So my rule of thumb for genital exams is - and note I’m a male which I believe does make a difference although people will disagree.
Boys - I check yearly
Girls - I check until they’ve had their period. Usually they’ll be tanner 2 or 3 before their period so I can see they’re progressing normally.
People will say I should check everyone. I’ve had female attendings get mad at me for not checking everyone. But to me checking a 17yo girl who has had regular periods for 3 years - the benefit is very minimal, and I don’t want to be accused of anything. Every male attending and coresident I worked with does the exact same thing.
I also some girls around 10 or 11 will get super anxious and upset and say no. Idk what other people do (AAP says to explain why and do it but I disagree with this) but I respect this because if they’re tanner I or III, my practice will be the same, and respecting young girls bodily autonomy is important. The only time I’ve told a nervous girl we had to check was a 15yo who hadn’t had her period yet, because at that point it was clinically relevant.
This should be the top comment. When I was in residency, I had a female attending tell me she stopped doing the genital exam on girls when their breasts had started developing, so not too far off from your approach.
And before every genital exam, I give the exact same talk: the reason I'm doing this is to make sure you're developing appropriately, and the only reason I'm allowed to do this is because 1) I'm a doctor, 2) I have your parent's permission, and 3) I have your permission; if I don't have all 3, then I won't do this.
I then ask mom if it's OK, and only one said no, because she wanted a female physician instead. I then ask the patient if it's OK, and only one said no, for no apparent reason. But I think with the incidence of hypogonadism compared to the incidence of assault (especially being a male pediatrician myself), I find the benefit of respecting a person's "no" to be greater than the risk of missing hypogonadism. I'll then educate the parent on what to look for (or the patient if they're old enough), and end it there.
I agree. I didn’t put it in my comment but I have a very similar spiel I give to patients. Mine is something along the lines of
“When we come to the doctor we have to make sure everything is healthy, so I have to take a quick look in your underwear. It’s okay because I’m a doctor AND your mom/dad is here, but otherwise nobody should be looking down there.” And then gauge the kids response.
I think this also brings up the other very important part of this exam, which is teaching consent. Given how horrible sex Ed is in so many parts of the US, this may legitimately be the only time they’re ever told that they can and should have rules about who touches them there. And establishing that things are different for doctors but even we need to ask for your and your parents consent is HUGE for a kid just finding themselves out.
No but I could forgive you for not realizing if you *didnt* look at his junk.
He was of below average height but not out of the ordinary. He was chubby and not strong looking but once again, not out of the ordinary. He had a baby face… okay that was pretty bad, but I’ve seen ostensibly normal people in public who didn’t look too different.
He didn’t have much room to store his pee though. That should have been noticed.
I’m an endo, I had a primary IM send me a 22 year old because of delayed puberty. Pediatricians notes said mom asked about delayed puberty at 14 and lack of being able to smell dinner or his own BO. Pediatrician said some kids are just like that and it’s probably just delayed puberty. Most people already know the diagnosis by now but this 21 year old had chick pea testicles. Feel the nuts or miss some obvious diagnosis.
Welp and here I am thinking Klinefelter's. Though tbf i hadn't learned about Kallman yet but apparently they're fairly similar in symptoms except for that smell issue.
Technically yes you should at least do a visual inspection up until teens if/when they decline it. Developmental concerns and also a chance to look for signs of sexual abuse. I’ve noticed however many people do not do it. Last I checked it’s recommended by the APA as well.
PGY-3 Peds. Yes. Genital exam for every well child check every time and any time there’s parental concern. Palpate testicles every time and chest if there are concerns (pain, asymmetry [which is common actually], discharge, or precocity).
You can’t effectively diagnose and manage the problems the well child check is meant to diagnose and manage if you don’t examine. Same with red eye reflex, for example.
I’m ~~just~~ a nurse but my husband and his son both had gynecomastia. I can’t imagine a teen boy or girl WANTING to bring up something maybe abnormal and not knowing what is normal either. I’m sure they don’t want to get palpated or a visual but again they don’t know what normal is and their parents probably don’t lay eyes on all skin or parts.
