously.  For my daughter checks seemed to stop after puberty for "down below", but they do a breast exam, especially since they have found lumps in the past.

My children have always been given the option of me waiting in the hall or waiting room if they prefer, which I think is something that is important for their comfort and privacy.  All of them, so far, have wanted me to stay.

I would also say that if you son felt uncomfortable or violated, you should mention that to the doctor.  I feel it is important for doctors to get permission, especially in private areas.  After a certain age, probably around 9 or 10, the doctor always explained that part of the exam and got permission before proceeding.  I think a lot of doctors just have their routine and don't think about how it may make the patient feel, it would be good to remind them.

 

Are they circumcised?

And I think violated is way too strong a word. He was definitely embarrassed but she did ask permission and he did say yes.

[What's normal at physicals?]

9 minutes ago, SKL said:

I remember 40 years ago my brothers telling me that was how their physicals went (sports physicals for school).  So it doesn't sound strange to me - maybe more unusual that your son didn't mind you being in the room for that.  😛

My daughters' physical at a "doctor's office" around the same age was a bit weird for them.  IIRC it was the moment the NP decided to put her hand down their pants to see/feel what it was like down there.  I understand the point, but she should have warned them first that she was going to do that.  They felt kinda violated.

Normally I have my kids' physicals done by their chiropractor.  A lot more relevant stuff checked and no privates touched.  (But maybe they would touch for a boy - I guess they are checking for an injury that would matter for a kid in sports.)

I wouldn't say he didn't mind, but she asked me to stay since office policy is to have for under-16's so he didn't really have a choice.

1 minute ago, Loowit said:

Sounds pretty similar to my experience.  I am glad they do the checks, because they found a problem with one of my son's when he was a bit older than typical that could have led to future fertility issues.  My kids have physicals every year because they need them for summer camps.  They have had a couple different doctors and they have all done checks of their private areas.

What did the checks consist of?

[What's normal at physicals?]

Long time lurker here finally asking a question!

So I took DS12 and DD14 to the doctor today for their first yearly check-up in quite a few years and the new nurse practitioner we went to was a bit more thorough than I was expecting her to be, at least for DS.

DD stayed fully clothed the entire time but at the end of DS' exam she put on gloves and asked DD to step outside for a moment. 

She then asked DS to pull his pants and underwear down and then she felt each testicle, had him "turn and cough," and then she pulled his foreskin back. Finally, she had a brief conversation with him about when he can expect puberty to start as well as proper foreskin hygiene, then she told him he could get dressed and called for DD to come back into the room. 

DS obviously was pretty embarrassed by the whole ordeal and thought it was really unfair, and DD is asking questions too (the door was thin enough that she could hear everything from outside).

So I'm just wondering are boys' physicals usually that thorough (especially compared to girls)? Obviously, I don't think she was acting inappropriate or anything, but was all that (especially the foreskin stuff) necessary, especially with his sister in earshot? What happens at your kids' physicals?