Examination Table vs Examination Chair

The new, electronically height-adjustable examination tables that are starting to appear in US gynecologists offices is marketed by the manufacturers as being "designed for patient comfort, providing maximum accessibility even for petite women … and safety for older or disabled patients."

I'm wondering how many women have had the opportunity to switch from the traditional examination "table" with traditional stirrups... to these newer, more modern "Patient Chairs". And for those whose Doctor has made the switch, what was your first impression when you walked into his or her examination room... and were faced with the new device?

Do you find the chairs to be any more or less comfortable? Do you feel any more or less exposed? Do you think the Doctor has greater access to the areas that need to be examined?

The advertisements seem to show an option for either "ergonomic leg plates or adjustable holders"… which have you experienced (I think here at Zity we tend to call the ergonomic leg plates as either cradles or back of knee supports)?

And finally, the ads seem to suggest "a completely relaxed examination situation"... do you feel any more relaxed in the chair vs. the table... or do you feel that perhaps the relaxed comment applies more to the Doctor being relaxed.… than to you, the patient??

Just wondering...

I've always had my exams in a traditional table but would be interesting to try a chair sometime but sounds awkward - might just be what I am used to though.

I recently visited my General Practitioner for a check up and noted that he had new exam tables. I commented that business must be good for him to replace all of his tables. They were the traditional table capable of all types of exams. He was very proud of them and even went the extra effort to point out that they were ADA compliant. He said that it was great to finally have exam tables that would lower to the level of a wheel chair or get low enough that a seriously infirm patient could easily get on it. I had never considered the need for an ADA compliant exam table.

Had an exam in one of the new chairs a while ago and I hated it with a passion. It reminded me too much of going to the dentist, which I have a number of serious phobias about, so I was mainly trying not to freak out and didn't notice if it was more comfortable/exposing/convenient for the doc/etc. Just give me a traditional table, stirrups, a thin cloth gown, and a crinkly paper drape and I'll be happy gal.

I've never experienced one of these chairs, my exams so far have been on a traditional table with stirrups. Although it does sound interesting and I wouldn't mind trying one if my doctor had replaced the exam table with this new exam chair type.

Sadly, all of my exams have been on tables. I would LOVE to experience a chair at some point. Might have to do some traveling to get that. Would like to experience the knee rests instead of regular heel stirrups.

Patient ¨chairs¨ are so much more flexible, relaxing, and comfortable for both the patient and the doctor. The ones we use actually start in the seated position, and can be manipulated easily and gently to angle as needed or even into flat-bed position. Less work for the patient. Kind of like the old saying, ¨Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight¨!

I've had multiple experiences with all types of gyn exam tables and chairs. I must say the one I would most like to experience again in a fantasy situation, versus the real life situation I first experienced it in, would be the gyn procedure chair. The chair had a supportive back, a u shaped seat that only supported the back of my thighs, thigh rests that put my legs in a comfortable position, but pulled them very far apart. The u shaped seat meant my butt and pelvis were always hanging off the table, making me feel very exposed and embarrassed. I was exposed in such a way that my doctor was able to slide his stool in very close to me, with his head and hands being able to get in even closer than usual. That close proximity heightened my embarrassment and humiliation level.

We have a examination table at home, for the fun of course. We don't use it as often as I would like to because she is not so motived for as love doctor nor as love patient. The target when buying it was for fun, caresses, hugs, arrousal, masturbation but not medfet, nice budget blocked ! That equipment must be confortable, like HMc writes " thigh rests that put my legs in a comfortable position, but pulled them very far apart. The u shaped seat meant my butt and pelvis were always hanging off the table, making me feel very exposed, arroused and offered to my partner fantasies. I was exposed in such a way that my doctor was able to slide his stool in very close to me, with his head and hands being able to get in even closer than usual. That close proximity heightened my excitement and desire fantasy level. " And like beccarnmommy writes " Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight¨ "

I've found these chairs to be more comfortable, but more intimidating as well. Still, I think they are an improvement over old fashioned exam tables and enable the doctor to do a much more thorough exam.

Was on a new chair for an exam in Japan, but still love the regular heel stirrups on a nice gyne exam table

The Japanese automatic exam chair look awesome - women on them must feel like a piece of meat on a production line - so horrid and impersonal!

