When getting a pelvic exam, is it common practice for the assistant to stand where they cannot look at you ? I thought it was. I went to a new doctor and the assistant watched the whole exam and I felt uncomfortable. Is it just me? Am I wrong in believing that only the doctor should see me naked? So, I need to know, who watches the exam when you go for a pap smear?
2006-11-16 04:14:43 · 20 answers · asked by Memphis qt 4 in Health ➔ Women's Health
I know WHY there is someone else in the room. I need to know if they watch....btw, I have a female doctor and the assistant is a CNA.
2006-11-16 04:30:26 · update #1
they should not be watching unless they are a student in training or something. next time ask them to stand behind your head. also if you don't want them in there they don't have to be. i have kicked assistants out of exam rooms every time. i just say I'm not comfortable with some one else being in here and they politely just leave. its never been an issue. if they give you a hard time tell them no deal you are finding a new doc. you have rights. and one of them is your privacy and the other is to refuse anything you want.
2006-11-16 04:49:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the doctor but often times if it is a male doctor the assistant will watch to be sure that the doc does not do anything that you might feel is wrong and try to say he sexually did something to you. Also the nurse will be nearby and possibly watching to try anticipate the needs of the doctor in case he needs something more than what is already layed out for the doctor. The nurse in the room has certainly seen it all before and heard most of it all before so think of them as just another medical person looking out for your well being. All of the medical technicians and nurses have gone to school and learned to assists the doc so they are just doing their job.
2006-11-16 04:20:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every time I have been there was no one in the exam room with me except the doctor... the assistant was in there to get everything set but before the doctor started the assistant left the exam room...and did not enter until I was dressed again.
2006-11-16 04:18:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can ask that the assistant does not watch, but legally they have to be in the room when it is a male doctor. I have a female MD, so she is the only one in the room, but I have had assistant in the room with other MDs. BTW, speaking of feeling uncomfortable, I had a pap done a few years ago and in the middle of it, the MD asked how my mother was doing. Apparently the MD's kid went to school at the school my mom works at! That was UNCOMFORTABLE! (I think every woman had a story like this!)
2006-11-16 04:17:55 · answer #4 · answered by frankie3919 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never had the assistant looking at me down there during an exam. Just tell your doctor it makes you uncomfortable for the assistant to do that and they won't anymore.
2006-11-16 04:17:30 · answer #5 · answered by Pashta 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had the doctor's assistant be there during examinations. They are meant to help the doctor. Sometimes doctor's keep the assistants in the same room to make sure patients don't wrongly charge them with any kind of abuse whatsoever.
2006-11-16 04:24:06 · answer #6 · answered by happykat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pelvic examination: generally they're going to start up by utilising utilising some lubricant and putting a device that looks like a duckbill (called a speculum). They clamp this open so as that your pelvic section is greater obtainable. they're going to "scrape" the interior your cervix with something that looks like a protracted q-tip or a bottle brush. this does not injury for many women human beings, in spite of the undeniable fact that it may cramp you up slightly, and is by utilising no ability mushy. After this, they often get rid of the speculum, and the well being care expert will many times do a handbook examination, pressing the two on the interior (many times with 2 arms), besides as on the outdoors of your abdomen. that's to experience around for the ovaries, etc. As for the breast examination, it relatively is not any diverse than what a self examination would be. The well being care expert tests the breast for any unusual lumps and density. they're going to bear in mind something that would desire to experience slightly unusual, and robust medical doctors will take a little time to indicate out any irregularities out to you(occasion, I even have an exceptionally dense section close to my suitable armpit, my well being care expert pointed this out to me so as that i does not be alarmed for the duration of a self examination, because it relatively is only the tendon/tissue).
2016-10-15 15:22:45 · answer #7 · answered by herrick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the assistant watches most of the time because they are the ones who have to know when to give the doctor the jelly stuff and swab stuff and take care of it when swabbed......just try to think light of it, you know make a joke and ease up.....like my last one was the first appointment for the day and I said something like "Sorry I gotta put you through this first thing in the morning! Hope you had enough coffee before this!" But they really don't care....they are not there to look at your naked body...they are just doing thier job which sometimes requires us to get naked...They have seen so many it doesn't even phase them that they are looking at your "vagina" like it phases you, it's just another body part to them.
2006-11-16 04:21:38 · answer #8 · answered by Shari 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ask to speak with the doctor before the exam and tell them it makes you uncomfortable to have some else watch you be examined.
2006-11-16 04:17:31 · answer #9 · answered by puggas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Doctor and her assistant was at mine. I think it might be links to a law suit practice or something. Making sure the Dr. uses gloves and the right tools and all that jazz!!
2006-11-16 04:17:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