I have had regular and sports physicals in the past and never had a rectal exam before, why now?

Hi Absolutezero,

It's "unusual."  The general recommendation is age 50. 

The odds of prostate cancer are low below about age 40.

Again, it does seem "unusual."

Hope it helps.

With the issues of Sports Medicine becoming more focused towards prevention than treating after an issue happens. This may be new sport med requirements.

In training and playing football a great deal of force and pressure is centered into the abdominal cavity, one of the consequences of this sort of pressure is the formation of Hemorrhoids. Believe me they are a real pain in the butt. 

If your unsure about this still corner the Trainer at camp in private and ask, even if it was not required your DR may have a policy in his office that all patients get a rectal exam after a certain age and that is his call to make. Rectal issues can affect anyone at any time, including a newborn.

A couple of things are still "unusual."
1. Hemorrhoids are common in all ages. They often resolve themselves. .
2. Especially when dealing with teenagers we try to respect their modesty. This is more true now than 10-15 years ago.
3. Unless there was a complaint by the patient it is unusual to check the prostate on a teenager OR perform any rectal exam, even to check for a hemorrhoid.
4. Regardless of the doctors policy the PATIENT is the one to decide. You can decline procedures. It is NOT "his call to make."
5. You CAN and SHOULD question the doctor if you have a question. They work for you and are just human beings like the rest of us.
6. Since you've had these physicals in the past I'd use another doctor next time.

absolutezero,

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with the doctor. Rectal exam is not necessary for sports physicals. In fact, hernia exams are not necessary for sports physicals.

Next time you have a sports physical, do not take your underwear off at all. 

I encourage you to consider filing a complaint with the state medical board about the doctor who did the rectal exam on you.

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I appreciate your excellent points. I appreciate how you believe patients have the right to decide what can be done to them. I would like to encourage you to check out Medical Patient Modesty's web site 

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you should have been provided with an examination gown and asked to remove all clothing but you would have been covered by the gown. in our region all participants receive thorough medical exams to include CAT scan of the head to compare after a potential iniury, EKG, stress test, max Vo2. The reason for this is we have had several kids in and around our region that have had health issues they never knew existed and in come cases it was tragic with the loss of life. So your doctor being thorough is nothing to worry about, our male athletes undergo hernia exam with ultrasound, male and female participants undergo rectal exams to ensure no blood is present especially in football players as they take hits to the abdomen that can cause problems further down the road.

I had my first one at 18. When the doc did it i got erect and expelled semen. I usually always do on rectal exam.

you a freak my guy