Specifics on Medical Exam Process

[froman 0]

My fiance is pretty nervous about the medical examination required for the fiance K-1 VISA. I'd prefer not to go into the reasons, but it is causing some serious concern, even 6 months out. A few specific questions:

Can any woman (in particular) who have gone through the process describe in some detail what it entails? Specifically, did you have to expose yourself to the doctor? What sort of physical examination did the doctor do?

She will be doing the examination in London. I assume it is protocol for her to be permitted to request a female for all steps of the medical examination. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for your help. Good luck to you all.

[garfield529 47]

My fiance is pretty nervous about the medical examination required for the fiance K-1 VISA. I'd prefer not to go into the reasons, but it is causing some serious concern, even 6 months out. A few specific questions:

Can any woman (in particular) who have gone through the process describe in some detail what it entails? Specifically, did you have to expose yourself to the doctor? What sort of physical examination did the doctor do?

She will be doing the examination in London. I assume it is protocol for her to be permitted to request a female for all steps of the medical examination. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for your help. Good luck to you all.

I can tell you that a standard gynecological exam will be performed (looking for STDs). My fiancee is very modest and also had the same concern. As far as requesting a female doctor, I would suppose that is limited to the staff of the clinic or hospital that you use. Others can fill in more details.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

You'd probably be better off getting an answer in your country's section.

I know for Canada, there was no gynecological exam, just a peek down there to confirm your gender. I was given a breast exam and just a general physical where they check your organs from the outside n such, look in your ears eyes and mouth... but no interior vaginal exam.

It's different all over the world, so ask people in the England section for exact details

Edited December 12, 2009 by Rhiann

[Inky 1,110]

I had no gyno exam no peek no nothing. my doctor was a male but everyone else that i saw at the office was a female. The male doctor only asked me some questions, listend to my heart felt my neck and said ok go in the waiting room for the rest of the process. The whole time i was either clothed or wearing one of thos cloth gowns. No one ever saw my girl bits ! Mind you this was in canada.

Edited December 12, 2009 by Inky

[moonstone 85 0]

Hi,

Okay I also dindt have a gyn exam..no peek etc.

They made an x ray of my lungs so I had to take off my bra but there was a woman and the x ray took only seconds.

I had to fill out some papers, the doc checked my heartbeat, vision test etc..i was always enough dressed during that

You can check under "embassy information", go to your fiancees country and check the physicians..call them , ask what they do.

good luck

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

No gynea exam in Ireland either, nor a breast check, though the doctor did listen to my heartbeat front and back through a gown, and touched my stomach (this may have been because I recently- 4 months prior- gave birth). The only other "touchy" thing was knee reflex, and the blood drawn from my arm and shot he gave me for tetanus (in the upper thigh- could have had it in the arm but I know it can swell and hurt, so prefered to be given it in the thigh). I had a gown on for the x-ray too. Most of the exam was talking about my medical history.

I am not sure you can request a female doctor- I know the three names of doctors on the Irish US embassy's list were all male. It is standard though that if there is need for a examination of the private parts (breasts or down below) a female nurse or receptionist is present as a chaperone.

[rebeccajo 14]

Unless things have changed, there used to be a quick check of the 'bits' for exams in London. Not the whole gyno deal, but a quick look checking for visible signs of STD's and - believe it or not - to make sure you are the sex you say you are.

If there is a some history of abuse or molestation, and you state that when requesting the exam, perhaps a female doctor would be assigned.

To the OP - if you are 'new' here, you may be unaware that most females from the UK have an aversion to being examined 'that way' by a Doctor. I have no idea why (being the US female half of my relationship) but I've read about it for years in this community.

Moving this thread to the Consular Forums where the issue lies.

Edited December 13, 2009 by rebeccajo

[srogue 0]

Unless things have changed, there used to be a quick check of the 'bits' for exams in London. Not the whole gyno deal, but a quick look checking for visible signs of STD's and - believe it or not - to make sure you are the sex you say you are.

If there is a some history of abuse or molestation, and you state that when requesting the exam, perhaps a female doctor would be assigned.

To the OP - if you are 'new' here, you may be unaware that most females from the UK have an aversion to being examined 'that way' by a Doctor. I have no idea why (being the US female half of my relationship) but I've read about it for years in this community.