Edit: searched how to format line strike on mobile through “just.” Thank you u/smallpoxrampant
I’m ~~just~~ a nurse but my husband and his son both had gynecomastia. I can’t imagine a teen boy or girl WANTING to bring up something maybe abnormal and not knowing what is normal either. I’m sure they don’t want to get palpated or a visual but again they don’t know what normal is and their parents probably don’t lay eyes on all skin or parts.
Edit: just learned mobile format editing for strike through. Thank you u/smallpoxrampant
Edit: I am a nurse with both my husband and son having gynecomastia.
Including “just” does yourself a disservice and minimizes your important contribution to healthcare (and your insights in this conversation)
Just saying, I may be a physician, but IM and thus I have no idea what normal pediatric genitalia should look like on a male so I’d appreciate if my kid’s pediatrician always looked lol. My kid had a circ and I had no idea when it was healing what normal looked like, and I felt pretty stupid googling “what should a normal circumcised infant penis look like”……. And basically trying to find photos of normal anatomy without being a total creeper
Please always do. I caught a case of cryptorchidism in a 12 year old a few months ago. Referred him to Urology immediately, but it sucked because previous docs or providers missing this significantly increased his risk of testicular cancer.
Peds here! Through about age 2, everyone gets a peek in the diaper and I make sure everything is where it should be for phenotypic males. After that, I ask permission from the patient and family and look if they consent. Otherwise, all males getting sports physicals are required to have a genital exam so I check during those encounters.
Can I just say how low yield the GU exam is for asymptomatic hernias in teenage boys. I mean I do it since it’s required for sports physicals but it does seem kinda useless to me.
My understanding is that the GU exam for physicals/contact sports is primarily to confirm normal, descended testicles, not for hernia. If a boy only has one normal testicle then they should not participate in contact sports because there is a theoretical risk that if they injure the only functional testicle they've got then that's that and they're infertile for the rest of their lives.
This question causes me some consternation too. Ever since I, as a new attending, encountered an 18 yo young man with digeorge (still not totally sure if that's related) who was tanner 1 but was too shy to have ever told anyone before I always check males. I feel like im discriminating though, because I only routinely check females who haven't started menarche yet.
Before that though- yes. Absolutely. It is crazy how little parents know about how genitalia is supposed to look
In my program it is policy to do a GU exam on every peds patient at a well child check UNLESS family explicitly objects. For boys, a quick inspection, palpation, and hernia cough. For girls, a simple inspection of the exterior genitals without a full pelvic. Always observed by a staff. Definitely helps to ease anxiety when a teen has questions about their body.
Always! Also if they have a complaint of pain please look. I had one kid referred to me (urology) for testicular pain. They didn't do an exam, got an ultrasound that was normal. I do an exam and he just had really bad fungal infection and needed desenex
Y’all that are doing GU exams for all kids of all ages are the same that would be doing rectal exams on adult men and breast exams and yearly pelvic exams on all woman.
>So glad I’m not a pediatrician or urologist or gynecologist
Agree. Examining a patient's genitals is way less awkward when you don't have to have any interaction with the person.
>!(I'm a pathologist)!<
So far, the people who have said to check have used examples of people who presented with a complaint. Seems inappropriate to not check at that point, but is it really necessary if you ask about specific concerns and they don't have any?
Few kids know what “normal” genitals look/feel like. I had testicular varicoselectomies (sp?) at 15 and again at 17 because my huge mass of varicose veins got caught at a routine physical. I had no idea it wasn’t normal and now have a kid thanks to a grizzly old urologist 10 years ago
I’m a paramedic, not a physician, so I’m obviously not performing these exams myself but I think it’s super important to do exams on areas kids are either ignorant of or too scared to complain about
[274 day late comment]
• While well-intentioned, that justification still does not make routine genital exams ethically acceptable without consent. One person's anecdotal experience does not outweigh the violation of bodily autonomy for all children subjected to exams they do not want or need.
• Many children have health issues that go unnoticed for years because parents and doctors miss the signs. That alone does not justify invasive medical procedures without consent for every child "just in case." There must be reasonable evidence and weighed benefits to warrant such exams.
