A Funny Thing Happened at the Gynecologist Today
Sep 17th, 2007 by Nola
As I am waiting for the doctor to come see me for my annual exam, I hear him outside the exam room. “Nola . . . recently had a baby . . . the ninth of June. . . is an attorney. . . .” What? Why is me being an attorney relevant? I think it is because I suspect that every doctor who hears that his patient is an attorney immediately thinks “attorneys sue!” to themselves as a defense mechanism.
The doc walks in alone and asks if I’d mind if a third year med student could do the exam. Sure, why not? How else are fledgling wanna-be doctors gonna learn?
We go through the Q & A part of the exam–do I smoke or drink? Any problems? Chit chat about my recent bout of mastitis. Then the doc exams me. Then he asks the student to do so. And then he asks her, “Is her uterus antiflex or retroverted or can you tell?” I’m all, “what the???” But then she begins the exam. My initial thought was, “Hey! He said my uterus not my tonsils!” Yipes.
Then she is done. She turns to my doc and says, “I’d guess [boy, those are some words that strike confidence from a doctor, huh?] retroverted.” And then my doc say, “No. It’s antiflex.” There is a bit of giggling (ok, I think that came from me–and it may have only been in my head) and then my doc goes on to explain the tell-tale signs of an antiflex uterus. Oh my. Well, this science class has been lovely and all, think I to myself, but can we wrap it up already??
I don’t know the difference between an antiflex and a retroverted uterus and whether mine being antiflex was good, bad or indifferent (maybe that was covered with the next patient). But I will admit that this whole med-student quiz tickled me but good. I enjoyed that she seemed to know no more about my internal anatomy than I did. Or maybe she was just nervous thinking I’d sue her if she got it wrong.
Stumble it!
HAHAH. That is funny. But you got examined twice? Wow you are better than me b/c no way was I going to go through that twice for a student or otherwise. HAHA
You are so silly. I had this when I was getting exams at UNO. I like how they ask you casually, “Oh, not only are you gonna have one hand up your crotch, but could you do me a solid and let this total stranger treat you like a hand puppet, too.” What am I suppose to say to that, sure my vagina is open to the world, let them all come and learn from me?
Now, I must go look up what all the uterus talk is about. Man, I am not getting any work done today.
oh boy save me from untrained gynocologists. that’s like my WORST nightmare!
I don’t let rookies poke around in there any more after the last one didn’t even know WHERE MY CERVIX WAS.
Cody had a law book with him when he went to the doc the other day. It really does strike fear into the hearts of doctors to deal with your kind I guess.
I don’t know what either term means, but I know i am retroverted. They seem to tell me at each exam and with each child.
Anyway, short story related to yours. I had a crush on a med student in college. My (pre-med) roommate agreed to be a volunteer for med students to practice gyno exams. (She got paid - i guess desperation kicked in!) Anyhow, she is all laid up and in walks my crush. She knows him and he knows her. She said she about died! She got her exam anyway and crawled home to tell me about it!
BayouVieux, how embarrassing for your friend! I’d have had to have said no to that!!! Yipers. Great story!
Hahahaha. Oh, how awful. I died at “He said my uterus not my tonsils!” HAHAHAHA. Yipes indeed!
i am with you on letting someone learn—but NOT in that department!
hahaha.
My doctor ALWAYS had students with him…it scares me that he never asked them questions like! Oh, maybe that’s what the hour and a half wait was for!
I followed over here from Twas Brillig. You are brave to let a thrid year do your, erm, inspection. I’m not sure I could do that with confidence.
Now all you have to do is hope you don’t get two bills!
Funny story. Not so funny for you though.
Hi, visiting from Brill’s.
The things we women have to put up with.
‘Is her uterus antiflex or retroverted’
What???????