Medical - What is the reason for visual check of genitalia?

[Cathi 5,757]

It wasn't difficult to find, here is your answer. They listen to your heart, lungs, blood pressure; they will check your genitals to ensure you are the sex you say you are.

found in this link

https://immigrantvisa.wordpress.com/

[traveler100 20]

I'm sure there are reasons for it. Exactly what those reasons are, as you can see from the answers above, people can only venture to guess. Maybe doing a Google search would be your best bet for finding the answer, if in fact there is an answer that is public knowledge.

Ok, so I decided to do some research and get to the bottom of this. It seems the visual check is for std purposes., at least that's what the official story is. From USCIS website;

"The Technical Instructions also state that for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) other than syphilis, the medical history and physical examination must include a search for symptoms or lesions consistent with chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, or lymphogranuloma venereum. Further testing should be done as necessary to confirm a suspected diagnosis. There are separate instructions for the syphilis evaluation portion of the examination. An inspection of the external genital area is required because several STDs are included among the medical conditions that may make an individual inadmissible to the United States. See the medical history and physical examination component of the Technical Instructions on the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/technical-instructions/civil-surgeons/medicalhistory-physical-examination.html. The Technical Instructions do not require or recommend Pap smears. Routine chlamydia testing also is not required. However, the Technical Instructions recommend civil surgeons to the CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/toc.htm) . This guideline recommends gonococcal treatment which is also effective against chlamydia because of high rates of co-infection."

I just think they should make sti tests standard for everyone, and eliminate the whole visual inspection thing. There's nothing that can't be caught in tests that an quick may find or miss and it is just uncomfortable and awkward.

[TabeaK 517]

Hmm. Wasn't done at my physical in Germany. Interpretation of the rules seems country specific.

[yuna628 9,677]

Ok, so I decided to do some research and get to the bottom of this. It seems the visual check is for std purposes., at least that's what the official story is. From USCIS website;

"The Technical Instructions also state that for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) other than syphilis, the medical history and physical examination must include a search for symptoms or lesions consistent with chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, or lymphogranuloma venereum. Further testing should be done as necessary to confirm a suspected diagnosis. There are separate instructions for the syphilis evaluation portion of the examination. An inspection of the external genital area is required because several STDs are included among the medical conditions that may make an individual inadmissible to the United States. See the medical history and physical examination component of the Technical Instructions on the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/technical-instructions/civil-surgeons/medicalhistory-physical-examination.html. The Technical Instructions do not require or recommend Pap smears. Routine chlamydia testing also is not required. However, the Technical Instructions recommend civil surgeons to the CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/toc.htm) . This guideline recommends gonococcal treatment which is also effective against chlamydia because of high rates of co-infection."

I just think they should make sti tests standard for everyone, and eliminate the whole visual inspection thing. There's nothing that can't be caught in tests that an quick may find or miss and it is just uncomfortable and awkward.

I can assure you the Knightsbridge doctor did not just do a visual inspection.

Though I have heard it varies from doctor to doctor at the various practices whether they utilize only visual, only physical, both, or no inspection at all - at least based on immigrant reports and experiences.

Edited March 26, 2016 by yuna628

[traveler100 20]

I can assure you the Knightsbridge doctor did not just do a visual inspection.

Oh my!! what else did the knightsbridge doctor do to you???!!

[yuna628 9,677]

Oh my!! what else did the knightsbridge doctor do to you???!!

A visual and physical inspection. Yes, he was not happy about it at all. I've heard some patients just reported a quick glance and others had doctors a little more hands on. Guess he had the bad luck of the draw.

S'ok. He's moved past it I think.

Edited March 26, 2016 by yuna628

[Girl from Celebes 588]

I did not get check (thank God) for my K-1 visa as well as for I-693 (I got RFE since my medical was expired while waiting for my green card get approved).

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

I do know people who failed the medical, but for drug use, never due to the genital check.

[traveler100 20]

A visual and physical inspection. Yes, he was not happy about it at all. I've heard some patients just reported a quick glance and others had doctors a little more hands on. Guess he had the bad luck of the draw.

S'ok. He's moved past it I think.

Oh this is for your husband's medical. Yeah, men always get the physical treatment. It's just the nature of the beast. The docs, they have to hold things in the palm of their hands and idk... weigh said things or something like that. life is so awkward.

[I love San Diego 18]

It's not a big deal, the doctor has seen plenty of willies in his life and we all have one or the other

[mallafri76 1,012]

The CDC seems to state otherwise >

a physical examination that includes, at a minimum, examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, skin and external genitalia

http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/technical-instructions/panel-physicians/medical-history-physical-exam.html

Well checking the genitalias are not being done in Scandinavia, Germany or the Netherlands for sure and visas are approved there all the time, so no it's not a requirement of the immigration medical. I'm sure there are many more countries it's not being done in either.

[mallafri76 1,012]

I wouldn't advertise that if I were you. I heard of cases where immigration certified physicians were arrested for neglecting to check out the required genitalia visually during medical exams.

No, it's ok. The doctor was going through a checklist from the US embassy during the medical and checking of genitalias was not on there, so he was just following the instructions as provided by the US embassy. The US embassies do have to follow the laws in the countries they're in as well as agreements between the countries so I guess that's why some part of the visa process varies from country to country.

And a doctor wouldn't be arrested for something like that in Scandinavia.

Edited March 26, 2016 by mallafri76

[traveler100 20]

No, it's ok. The doctor was going through a checklist from the US embassy during the medical and checking of genitalias was not on there, so he was just following the instructions as provided by the US embassy. The US embassies do have to follow the laws in the countries they're in as well as agreements between the countries so I guess that's why some part of the visa process varies from country to country.

And a doctor wouldn't be arrested for something like that in Scandinavia.

That's possible. I'm sure US has to abide to Scandiniavian law in order to operate there. There has to be agreements and understandings.

[B-2-Z 37]

Well checking the genitalias are not being done in Scandinavia, Germany or the Netherlands for sure and visas are approved there all the time, so no it's not a requirement of the immigration medical. I'm sure there are many more countries it's not being done in either.

I didn't go through this in Canada either.

[Alaska2012 462]

I think that these days it's more country specific. In Scandinavia we don't have to show our genetalia. We are also excused from the xray if pregnant. Many other countries still put pregnant women through that so a lot of things are very country specific when it comes to immigration