Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Pelvic exam by a medical student for the first time

Paul B. Kubin, PA-C
Education
February 10, 2011
445 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

They say you never forget your first “real” patient.  Mine was a woman who didn’t need a pelvic exam, but who got one anyway.

Next door, minutes later, my second patient provided another personal first: a male genital and rectal exam, also, without need. Medical students like me begin training by practicing the basics on one another–listening to heart sounds, and looking into each other’s ears and eyes—but eventually, every clinician-in-training must lay hands on a complete stranger.  As medical students, this is a moment we look forward to as the official start to our medical career, and also dread for its awkward potential to demonstrate how much we have yet to learn.

Historically, it has been common practice for medical students to do full exams on each other, irrespective of their genders. Yes, you read that right.  Imagine being told to shuffle into an exam room with another student (male or female) to look at, listen to, and feel each other’s anatomy – and I mean all of it.  The rationale for this practice is the belief that the only way a clinician can understand what a patient goes through is to spend some time going through it too.  It’s an admirable goal, but let’s face it: your doctor or physician assistant, no matter how caring, is not your friend.

My school, a University of California medical school, did it this way until about 2004, and I give thanks every day that students are now broken in a little more gently.  Nowadays we only do the simple exams on each other while wearing shorts and shirts or bras.  Later, when it comes to the more “invasive” exams, we work with standardized patients. These are “real” strangers who are paid on a per-exam basis to provide the type of learning experience you can’t get from a plastic model.  Usually they are the first strangers we touch as medical students.

Despite the time spent preparing for my first standardized patient, the days leading up to the experience were full of dread.  I read my texts carefully.  I practiced on anatomical models.  My dreams were fraught with visions of passing out under the stirrups, or nervously saying something stupid, like “Well, everything looks great down here!”  I even asked my wife what a pelvic was like. “Honey,” she rolled her eyes, “you have no idea.”  It wasn’t helpful at all, but that was the point; I needed to figure it out for myself.

She was right, of course; I had no idea.  Thankfully my patient was a cheerful woman who had worked with students before.  She noticed how nervous I was, and made a joke or two to put me at ease.  She even gave me helpful feedback about my technique – feedback that I know better than to go into here.  Despite my fears, it turned out fine.  It was a great (if surreal) experience, and I realize now that everyone has to start somewhere, even if that somewhere is totally lost.

Paul B. Kubin is a physician assistant student who blogs at Inside PA Training.

Prev

How anchoring leads to misdiagnosis

February 10, 2011 Kevin 7
…
Next

A person's attitude toward their illness has a huge impact

February 10, 2011 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: Medical school, Patients

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How anchoring leads to misdiagnosis
Next Post >
A person's attitude toward their illness has a huge impact

More by Paul B. Kubin, PA-C

  • Insider tips for drug reps to get more face time with clinicians

    Paul B. Kubin, PA-C

More in Education

  • The role of income in medical school acceptance

    Carter Do
  • Balancing tension and kindness in medical education

    Chloe N. L. Lee, MD, MPH
  • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

    Nandini Erodula
  • A chance encounter in Chicago: lessons in compassionate medicine

    Emily S. Hagen
  • Business education’s role in preventing physician practice decline

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • The impact of assumptions on patient communication in medical training

    Esther Covington
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 21 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • COVID Drug and New Mutations; Costco Offers $29 Care; Trump Unmasked Over Bronzer
  • Long COVID Rare in U.S. Kids, Has Affected 7% of Adults
  • Vascular Conditions Offer No Clarity on Pollution-Dementia Link
  • FDA Staff Voice Serious Concerns About Investigational ALS Cell Therapy
  • Primary Prevention Benefits of Lowering LDL Also Apply to the Elderly

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Pelvic exam by a medical student for the first time
21 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...