Annual Women's Exam?!
Question: My Doctor does a very quick annual exam...and I never really knew if she was doing a very thorough exam.
I looked on WebMD.com, and they talked about the Doctor doing an anal exam as well, as a 10 minute breast exam...I have not had either of these...
Do most doctors do anal exams, and long breast exams?
Answers: My Doctor does a very quick annual exam...and I never really knew if she was doing a very thorough exam.
I looked on WebMD.com, and they talked about the Doctor doing an anal exam as well, as a 10 minute breast exam...I have not had either of these...
Do most doctors do anal exams, and long breast exams?
WebMD is a little outdated on this one.
The anal exam used to be fairly common, but most Gyn's aren't doing it anymore because it rarely made a difference in a woman's health. The theory was that if there was a low rectal tumor, it could be detected that way. But if you are over 50 and getting colonoscopies as you should, then the anal finger exam doesn't do you any extra good. There is really no good reason to do the anal exam on a young woman, unless she's having anal problems (bleeding, etc.)
As far as the breast exam, I've never timed it, but it's probably no more than 5 minutes for both breasts, unless I feel something abnormal and need to examine it in more detail.
The total exam, including interviewing the patient, doing the exam, and prescribing the Pill (if needed) takes me about 20-30 minutes.
I have never had an anal exam but at my last one the doctor did exam my breasts for quite some time. I'm not sure that it was 10 minutes but it was at least 5. My doctor is very quick as well and I have been contemplating asking her more questions and trying to get her to check more thoroughly.