Incomplete Testicular Exam

I went in for my physical exam last week and was very unhappy with it. She reached down and rubbed the side of one testicle, and then pushed up a little bit (not far) into my scrotum and that was it. She didn't roll the testicles around in her hand. No "turn your head and cough" check for hernias (she claims she can feel them without that), and I don't think she even touched one testicle.

While I grant you that, being in my 40's, I am beyond the age group likely to get testicular cancer, if she was going to touch down there at all, I would at least expect a complete exam.

What do you think? What constitutes a complete testicular/groin check for you?

I am thinking about finding a new doctor. Prostate cancer runs in my family (she knows it), and she also didn't do a prostate check because the standards now indicate that you wait until your 50 for that (but they also say that the DRE can start at 45 if you have a family history, and I am over 45)

I'd find a new doctor.. I've found you can switch docs pretty easy without even having to release medical records. I have two GPs so I can get two physicals a year.

You should have asked, but i'd find a new one...

Perhaps she was sidetracked or rushed with this appointment since you have seen her before? In best cases, each doctor handles the care of each patient as an individual, sometimes doing exams because of family history, other times because doctor and patient have discussed the patient's concerns, whether or not they are consistent with current trends.

I have never had such a cursory exam as that which you describe. Even if the rest of the exam is cursory, which I often find with employment or insurance physicals, the genital and hernia exams have always been detailed. Often the genital and hernia exams take as long as the exam of other body parts combined. Most of the time, this consists of being instructed to stand in front of the examiner facing him and being instructed to slip down the shorts. Usually, the doctor just looks at my penis, takes each testicle in his hand and rolls it around thoroughly, then pushes his index finger up through the scrotum into the groin and instructs me to turn my head and cough. I have occasionally had the doctor take the head of my penis between his thumb and index finger and spread the meatus.( If I was the doctor, I would do this every time.) I would think anything less than this would be inadequate.