Drew was never one to visit the doctor unless he absolutely had to. At twenty-three, he was healthy and active, albeit somewhat shy when it came to personal topics. But that day, as he sat in the waiting room of the small clinic, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. A dull ache had been bothering him in his lower abdomen for a few days, and though it wasn't intense, it lingered enough that he decided to get it checked out.
A quiet female voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Drew? The doctor will see you now."
He looked up and smiled politely at the nurse. She guided him through a maze of hallways before pointing to a small examination room. Inside, a neatly dressed woman in a white coat stood reviewing some charts. She turned, and their eyes met.
"Hello, Drew. I'm Dr. Mitchell," she said, extending a hand. Her voice was calm and reassuring, yet there was an undeniable confidence about her that instantly put him on edge and at ease all at once--a strange mix of nerves and comfort.
He shook her hand and sat on the padded chair near the exam table. She had a warm smile and eyes that seemed genuinely concerned about his discomfort. After asking him a series of routine questions--family medical history, daily habits, and details about the nagging ache--Dr. Mitchell pushed her chair closer, crossing her legs.
"Well, based on what you're describing," she explained, "it may be a mild issue with your prostate or possibly something related to your bladder. I'd like to perform a brief examination. It might be a bit uncomfortable, but it's important to understand what's going on."
Drew's heart started pounding. He had heard about prostate exams from jokes among his friends and random health articles, but never had he experienced one. "Sure," he managed, the word leaving his mouth a little more quickly than he intended.
Dr. Mitchell offered a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. I'll explain everything I'm doing. If you feel any discomfort that's too much, let me know."
The Examination Begins
She directed him to change into a gown and wait on the table. Drew obeyed, feeling a little self-conscious under the sterile fluorescent lights. He pulled the thin, open-backed gown on, lay down on the exam table, and exhaled slowly to calm his nerves. Soon, Dr. Mitchell returned, pulling on a pair of blue latex gloves with a snap that seemed especially loud in the quiet room.
"All right, Drew," she said, her tone professional yet kind, "I'll need you to lie on your side and draw your knees up slightly."
He followed her instructions, his face growing warm as he felt the cool air against his skin and the light material of the gown hardly covering him. Dr. Mitchell pressed gently on his abdomen first, asking if he felt any tenderness. Then she explained she would do a rectal exam to check his prostate. He swallowed hard and nodded, trying to steady his breathing.
"This might feel unusual," she warned. "You'll feel a bit of pressure."
True to her word, the sensation was undeniably strange: a cool dab of lubricant, followed by the gentle, gloved pressure of her fingertip. Drew sucked in a breath. The initial intrusion was uncomfortable, but as she carefully probed, he realized it wasn't painful--just incredibly foreign. He hadn't been touched like this before.
A Surprising Reaction