pre-college physical exam...rectal???

Bigredmed
Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:18:44 +0000

Okay, as a current med student I can promise you that a full history and physical should include a digital (as in a finger) rectal exam and not all that BS in post #7 (which is used when there are actual, very serious problems with defecation, unwanted voiding, etc. exist). However, no one really wants one done, and doctors really don’t want to do them either (which is why 3rd year medical students do so many while on their clerkships). So most people ignore them.

It’s very unlikely that your doctor will give you a rectal exam, and if s/he does it will only be a finger. Unless you tell him you’ve had changes in your bowel habits (diarhea,constipation,frequency), blood in your stool, or dark, tarry stools, I’d be shocked if they actually went through and did it.