Moving this thread to the Consular Forums where the issue lies.

My wife, who is from the Philippines, did not have a Gyno exam, nor any "peeks" during her medical, but I have read about girls who did go through that, so i don't know what basis they decide to do that type of checking.

[English Muffin 59]

To the OP - if you are 'new' here, you may be unaware that most females from the UK have an aversion to being examined 'that way' by a Doctor. I have no idea why (being the US female half of my relationship) but I've read about it for years in this community.

Can you please provide some links that show that 'most' females from the UK have this aversion? You say you've read about it for years in this community but I don't remember seeing any such thing.

[English Muffin 59]

To the OP:

London don't do a gyno exam but they do check the genitals. It's very quick and the doctor just looks - they don't touch at all.

[rebeccajo 14]

To the OP - if you are 'new' here, you may be unaware that most females from the UK have an aversion to being examined 'that way' by a Doctor. I have no idea why (being the US female half of my relationship) but I've read about it for years in this community.

Can you please provide some links that show that 'most' females from the UK have this aversion? You say you've read about it for years in this community but I don't remember seeing any such thing.

English Muffin -

It's not something I can provide a specific link to. And I didn't mean anything derogatory by the comment. It's been my observation from reading this board for five years that a lot of gals from across the pond were really nervous about being examined 'down there'. Maybe there have not been so many postings in that regard lately, but there were lots of them when Wes was processing.

My only intention in bringing it up was to inform the OP that there may be a cultural aversion to the procedure. If I'm wrong then my apologies.

PS - we women in the US get poked and prodded full-blown from the time we have begun menstruating. I don't know if physicians in the UK follow that practice. My UK husband obviously can't answer that question for me. Perhaps you can.

[daveandlyn 0]

I have a question regarding this sputum test I've been reading about. First of all, are there any questions about if one has ever had a positive test? They don't give a TB skin test as part of the medical right? My wife just finished the meds for latent TB and her xray is clear. Will they still do a sputum? My hope is not as this will totally be a bummer.

[Guitarlo 2]

My fiance is pretty nervous about the medical examination required for the fiance K-1 VISA. I'd prefer not to go into the reasons, but it is causing some serious concern, even 6 months out. A few specific questions:

Can any woman (in particular) who have gone through the process describe in some detail what it entails? Specifically, did you have to expose yourself to the doctor? What sort of physical examination did the doctor do?

She will be doing the examination in London. I assume it is protocol for her to be permitted to request a female for all steps of the medical examination. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for your help. Good luck to you all.

My wife and her son went through St. Lukes, Manila. She fell in line at the door 6:00 a.m. - The first day she was there until 10:00 p.m. It was exhuasting and uncomfortable. It was very cold from aircon. It was extremely busy and seemed at times to border on chaos but it does get done. She saw some female doctors for the undress procedures. She had many tests, blood, x-ray, urine, etc. The second day she spent the afternoon. Unfortunately, for her, she had to come back and had to be subjected to a lengthy psychological evaluation because she had been annuled twice. I don't believe you can request doctors but I don't know what's it like where she will be.

[CherilynandDamion 1]

I was at my London medical last week and the girl that was there at the same time as me had a female doctor's assisstant present through the initial health check. There is a female doctor there too, so it seems that no matter what they make sure that a female is present when you are having your check. The check is only external also, so it really is just a very quick check to make sure you are what you say you are and a visible check for STDs. The doctor will probably not even make physical contact for that check. It is mainly visual. It's really nothing to get too worked up about, they are very professional and very very efficient. They do everything they can to make you feel comfortable. The receptionist is really helpful so I would suggest just giving her a call to ask any questions that you have.

[English Muffin 59]

My only intention in bringing it up was to inform the OP that there may be a cultural aversion to the procedure. If I'm wrong then my apologies.

PS - we women in the US get poked and prodded full-blown from the time we have begun menstruating. I don't know if physicians in the UK follow that practice. My UK husband obviously can't answer that question for me. Perhaps you can.

There's certainly no cultural aversion to it. There are no doubt some British women who aren't keen on gyno exams, just like there are some American women who aren't keen on them either. I don't think there are many British women who really enjoy them and can't wait for their next one - and I'll bet there aren't many American women like that either.

And yes, we are subjected to being poked and prodded from around puberty.