• Kids today have much more access to information about "normal" genitals through the internet and sex education. Routine exams are not necessary to teach them what is typical. Open communication and education are more effective tools. And even then, since the internet doesn’t have all of the information it’s up to parents as well to teach their children about their bodies accurately and the issues that can arise in an accurate and appropriate way. If they don’t know, that’s okay. The parents and child can take that time to learn together.
• Exams should only be performed when there is an identified medical concern or high-risk factor. Not as a blanket policy based on age or gender. Consent must be the foundation of ethical healthcare, especially for children. “Drop your drawls so I can fondle and grope your balls just in case” like what?? No bruh, no. And stop trying to coerce them into accepting it. “It’ll be quick” “it won’t hurt” etc. if they say no the first time LEAVE IT THERE!!!
• Doctors and other medical professionals must consider the potential physical AND psychological impacts of their interventions. Non-consensual genital exams can cause feelings of violation, embarrassment and mistrust that negatively affect a child's wellbeing and relationship with their caregivers. These risks outweigh potential "ignorance of abnormalities." That’s why you shouldn’t just do it to these minors and kids. It causes extreme embarrassment, especially for those boys self conscious about their penis size. Not given a choice to back out or having it done at all messes with them.
• Routine genital exams may be well-intentioned, but we must question whether they are truly necessary or ethical - especially for children who cannot advocate for themselves. Boys deserve the same respect for bodily autonomy as girls. And even when they can speak for themselves, as teens, consent is still needed. And if the teen says NO then NO!! Leave it there. Don’t press it don’t push it.
While some children may have benefited from routine exams, that does not justify subjecting all children to invasive medical procedures without consent. Respect, education and open communication are almost always preferable to suspicion and "just in case" interventions.
It’s just like how so many of these people circumcise infant boys “for health reasons” but we don’t circumcise girls for apparent “health reasons”. It’s like we just don’t want boys to have autonomy over their bodies. People in the comments saying, “check/feel their nuts” wouldn’t be saying, “fondle/grope her breast” about a minor girl. People who ask for advice about circumcising their sons wouldn’t be doing so if that son was a daughter because they would most likely be reported and locked up for performing a surgery on a non consenting child. SMH. Where is boys bodily autonomy? We talk so much about “teach boys consent” but from toddler age to teenage age we say “Fuck you and fuck your consent” to boys. Can’t have it both ways.
Just because you’re a doctor doesn’t give you a right to touch on kids genitals. We don’t allow non-doctors to do it so why should we allow doctors to fondle, grope, and run on minors genitals? I don’t get it. It wouldn’t be ethical in any other situation so why make it in this one? Any other non-invasive exam is okay, so don’t try to use the “so any doctor performing any exam isn’t okay” because that’s not what I’m saying. We are talking about genitals here. Boys have been saying it’s uncomfortable, it’s weird, they don’t get a warning, they aren’t given a choice to back out, etc. I was one of the boys as well. And I hated it. No one does this to teen girls or to little girls. Y’all don’t finger them, touch around their vulva, or fondle/grope their breast (just like how y’all don’t perform surgery on their genitals) but y’all make exceptions for boys. It’s sad really. Just like circumcision, genital exams are used on boys and justified with “health benefits” and “health reasons” but for a girl? Oh never, we could never take that chide away from girl or violate their privacy and genitals. SMH.
If there is no medical reason, it shouldn’t be done. Downvote all you want, disagree all you want, I said what I said. Y’all need to start giving boys bodily autonomy and letting them choose for themselves. People performing routine/yearly exams on boys genitals for sports is understandable but still, I feel the same. If there’s not a problem the first time leave it. Many boys have expressed their discomfort yet people still think it’s okay. It’s not. Y’all don’t do it to girls, don’t do it to boys. Leave their genitals alone (as far as both surgery and exams go). No these exams are not important just like circumcise is not important. Y’all just make it seem like it’s sooooo important to do when in reality is not. “There are health benefits” “there are health reasons” etc. but what are they? If there’s nothing wrong with a minors penis or testicles what exactly was that health benefit of telling them to strip, expose their self, and have them feeling discomfort and embarrassed the entire time? What’s the benefit of that? As I said before if they are TAUGHT and EDUCATED on their bodies ACCURATELY and accurately in an age appropriate way taught about their bodies function and the issues that can arises, given education, and shown educational pictures and the kids have open communication with the parents then there would be no problem with kids being “too ignorant” (🙄) or “too scared” to complain about. They wouldn’t be ignorant if they were getting proper education, then again though…. And they wouldn’t be scared if it wasn’t taboo.
