This has been playing on my mind a lot I need to discuss it. At the time I didn't think about it at all. When I was 12 I got sick and I had to go for regular check ups with the doctor. He always had to pull down my trowsers to take a look at me and I've been wondering if there was a medical reason he needed to do that? I was taking steroids at the time so does that sound OK to you?

Fill me in. Why were you taking steroids at 12? And what exactly were you being examined for?

When I was 12 I got ulcerative colitis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcerative_colitis) for no apparent reason. Steroids were part of the treatment. I was thinking because of my age and the steroids, there was a reason for him to take a look there.

When I was 12 I got ulcerative colitis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcerative_colitis) for no apparent reason. Steroids were part of the treatment. I was thinking because of my age and the steroids, there was a reason for him to take a look there.



Steroids can reduce the size of the testicles. Is that what he was checking (trusting you are a male)?

Steroids can reduce the size of the testicles. Is that what he was checking (trusting you are a male)?

Yes that was probably it then. He didn't explain why at the time I only remember I didn't like it.

Physicians don't usually examine a persons genitals without a nurse or parent in the room.

Was that the case?

Yes most of the time I think. But there was a curtain pulled round the bed so they couldn't really see what was going on.

It's normal for a physician to undress a patient to give a complete physical exam. Also he could have been checking for blood in the stool or a discharge. A professional would always have a nurse present when doing any type of exam or procedure but that is voluntary, more of a malpractice insurance thing