I have a table and a chair and use them both. The chair is much more exposing. When her feet are in the calf rests and the table is reclined and the bottom section is lowered there is total unfettered access to her parts. However, the table with the stirrups has more of a reality thing going, as she has not been to a real doctor that has had a chair. Kind of funny/sad a playdoc having nicer equipment than the real doctors.

It's like genitals. It's not important what you have only how you use it. My equipment (or the EDs) may not be the fanciest but it works just fine. No patients have complained.

I definitely feel the chairs should eventually replace the tables for gyno exams. In all my play exams I prefer the imagery of the patient being transported from the upright sitting position to the vulnerable reclined position with possible restraint used as well.

I think the chairs sound intriguing!!

It would be rare to find one of these chairs in a gp's clinic the UK. Most genital examinations are performed with the patient in the frog leg position. A consultant in a hospital might well use a table with stirrups however.

I also like the models that combine several prices of equipment. This would include the exam/procedure lamp as well as a colposcope. It's kind of an integrated unit like a destiny chair that I think would make gyn procedures more efficient.

Here as Rockdoc said

It would be rare to find one of these chairs in a gp's clinic the UK. Most genital examinations are performed with the patient in the frog leg position. A consultant in a hospital might well use a table with stirrups however.

In my GP surgery it's definitely the frog leg position . However in the hospital for gynae/urology use it's mainly exam tables . These mostly have foot supports .

In one of my previous posts I stated that there was a new treatment room on the urology ward that I was next door too . This has one of the newer exam beds with knee supports . Both men and women use this bed for catheter insertions and exams . I know they have because I could hear everything through the wall , and it's the only exam bed in that room .

I found the newer exam bed with knee supports very comfortable.

I frequent clinics for professional reasons all over the USA and Canada, but mostly in the Southern USA. I have noticed an average GP clinic with 3 or 4 doctors working within it to have about 10 patient rooms. Eight will be "Exam Rooms" and have a typical box type table with put-away stirrups (until needed). Then there are always one or two "Procedure Rooms" which are larger and have the more expensive electric exam chairs. They have the knee crutches which stay out all the time and the cut-outs at the pelvic region and then big intimidating exam lights. When I ask a staff member how it's determined which patient gets which type of room I usually am told the doctor has it specified in the chart.

I've been examined in both but the practice i currently see uses traditional tables. The chairs are interesting because the position is different. The fact that are seated talking at first and then are moved into the more prone position is interesting.

Like Niknoks and Rockdoc have stated in the UK it would be unusual to fine an Examination Table or Chair will stirrups or leg supports at the GP. Most gynecological exams are performed in the traditional frog leg position. At hospital clinics you will find an exam table with stirrups or leg supports. Since BUPA has started to perform well woman exams, you will find exam tables with either leg supports or stirrups.

The more I read about the exam chairs and others experiences with them, or see pics of them, the more intrigued I am. Would very much like the experience of being examined on one. Oooh perhaps someday!

I take it you have only ever been in standard stirrups Jill?

Doc Rob

I take it you have only ever been in standard stirrups Jill?

Doc Rob

Yes correct Doc Rob, i have only been in foot stirrups.

I think it would be different in a good way to be in an exam chair. Only have experienced table with stirrups.

I'm in the US - I see two GYNs and they both just have the tables. Really would love to experience the chair though

From what I have been told, these "chairs" have been in use in Europe, first in Germany then elsewhere, for several years. It's a bit surprising that they have not made their way into the US market in much greater volume as of yet. Given American's craving for the "latest and greatest" and the marketing skills of our sales force, I'm amazed.

Is it possible somehow that US Doctors just don't find them to be very efficient? I can't imagine it is strictly a cost issue.

Doc Rob

My obgyn has tables that raise and lower. It's great for me because due to my mobility issues, I cannot get onto a traditional exam table and lay down on it. The stirrups are similar to the metal type, but are of some sort of material that looks like a hard plastic.

When I had the tv u/s yesterday, the pelvic u/s was done laying flat, then she turned the table into a chair for the tv part and used traditional stirrups.

I haven't seen chairs in any doc's office I go to, but twice I have been in one similar at the urologist. It looks like a regular chair, but can have the back lowered so you lay back, and the seat raised up and tipped back raising your bottom for exams. Your feet remain on a footrest thing which moves with the seat part and you never have to put your feet up on anything else. You just slide your feet outward and open your legs as instructed. Some of the tests are done when you are in more of a sitting position, but cystoscopies are done when you are laying back. But you never have to get out of the chair for the whole works!