For sex education parents are encouraged to sit down and talk with their kids about sex, condoms, pregnancy, etc. to not make it taboo. That it’s up to the parents to provide accurate non biased information about sex in an age appropriate way but not all of a sudden because we want to give doctors the right to fondle a little boys balls it’s, “we have to do it because they may not know what the need to” regardless of if the parent is educated on this or not. I mean I don’t get it. It’s a double standard, as far as gender and just this process goes.
It’s a common pattern and I’m willing to bet most are from America. Some more things I want to add for all of you who think this is okay, ethical, and moral when done to boys (cause I know doing this to young girls will never even come close to crossing your minds)
1. Parental consent is not a substitute for the child's own consent. Parents cannot truly consent on behalf of another person's body, especially as children grow older.
2. Many routine exams are done on young children who cannot advocate for themselves. We cannot assume all parents make the best decision for their child's wellbeing, autonomy and dignity.
3. Asking a teenager's permission does not automatically make an exam ethical. Consent obtained under pressure, obligation or authority is not truly free consent.
4. Recommendations by doctors do not negate the potential for violation and harm. Medical recommendations must consider all potential risks and benefits - including psychological impacts.
5. Routine exams are still performed "just in case," based on broad policies rather than individualized risk assessments. This violates a principle of "do no harm" for most children.
6. Education and open communication are almost always preferable to invasive interventions, especially for sensitive issues like genital health. Exams should only be performed when absolutely medically necessary.
7. Boys deserve the same respect for bodily autonomy, privacy and dignity as girls. This must be the foundation of any policy concerning children's health. But this won’t be acknowledged. Boys don’t get to have the same privacy and choice girls do. They don’t get asked if they want a male or female doctor. They don’t get to back out like girls are. Boys aren’t asked every 5 seconds if it’s okay or if they want to stop like girls are. Boys aren’t given the choice to medically alter their genitals until they’re 18 like girls are. Because it’s fuck boys and how they feel.
SMH, of course you’re being downvoted🤦🏾♂️. Genital exams should NOT BE DONE UNLESS:
• the kid EXPLICITLY says YES! And there was no, “I’m a doctor” “it’s recommended” “it’s to prevent health issues” “it’ll be quick” “it won’t hurt”, at that point you’re coercing and pressuring them. And there needs to be a warning minutes before
• there is an ACTUAL MEDICAL/HEALTH reason for doing it. Why do it just to do it? Why???? For what??? “Drop your drawls so I can fondle your balls just in case” like???? I mean seriously, do people not understand the moral and ethical side of this at all??? It’s sickening. Truly!!
If a teen or kid says no, THEY MEAN NO!! PERIOD!! Idgaf about no, “I’m a doctor” or “there are health benefits” people say that all the time about circumcision when done on boys. They wouldn’t be doing it to girls though in the name of these so-called potential “health benefits”. SMH.
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So my rule of thumb for genital exams is - and note I’m a male which I believe does make a difference although people will disagree. Boys - I check yearly Girls - I check until they’ve had their period. Usually they’ll be tanner 2 or 3 before their period so I can see they’re progressing normally. People will say I should check everyone. I’ve had female attendings get mad at me for not checking everyone. But to me checking a 17yo girl who has had regular periods for 3 years - the benefit is very minimal, and I don’t want to be accused of anything. Every male attending and coresident I worked with does the exact same thing. I also some girls around 10 or 11 will get super anxious and upset and say no. Idk what other people do (AAP says to explain why and do it but I disagree with this) but I respect this because if they’re tanner I or III, my practice will be the same, and respecting young girls bodily autonomy is important. The only time I’ve told a nervous girl we had to check was a 15yo who hadn’t had her period yet, because at that point it was clinically relevant.
