Examination Gowns

In many countries and especially in the North America it is typical that you are given a gown during a physical exam. You are usually asked to undress all clothes underneath it and before wearing a gown, literally, you are naked.

In Europe gowns are not used in many countries. For example in the country where I live, gowns are only used for surgical exams. They are not used for a regular physical exam.

My question is, do you consider that you are naked even if you are wearing a gown the whole time. In this situation is it right to say that you are really naked. And if you had a chance to choose, would you rather be examined by wearing a gown and being naked underneath it or in your underwear without any gown.

Personally, if I were to wear a gown, I wouldn't say that I was naked. I'd say that I was wearing only a gown. I never wear gowns. My personal preference for a physical is to get completely naked, then put a small paper drape over my lap while I'm sitting there waiting for the doctor. At that point I am naked except for the small drape. The exam begins with the drape still in place, but it is quickly removed as the exam progresses.

For about the last ten years I stopped wearing the gowns even if the nurse instructs me to put it on. I just strip down to my boxer briefs and have a seat on the table. I remove the underwear completely when it comes time for the intimate parts of the exam. I never had a single doctor male or female question me about not wearing the gown. I also think I get more bang for my buck because the doctor can see more of my skin even if it is not my dermatologist. Gowns in my opinion for males are ridiculous, I do think they work when you need them like after surgery.

Not sure I understand the question. If you're wearing a gown, then no, you're not naked.

Here in Italy we do not use gowns, do not know what happens in other European countries....Personally if I were to wear one I would not feel 'naked' even if I know I'd have nothing under it. And I should add, I always 'envied' those American patients who wear a gown during physical and/or gyno exams...I think it is a better and a proper attire in a hospital or doctor's office.

I agree although I don't have experience in gowns. I feel fine to be only in my underwear during an exam without any gown.

For women it could be a modesty thing, I think.

One more thing about gowns. Back when I did actually wear gowns (I don't bother now), I felt that I was actually more nervous sitting there waiting in the gown. It made me more apprehensive during the exams -- just waiting for my doctor to have to peek under the gown. Now, when I just strip down and go without the gown, I get over any apprehension immediately and can actually relax (and enjoy 😁) the exam.

I have to agree with others that have posted, your not really naked if your wearing a gown. I know in some countries, the patient disrobes, they are examined, and then put their clothes back on. That is when you are really naked. Here I am naked under the gown, the doctor drops the front of the gown to listen to my chest, and do the breast exam, then covers me up. When he does the pelvic exam, I am already wide open, so I am not really naked. To me the only need for the gown is to stave off the chill of the exam room.

I much prefer having a gown on, though I hate the paper gowns that are used so much nowadays. Being of "above average" size, they rarely fit. The one time I did not have a gown, many years ago, I was given a sheet to cover up with (a regular sheet, not paper). The doc laughed when he came into the room, as I was sitting on the table with the sheet wrapped around me. He said he could not examine me like that and helped unwrap me.

As useless as they seem to be, I think they're a formality that culture dictates necessary. Personally I don't see much practical use for them. But psychologically they're important - to preserve dignity and privacy. As far as being naked, well if you have a gown on then you have some article of clothing on, so therefore that's not naked. =P

That is exactly what occurs at my present doctor as well. The gown comes down to my waist for the breast exam and then is pulled back up.

If I am wearing a gown, I still feel naked.

I like to either "strip as I go" or wear my bra and panties...I don't like gowns...they make me feel like I'm wearing a potato sack and that makes me feel far from sexy. I live in Canada and have only once had to wear a gown in a real exam.

The only time I have ever had to wear a gown is when i have had a op on my hand so had to take one arm out of the gown anyway. I have never had an exam at the docs that required me to strip off so don't know if I would wear the gown or not.

I think having a gown on does not make you naked, it just covers what is not being examined at the time.

Naked with a gown or with just underwear one or the other to start but would prefer to be completly naked by the time it was all said and done

I actually feel more exposed when I am wearing the gown with nothing underneath because I know that if I have to move around (or if the playdoc positions himself correctly) I will be exposed even though I technically have something on. For me the gown is the patient's uniform just like scrubs or a white coat are the doctor's uniform. Wearing the gown shows I'm a patient and that I have to act like one. Anyway, that just me!

I kind of like the peekaboo effect of the gown.

Did anyone else put it on backwards the first time? Seemed reasonable to me - that's how bathrobes work.

I prefer to have a gown but during my last physical I was surprised and was told to take off everything except my underwear. The doctor left while I stripped and when he came back he resumed my physical with me just in my boxers. So when he did everything under the waist, he asked me to just take them off. As little as the gown may provide, I still prefer it.

In my experience, all I can say is that there are gowns... and then there are gowns. For instance, I feel a whole lot more covered if the gown I am offered to put on after I completely strip is of actual cloth.

Those disposable paper gowns are, to my mind anyway, even worse than being totally naked.

With a gown on no you're not naked.

I would not consider myself to be naked if I had only a gown on. I have only had one exam that utilized a gown and I was told to strip down to my shorts and put the gown on. This made for an awkward experience when it came time for the genital/hernia/rectal. The gown opened in the front and the doctor held it open as he instructed me to drop my shorts down. All the other exams I have ever experienced were started with me stripped down to my shorts and just slipping them down at that most embarrassing time of the exam.

Well, if you are wearing a gown then technically you are not naked. I don't prefer a gown.

I've heard a few different things as far as what females have worn at a physical exam...here are examples...

Exam gown (one piece) -open in front, cloth or paper

Exam gown (one piece)- open in back, cloth or paper

Exam gown (two pieces) - paper shirt to waist, and sheet for legs (opens in front or opens in front)

Exam gown - paper shirt to waist,no sheet on bottom, just underwear (opens in front or opens in back

Bra and panties. Just panties, nothing on top. Naked.

Are there others? What have you worn? Please be as detailed as possible!

When I was going to a pediatrician, I just wore my panties. The family doctor that I go to now examines me in my bra and panties with no gown. I saw another family doctor a couple of times who had me wear a paper exam gown (open in back) with my panties on under it.

We all get given cloth gown and I always put it on so opens at the back but not been told to so assume its personal choice. if the visit is specifically gyn related then just undress bottom half.

Growing up I only undressed to panties and started getting gown around 13 ish

There are still general practitioners out there who will examine female patients in just br and panties and no gown? Has anyone else had this experience or is it very rare?

For me,when i go to my GP,I must remove my clothing down to my BRA and PANTIES,and then put on a cloth gown with the opening towards the back.When I go to my gyn,it is remove everythingand put on the cloth gown but opening towards the front and then get myself up on the table,and put my legs into stirrups.All this required undressing is always done after nurse first comes in to get vitals done first.

Over here in germany gowns are not in common......so for gyn exams ladies just take off pants and underpants....and at GP undressed till underwear

Exam gown (one piece)- open in back, cloth