Gross OB/GYN or normal guy?!
Question: Okay, I know this sounds crazy, but I've had the same OB/GYN for many years. A few times my insurance changed and I saw a different doctor and now something about my my old doctor seems funny. After he's done giving me my vaginal exam, he ALWAYS sniffs his glove. Now, at first I thought it was because a smell could indicate a problem, but no other doctor I've had has done this.
So, what do you think? Is he gross and I should just not go there anymore or has anyone else had this happen and it is perfectly normal?
Answers: Okay, I know this sounds crazy, but I've had the same OB/GYN for many years. A few times my insurance changed and I saw a different doctor and now something about my my old doctor seems funny. After he's done giving me my vaginal exam, he ALWAYS sniffs his glove. Now, at first I thought it was because a smell could indicate a problem, but no other doctor I've had has done this.
So, what do you think? Is he gross and I should just not go there anymore or has anyone else had this happen and it is perfectly normal?
I think if thats the cases he should sniff out of your eye sight.
well, thats one job I do not want.
gross
you should prolly switch to a girl just in case.
its to test for infection dont worry about it
Ummm that sounds kinda creepy!! I think I'd be too freaked out to go back, personally.
i really don't think that's normal. my ob/gyn hasn't done that to me ever.
My female ob/gyn did that to me. It was the ONLY time I let her touch me there and I guess its something they do.
if my ob/gyn dr did this-i would be outta there in a split second!! this isn't normal.
they run lab tests to check for infections,etc. he's weird. i would switch-my ob/gyn has never done this.
This is NOT normal. Find another doctor and report his behavior to the medical board.
eewwww, Stay away from that one!!!
None of my doctors have ever done that.
It may be one of his techniques for detecting infection. Why not ask him why he does it? If the answer seems off at all, get another doctor.
Interesting. Does he write down what it smells like? Does he taste it?
That doesn't sound professional at all, by that gesture alone, I'd switch doctors
Yes, I would say that is a big red flag over there .
Eeeewww. That's gross. I've never had my (female) doc do that after giving me an exam. I think that's weird, and if it is part of the medical procedure, he should explain himself. I think he's just a perv.
just lookiing for signs of trouble
I've never seen a Dr. do that. If there was an odor issue he should have mentioned it. This doesn't sound right. You need to feel comfortable with a Dr. of such personnel areas. If you are uncomfortable, you really need to seek a new Dr.. Besides. He's suppose to be wearing gloves when he examines you, and having worked as a caregiver, I can tell you the gloves have a smell of their own. This really doesn't make sense and possibly you might want to consider reporting it. Please take care of yourself.
I have NEVER had this happen.. That does not seem right.... If there was an odor he could smell it during the exam.... I cant believe he did this where you could see him.. ewww!
I have only seen female doctors, and they have Never done that. I think it is a little wierd. Maybe if you see a different doctor next time ask them if there is any reason for this...
At first, it just seems disturbing. Once I thought about it, though, it really could be the sign of a true doctor. A good doctor uses all of their senses... and heck- they used to smell people's urine to determine if the patient had diabetes. Certain problems are easily detected by smells. I know when my husband's (and my) health is off when I notice either of our smells changing. It's just not something we discuss in our culture anymore, but using your sniffer was an important way of knowing all sorts of things.
If it really bothers you, then don't ever go there again. But is it hurting you or potentially helping you... lab tests aren't always reliable. What if you had no physical symptoms to complain about, but the doc noticed something odd and saved you from a lengthy medical issue?
sounds creepy. i know some infections can have a smell, but your vagina could just be swabbed and tested for that, so you wouldn't really have to smell a glove to figure out if you have an infection. i really find that creepy, so maybe you should go somewhere else if it makes you uncomfortable.
The doctor did a normal complete exam. Part of the exam is to evaluate the cervical mucus. It should be virtually odorless. I verified this with one of my old nursing texts, "Health Assessment" by Malasanos et al. (1977).
It is a common to evaluate various bodily discharges by odor. Foul odor indicates infection. Checking for smells is cheaper than doing cultures on every patient. Sniffing the glove is a discrete way of checking for odor. He should probably be less obvious, since patients may be scandalized.
Hmmm. That is a little strange. I suppose he could be checking the odor of your vaginal secretions, and it would be better to sniff the glove as opposed to sticking his nose in there and taking a whiff. Vaginal odor can be a sign of certain problems.
However, if it makes you uncomfortable, I would change doctors. Being completely comfortable with your doctor is a big part of a good doctor-patient relationship, so even if this isn't a weird, perverted habit and just a way to check for certain problems, you still have every right to find a new doctor if you don't like how he practices.
I think it's gross, but so are all the procedures done in a gyn office, so I think it's kind of ridiculous when many here freak out about a doctor sniffing your discharge, yet spreading your legs for him and allow him to finger you is completely normal, just because dr's deem it normal??(and no, you can't detect anything with that, it's merely guesswork)
Uhm most important lesson here: whatever the guy thinks about this or the rest of the world is not important, what's important is how YOU feel about it, if you think it's gross then don't go there anymore. Period.