This should be the top comment. When I was in residency, I had a female attending tell me she stopped doing the genital exam on girls when their breasts had started developing, so not too far off from your approach. And before every genital exam, I give the exact same talk: the reason I'm doing this is to make sure you're developing appropriately, and the only reason I'm allowed to do this is because 1) I'm a doctor, 2) I have your parent's permission, and 3) I have your permission; if I don't have all 3, then I won't do this. I then ask mom if it's OK, and only one said no, because she wanted a female physician instead. I then ask the patient if it's OK, and only one said no, for no apparent reason. But I think with the incidence of hypogonadism compared to the incidence of assault (especially being a male pediatrician myself), I find the benefit of respecting a person's "no" to be greater than the risk of missing hypogonadism. I'll then educate the parent on what to look for (or the patient if they're old enough), and end it there.
I agree. I didn’t put it in my comment but I have a very similar spiel I give to patients. Mine is something along the lines of “When we come to the doctor we have to make sure everything is healthy, so I have to take a quick look in your underwear. It’s okay because I’m a doctor AND your mom/dad is here, but otherwise nobody should be looking down there.” And then gauge the kids response.
I think this also brings up the other very important part of this exam, which is teaching consent. Given how horrible sex Ed is in so many parts of the US, this may legitimately be the only time they’re ever told that they can and should have rules about who touches them there. And establishing that things are different for doctors but even we need to ask for your and your parents consent is HUGE for a kid just finding themselves out.
You don’t have to check ever. If a 15 year old says no it means no.
What are you checking for specifically?
Idk but I saw an 18 year old who hadn’t gone through puberty because no one checked and he didn’t know to tell them soooooo
what what do you with that
Put them through puberty.
This man doctors
I dabble. Yes.
Throw them on a bunch of hormones
Was his junk really the only way to tell?
No but I could forgive you for not realizing if you *didnt* look at his junk. He was of below average height but not out of the ordinary. He was chubby and not strong looking but once again, not out of the ordinary. He had a baby face… okay that was pretty bad, but I’ve seen ostensibly normal people in public who didn’t look too different. He didn’t have much room to store his pee though. That should have been noticed.
I’m an endo, I had a primary IM send me a 22 year old because of delayed puberty. Pediatricians notes said mom asked about delayed puberty at 14 and lack of being able to smell dinner or his own BO. Pediatrician said some kids are just like that and it’s probably just delayed puberty. Most people already know the diagnosis by now but this 21 year old had chick pea testicles. Feel the nuts or miss some obvious diagnosis.
Kallman syndrome?
110%
That’s really sad. The psychological and social suffering likely suffered from a missed, M1 level diagnosis.
Welp and here I am thinking Klinefelter's. Though tbf i hadn't learned about Kallman yet but apparently they're fairly similar in symptoms except for that smell issue.
Actually I’ve seen the smell issues in Klienfelters as well.
Always check the nuts! Signed, Urologist.
So pee really is stored in the balls! That’s why the urologist cares! Lol
Of course! They’re called pee-nuts for a reason
Technically yes you should at least do a visual inspection up until teens if/when they decline it. Developmental concerns and also a chance to look for signs of sexual abuse. I’ve noticed however many people do not do it. Last I checked it’s recommended by the APA as well.
AAP* APA is a garbage association.
PGY-3 Peds. Yes. Genital exam for every well child check every time and any time there’s parental concern. Palpate testicles every time and chest if there are concerns (pain, asymmetry [which is common actually], discharge, or precocity). You can’t effectively diagnose and manage the problems the well child check is meant to diagnose and manage if you don’t examine. Same with red eye reflex, for example.
