"Please remove all your clothes, including underwear, and put on this gown. The doctor will be with you shortly," said the nurse.
"My shirt, too?"
The nurse continued typing and didn't look up. "Yes, please, and your bra. We'll be doing a full exam today."
"Ok."
The nurse left the room.
I stripped and set my clothes on a chair, stuffed my socks in my shoes. It was a bit chilly but not too bad. The typical hospital gown was as awkward as usual. I was always a little tempted to ignore it and see if it bothered them. It didn't bother me.
I sat on the similarly awkward hospital bed, dangling my legs in boredom. The doctor always seemed to take ten or fifteen minutes to find their way after the nurse left.
Today, I was at my gynecologist's for a routine checkup two weeks after getting an IUD. I'm nineteen, in college, I like sex = birth control, duh. It only took me this long because my boyfriend almost religiously used a condom.
Ex-boyfriend.
We just... hadn't worked out. Happens. But it meant I was looking for a new partner and it didn't hurt to be careful.
Anyways, the expected ten minutes later, the doctor knocked and walked in.
"Hello, Emma. Good to see you again. How are you today?" he said politely.
Yes, my gynecologist was male. Again, this stuff just didn't bother me. He's a doctor, whatever.
"Hi, John." I smiled. I figured anyone who got to see my vagina up close ought to be on a first-name basis. It only took a few visits to convince him of that too; John had been my gynecologist for several years now. "The nurse said a full exam? I thought I was caught up for the rest of the year."
He rolled over a stool and sat next to me, clipboard in hand. "Yes, it's routine for an IUD checkup. The hormone may cause changes in your body and we want to make sure we have a good baseline."
"Oh. Sure." Doctor stuff, fair enough.
He flipped a page. "I see your STI tests from last time were all negative. Have you had any partners since then?"
I shook my head. "Nope." He'd said to wait until after this exam. I hadn't had sex for over a month now, actually; I was getting antsy.
"Great."
He set the clipboard down and pulled out the usual stirrups for my legs. "Please lie down and sit at the edge of the bed, Emma."
I was already scooting my butt forward. Same as two weeks ago, after all. About the right spot was when it felt like I was almost falling off the bed. I laid back and stuck my feet in the contraption, the gown riding up to my hips.
"Perfect, thank you," he said from between my legs. I smiled at him.
John was more cute than handsome but there was nothing wrong with that. I'd guess he was in his thirties; he looked kinda young for a doctor.
He moved to the side of the bed and lifted up a strange pole at my shoulder.
The pole extended straight up about a foot, then bent parallel to and across the bed. He slid a cloth on it, the material settling on my collarbone. I couldn't see most of the room now.
"What's this for?" I asked.
From beyond the screen, he said, "It's a new procedure to keep things professional. Does it make you uncomfortable?"
I shrugged. "No, it's fine."
"Great. We'll start with the pelvic exam. Just a moment."
I heard the snap of gloves and a drawer opening, then his hand touched my thigh lightly.
"Alright, I'm putting the speculum in. You're going to feel some pressure."
Ugh. I grimaced while he did his thing. After a few moments, he spoke again.
"Everything looks normal. The IUD looks to be in perfect position. Is it causing you any discomfort?"
"Nope."
"Good. I'm taking the speculum out now." Oh good.
More glove snapping.
"I'm going to do a breast exam now, ok?"
"Sure."
His warm hand brushed aside the gown and massaged my breasts, one at a time. He was very thorough, slowly kneading my flesh from all angles, his thumb occasionally circling my nipple.