Ladies, a couple of questions about your OB-GYN visits

[ead79]

I was talking with some coworkers about their experience at their OB-GYN's office. They see the same one, so they both have all the same tests done. But mine seems to work differently. So I'm curious what your experience is.

At your routine annual exam, do you have a finger prick and/or a urinalysis done. I've never had either as part of my routine annual, but they have them both every time.

Is there a nurse present in the room during your exam if your doctor is a woman? They seemed to think it was required by law, but I thought it's only required if your OB-GYN is male. My doctor is a woman, and she's always done the exam by herself. It doesn't bother me, but I'm just curious if that's the norm or not.

So, what are your experiences?

 

[Christine]

My OB-GYNs haven't done a urinalysis in a LONG time. They say that is no longer required unless pregnant or exhibiting symptoms. I've never had the finger prick done, but my daughter's pediatrician did start doing that once menstruation started. The GYN does not.

The one thing my GYN still does, that many others have dropped, is the rectal stool sample. He says he's picked up a few stages of colon cancer so he's not giving it up, although the other doctors in his practice no longer do it.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Urine yes, blood prick, no.

As for someone in the room. My doctor is a man, but no one else is in the room., so the laws must vary? There ae signs all over saying you can ask for a nurse to be there, but I am quite comfortabe with him and have never asked.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

No finger prick or urinalysis. But I have a PCP.

My doctor is a male and no, there is no nurse in the room. I'm absolutely fine with that...and grateful. I want to be able to speak freely with him, and am not the least bit worried about any inappropriate behavior.

 

[castmemberb4]

Mine does both every time.

 

[Christine]

Oh, I forgot to add: my GYN requires a nurse in the room. I have noticed that the female doctors also have one come in.

 

[Minnesota!]

No finger prick, no urinalysis, no nurse in the room (but I have a woman). When I saw males after I had my kids, there were no nurses, either..

 

[Jennasis]

No finger prick, no urinalysis. Nurse was in room when I had my regular doc doing exams. Nurse also in room for my new gyno who is a woman but it's because she assists during exam.

 

[RachaelA]

No urine, finger prick or nurse in room (my gyno was a female).

I've never had a nurse in the room for my OB visits either and my OB is a male.

 

[DisneyGirl928]

When I lived in NJ, I did have a woman Dr and she did not do the finger prick, but she did do the urinalysis. Also, she did not have a nurse in the room with her when she did the exam, which was good since my MIL was a nurse there lol

In FL where I live now, my OB, who is female, does have a nurse in the room during the exam. They do not do the finger prick, but they do the urinalysis since I am pregnant.

 

[simba20]

Yes to all.

The way my GYN's office is set up, is that you sign in and wait in ultra fancy waiting area #1. We're talking plush couches and chairs, tons of magazines, etc.

Then your name is xalled and you are taken to triage. A long hallway right behind waiting room #1 which has a mini-lab and four bathrooms. Your weight is taken and then you are told to go into rom #1, 2, 3, or 4 (the bathrooms) and pee in a cup. By the time you pull your pants up and wash your hands, they've already tested the sample. You then come out and they prick your finger and take blood pressure. I have a family history or diabetes, was also treated as a gestational diabetic, and in the past I have been anemic so I am always aksing "What are my numbers?" Back when I was 21, I was so anemic, that they nurse asked how I managed to walk in. My number should have been a 13 or higher, and I was at a 6.

After that, you sit in waiting area #2 for a super long time, and it's just as fancy as waiting area #1 (except more ocuches) until you are called back for your exam.

When called back, each GYN has their own nurse and she leads you to the exam room and does the interview portion of the competition. Asks how you've been, any concerns/problems/ etc. She hand you the paper gown and leaves for you to get dressed. Adter another long wait int he paper gown, the GYN finally comes in and does the exam, with nurse in tow who is collecting all samples and such.

After this my GYN leaves for me to get dressed, and either she (the GYN) or her nurse will come back in and give me any further instructions, papers (Rxs), tec. This is also the portion where my GYN (who was also my primary doctor for so long) will decide if she wants to send me back to the lab for more tests or blood draws, etc. Last year she had me do a one hour glucose test which I fialed. I now see a diabetes doctor on top of seeing my GYN yearly.

After this I walk up tot he ultra fancy front desk area and make my appt for next year.

 

[golfgal]

No urinalysis or finger prick but I get blood drawn for my thyroid so I don't know if other people get a finger prick or not. Female dr, no nurse.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Finger prick, nope. Urinalysis, yes. Nurse in room, nope. And my GYN is a male. I'm fine with that and would not feel the slightest bit uncomfortable asking for one if I wanted one there.

 

[ead79]

Thanks for all the feedback! It's good to hear that my doctor's office seems to follow pretty typical protocols.

My co-workers made me think I was crazy to not be getting all this stuff, but then again they have decided my OB-GYN is a quack (long story there, based on them now knowing what they are talking about and my refusal to argue until I'm blue in the face).

My primary care doctor is always who has done my finger prick and urinalysis. My OB-GYN just does the exam, the nurse takes blood pressure and weight, and that's about it.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Finger prick and urinalysis are only done if the doctor suspects something, not as a part of the general exam.

As for the nurse/MA in the room, they don't have to do it but most the doctors I have been around (both male and female) do this just so there is a witness to everything that goes on. There have been too many people making up accusations in order to get a big payoff, so they don't take any chances.

 

[Wishing on a star]

My old GYN always did the blood from the finger prick (with the lancets from he-double-hockey-sticks) and a urine sample.

My current one does not require either (unless he might see some reason, of course)

He is male, and there is a nurse/assistant present.

 

[MIGrandma]

I used to get the finger prick for blood done, but they haven't done it the last several times. I asked about it the first time they didn't do it and they said they weren't required to do it anymore. I still think it should be done for everyone.

I'm not sure I get the urine test for my gyn exam, because I always incorporate my 6-month diabetic check-up with that and they do have me do a urine test.

My gyn is a female, so there is no nurse in the room during the exam. I hadn't even thought about that since I switched a few years ago.

 

[Rora]

Urine- yes. Blood prick- No. Nurse present- No (I have a female DR).

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

My old OB/Gyn was male. At his office they did both the finger prick and the urinalysis at every annual checkup. A nurse would come into the room while he was performing the actual exam but she would leave if he was just in there talking to me.

My new Gyn is female. At her office she did not do the finger prick and only did a urinalysis after I asked about it. A nurse was present in the room during the exam.

 

[CKBear]

I get the finger prick and the urinalysis done every year, and my Dr is a female and she has a nurse in the room during the actual exam, she comes in alone to begin with so that we can discuss any issues I may have. The nurse doesn't just stand there though, she seems to be holding the tubes for the samples the doctor takes and also giving the doctor the instruments she needs for the exam.