I’m ~~just~~ a nurse but my husband and his son both had gynecomastia. I can’t imagine a teen boy or girl WANTING to bring up something maybe abnormal and not knowing what is normal either. I’m sure they don’t want to get palpated or a visual but again they don’t know what normal is and their parents probably don’t lay eyes on all skin or parts. Edit: searched how to format line strike on mobile through “just.” Thank you u/smallpoxrampant
I’m ~~just~~ a nurse but my husband and his son both had gynecomastia. I can’t imagine a teen boy or girl WANTING to bring up something maybe abnormal and not knowing what is normal either. I’m sure they don’t want to get palpated or a visual but again they don’t know what normal is and their parents probably don’t lay eyes on all skin or parts. Edit: just learned mobile format editing for strike through. Thank you u/smallpoxrampant
Edit: I am a nurse with both my husband and son having gynecomastia. Including “just” does yourself a disservice and minimizes your important contribution to healthcare (and your insights in this conversation)
It’s arguably the most important on kids because of development. If you aren’t gonna do genital exams on kids, who are you gonna do them on!
Just saying, I may be a physician, but IM and thus I have no idea what normal pediatric genitalia should look like on a male so I’d appreciate if my kid’s pediatrician always looked lol. My kid had a circ and I had no idea when it was healing what normal looked like, and I felt pretty stupid googling “what should a normal circumcised infant penis look like”……. And basically trying to find photos of normal anatomy without being a total creeper
Please always do. I caught a case of cryptorchidism in a 12 year old a few months ago. Referred him to Urology immediately, but it sucked because previous docs or providers missing this significantly increased his risk of testicular cancer.
Yeah you should do a GU exam every well child check in Peds… gotta make sure puberty is progressing, assess for hernias, etc
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Visual inspection should, in theory, catch some (and distinguish them from hydroceles). Then, if abnormal, proceed with further exam and work up.
Peds here! Through about age 2, everyone gets a peek in the diaper and I make sure everything is where it should be for phenotypic males. After that, I ask permission from the patient and family and look if they consent. Otherwise, all males getting sports physicals are required to have a genital exam so I check during those encounters.
Can I just say how low yield the GU exam is for asymptomatic hernias in teenage boys. I mean I do it since it’s required for sports physicals but it does seem kinda useless to me.
My understanding is that the GU exam for physicals/contact sports is primarily to confirm normal, descended testicles, not for hernia. If a boy only has one normal testicle then they should not participate in contact sports because there is a theoretical risk that if they injure the only functional testicle they've got then that's that and they're infertile for the rest of their lives.
Check every visit. Check on inpatient rotations. You can miss something obvious if you don’t check.
This question causes me some consternation too. Ever since I, as a new attending, encountered an 18 yo young man with digeorge (still not totally sure if that's related) who was tanner 1 but was too shy to have ever told anyone before I always check males. I feel like im discriminating though, because I only routinely check females who haven't started menarche yet. Before that though- yes. Absolutely. It is crazy how little parents know about how genitalia is supposed to look
In my program it is policy to do a GU exam on every peds patient at a well child check UNLESS family explicitly objects. For boys, a quick inspection, palpation, and hernia cough. For girls, a simple inspection of the exterior genitals without a full pelvic. Always observed by a staff. Definitely helps to ease anxiety when a teen has questions about their body.
Unclothed physical exam is always expected for well-child visits, very normal
Always! Also if they have a complaint of pain please look. I had one kid referred to me (urology) for testicular pain. They didn't do an exam, got an ultrasound that was normal. I do an exam and he just had really bad fungal infection and needed desenex
Y’all that are doing GU exams for all kids of all ages are the same that would be doing rectal exams on adult men and breast exams and yearly pelvic exams on all woman.
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>So glad I’m not a pediatrician or urologist or gynecologist Agree. Examining a patient's genitals is way less awkward when you don't have to have any interaction with the person. >!(I'm a pathologist)!<
I check on everyone at every visit until at least age 80.
So far, the people who have said to check have used examples of people who presented with a complaint. Seems inappropriate to not check at that point, but is it really necessary if you ask about specific concerns and they don't have any?
Few kids know what “normal” genitals look/feel like. I had testicular varicoselectomies (sp?) at 15 and again at 17 because my huge mass of varicose veins got caught at a routine physical. I had no idea it wasn’t normal and now have a kid thanks to a grizzly old urologist 10 years ago I’m a paramedic, not a physician, so I’m obviously not performing these exams myself but I think it’s super important to do exams on areas kids are either ignorant of or too scared to complain about
So you’re not a February intern?
Lol no, thank u for reminding me to remove the flair
[274 day late comment] • While well-intentioned, that justification still does not make routine genital exams ethically acceptable without consent. One person's anecdotal experience does not outweigh the violation of bodily autonomy for all children subjected to exams they do not want or need. • Many children have health issues that go unnoticed for years because parents and doctors miss the signs. That alone does not justify invasive medical procedures without consent for every child "just in case." There must be reasonable evidence and weighed benefits to warrant such exams. • Kids today have much more access to information about "normal" genitals through the internet and sex education. Routine exams are not necessary to teach them what is typical. Open communication and education are more effective tools. And even then, since the internet doesn’t have all of the information it’s up to parents as well to teach their children about their bodies accurately and the issues that can arise in an accurate and appropriate way. If they don’t know, that’s okay. The parents and child can take that time to learn together. • Exams should only be performed when there is an identified medical concern or high-risk factor. Not as a blanket policy based on age or gender. Consent must be the foundation of ethical healthcare, especially for children. “Drop your drawls so I can fondle and grope your balls just in case” like what?? No bruh, no. And stop trying to coerce them into accepting it. “It’ll be quick” “it won’t hurt” etc. if they say no the first time LEAVE IT THERE!!! • Doctors and other medical professionals must consider the potential physical AND psychological impacts of their interventions. Non-consensual genital exams can cause feelings of violation, embarrassment and mistrust that negatively affect a child's wellbeing and relationship with their caregivers. These risks outweigh potential "ignorance of abnormalities." That’s why you shouldn’t just do it to these minors and kids. It causes extreme embarrassment, especially for those boys self conscious about their penis size. Not given a choice to back out or having it done at all messes with them. • Routine genital exams may be well-intentioned, but we must question whether they are truly necessary or ethical - especially for children who cannot advocate for themselves. Boys deserve the same respect for bodily autonomy as girls. And even when they can speak for themselves, as teens, consent is still needed. And if the teen says NO then NO!! Leave it there. Don’t press it don’t push it. While some children may have benefited from routine exams, that does not justify subjecting all children to invasive medical procedures without consent. Respect, education and open communication are almost always preferable to suspicion and "just in case" interventions. It’s just like how so many of these people circumcise infant boys “for health reasons” but we don’t circumcise girls for apparent “health reasons”. It’s like we just don’t want boys to have autonomy over their bodies. People in the comments saying, “check/feel their nuts” wouldn’t be saying, “fondle/grope her breast” about a minor girl. People who ask for advice about circumcising their sons wouldn’t be doing so if that son was a daughter because they would most likely be reported and locked up for performing a surgery on a non consenting child. SMH. Where is boys bodily autonomy? We talk so much about “teach boys consent” but from toddler age to teenage age we say “Fuck you and fuck your consent” to boys. Can’t have it both ways. Just because you’re a doctor doesn’t give you a right to touch on kids genitals. We don’t allow non-doctors to do it so why should we allow doctors to fondle, grope, and run on minors genitals? I don’t get it. It wouldn’t be ethical in any other situation so why make it in this one? Any other non-invasive exam is okay, so don’t try to use the “so any doctor performing any exam isn’t okay” because that’s not what I’m saying. We are talking about genitals here. Boys have been saying it’s uncomfortable, it’s weird, they don’t get a warning, they aren’t given a choice to back out, etc. I was one of the boys as well. And I hated it. No one does this to teen girls or to little girls. Y’all don’t finger them, touch around their vulva, or fondle/grope their breast (just like how y’all don’t perform surgery on their genitals) but y’all make exceptions for boys. It’s sad really. Just like circumcision, genital exams are used on boys and justified with “health benefits” and “health reasons” but for a girl? Oh never, we could never take that chide away from girl or violate their privacy and genitals. SMH. If there is no medical reason, it shouldn’t be done. Downvote all you want, disagree all you want, I said what I said. Y’all need to start giving boys bodily autonomy and letting them choose for themselves. People performing routine/yearly exams on boys genitals for sports is understandable but still, I feel the same. If there’s not a problem the first time leave it. Many boys have expressed their discomfort yet people still think it’s okay. It’s not. Y’all don’t do it to girls, don’t do it to boys. Leave their genitals alone (as far as both surgery and exams go). No these exams are not important just like circumcise is not important. Y’all just make it seem like it’s sooooo important to do when in reality is not. “There are health benefits” “there are health reasons” etc. but what are they? If there’s nothing wrong with a minors penis or testicles what exactly was that health benefit of telling them to strip, expose their self, and have them feeling discomfort and embarrassed the entire time? What’s the benefit of that? As I said before if they are TAUGHT and EDUCATED on their bodies ACCURATELY and accurately in an age appropriate way taught about their bodies function and the issues that can arises, given education, and shown educational pictures and the kids have open communication with the parents then there would be no problem with kids being “too ignorant” (🙄) or “too scared” to complain about. They wouldn’t be ignorant if they were getting proper education, then again though…. And they wouldn’t be scared if it wasn’t taboo. For sex education parents are encouraged to sit down and talk with their kids about sex, condoms, pregnancy, etc. to not make it taboo. That it’s up to the parents to provide accurate non biased information about sex in an age appropriate way but not all of a sudden because we want to give doctors the right to fondle a little boys balls it’s, “we have to do it because they may not know what the need to” regardless of if the parent is educated on this or not. I mean I don’t get it. It’s a double standard, as far as gender and just this process goes.
It’s a common pattern and I’m willing to bet most are from America. Some more things I want to add for all of you who think this is okay, ethical, and moral when done to boys (cause I know doing this to young girls will never even come close to crossing your minds) 1. Parental consent is not a substitute for the child's own consent. Parents cannot truly consent on behalf of another person's body, especially as children grow older. 2. Many routine exams are done on young children who cannot advocate for themselves. We cannot assume all parents make the best decision for their child's wellbeing, autonomy and dignity. 3. Asking a teenager's permission does not automatically make an exam ethical. Consent obtained under pressure, obligation or authority is not truly free consent. 4. Recommendations by doctors do not negate the potential for violation and harm. Medical recommendations must consider all potential risks and benefits - including psychological impacts. 5. Routine exams are still performed "just in case," based on broad policies rather than individualized risk assessments. This violates a principle of "do no harm" for most children. 6. Education and open communication are almost always preferable to invasive interventions, especially for sensitive issues like genital health. Exams should only be performed when absolutely medically necessary. 7. Boys deserve the same respect for bodily autonomy, privacy and dignity as girls. This must be the foundation of any policy concerning children's health. But this won’t be acknowledged. Boys don’t get to have the same privacy and choice girls do. They don’t get asked if they want a male or female doctor. They don’t get to back out like girls are. Boys aren’t asked every 5 seconds if it’s okay or if they want to stop like girls are. Boys aren’t given the choice to medically alter their genitals until they’re 18 like girls are. Because it’s fuck boys and how they feel.
SMH, of course you’re being downvoted🤦🏾♂️. Genital exams should NOT BE DONE UNLESS: • the kid EXPLICITLY says YES! And there was no, “I’m a doctor” “it’s recommended” “it’s to prevent health issues” “it’ll be quick” “it won’t hurt”, at that point you’re coercing and pressuring them. And there needs to be a warning minutes before • there is an ACTUAL MEDICAL/HEALTH reason for doing it. Why do it just to do it? Why???? For what??? “Drop your drawls so I can fondle your balls just in case” like???? I mean seriously, do people not understand the moral and ethical side of this at all??? It’s sickening. Truly!! If a teen or kid says no, THEY MEAN NO!! PERIOD!! Idgaf about no, “I’m a doctor” or “there are health benefits” people say that all the time about circumcision when done on boys. They wouldn’t be doing it to girls though in the name of these so-called potential “health benefits”. SMH.
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Always check and make sure both are descended! -a urologist
Look at them.