Americans are often shocked when visiting a doctor in France when they discover how little privacy one has when it comes to disrobing. I used to be one of these Americans shocked by the medical nudity in France, but now I know better — although that didn’t stop me from embarrassing myself last week at the physical therapist. Is it normal to be naked at the doctor?
Read on for being naked in front of doctors in France!
Medical nudity: Naked at the doctor in France?
Last Thursday was a normal day. I had a 3:15 p.m. appointment at the physical therapist for a persistent knot in my back along with a few other issues (it’s totally cheap to go, so why not) and learned right away that it’s best to wear a loose shirt that gives him easy access to my back if I don’t want to strip down up top.
But before we get to today’s little embarrassment (for me, not him) about medical nudity, I have to take you back to my first chest X-ray in France where I got my first taste of how things are done at the doctor in France.
First medical nudity experience in France
You see, upon arriving in France, all newbies have to have a medical examination including a chest X-ray to check for TB before being issued a permanent residency card. In the U.S., a simple X-ray would involve going into a room with a tech, being told to take off your top when the tech is out of the room and changing into a gown.
Then the tech would come back and knock to see if you’re ready. And then escort you to an empty room wherever the X-ray is being taken.
But not so in France. Naked in front of the doctor seems to be the norm. It’s not problematic in and of itself — the problem was I didn’t know what to expect, so consider yourself warned!
Anyway, I was escorted to a room, told to disrobe right in front of her. When I took off my shirt only, I was asked to remove my bra as well, with her standing right there. I wasn’t given a gown or anything to cover up with. Nude medical exams are the norm here. The doctor wasn’t ogling me or anything but there was no privacy.
Then I followed her to the X-ray machine which involved a short walk parading topless in front of her male colleagues who were luckily too busy to notice the uncomfortable American shuffling along with her hands over her chest.
Read this post for my experience at the French gynecologist >>
I learned right away how easy-breezy an X-ray is. And for the record, at the gynecologist, you get completely naked right in front of the doctor, don’t get a gown to put on and do not get a sheet to cover your private area during the examination. I guess the French are used to being naked at the doctor, but I’m not.
A nude medical exam isn’t a bad thing per se, but the medical nudity comfort level here is a cultural difference for sure.
And even at my regular doctor (who is pretty young and someone I embarrass myself often in front of, but we’re cool now, it’s OK. I think.) before getting a referral to the physical therapist, he had to examine my back. He asked me to take off my top and I wasn’t sure if he meant my bra too so I asked.
He chuckled and just said sit down and he rolled up my tank top instead. I didn’t want to appear too forward by getting too naked at the doctor or look like a big American prude by sitting there in my bra.
What was I supposed to do in that situation? See how you start to overthink these things? OK anyway, back to today’s story…
Naked physical therapy?
I arrive at the physical therapist’s office, which is part of his home converted to an office, ready for my sauna session which is supposed to loosen up my muscles. The private 1-person sauna is in an adjoining room that is sectioned off from his office via a door.
In the sauna room, there’s a sliding cloth partition where you can change and get into the sauna area (note: sauna area itself has a clear porthole window you can see through from the outside).
He shows me how to work the controls and tells me I might as well go in naked since I have pants and a sweater on and I can’t go in with my winter clothes on. Luckily I had my sports bra that I kept on but decided to head in sans underwear. The sauna area is perfectly private and I had a towel to lie down on so it was sanitary and cleaned after each client.
Everything went well and when my time was up, I expected a beep or something to signal to me that it was time to leisurely get dressed and meet the therapist on the other side of the partition. But no.
I hear a knock at the sauna door (my side of the partitioned area) five minutes before the buzzer and see his face looking in through the porthole window to see how I made out.
I wasn’t dressed yet because I didn’t know the session was over! Talk about an embarrassing naked medical moment!
I didn’t have my glasses on but jumped up so fast I hit my head on the top of the sauna. He must have thought I was nuts, but usually a closed partition means do not enter — especially when the buzzer hadn’t gone off yet!
He knew I wasn’t clothed! Then he proceeds to stand there with his appointment book scheduling our session for next week as I rush to pull on my pants and socks.
The physical therapist is professional and has never done anything to make me question his judgment, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little shocked he barged right in on me.
The norms in France never cease to amaze me especially with all this medical nudity stuff because it’s new to me. Up until this point, I thought an embarrassing skin exam back in the US would have topped my list of embarrassing doctor exams. I guess I’ve learned my lesson for next time.
Now to set the record straight on being naked at the doctor, I don’t have any problems with nudity. I’m not put off by nudity in the least. But when you’re at the doctor’s office and already feeling vulnerable, alone, with a male doctor who is older than you in a position of power, maybe it wouldn’t kill anyone to let the patient hang on to some of their dignity via a gown, or get undressed in private or even a simple knock before entering.
Just a suggestion on how patients might be more comfortable if they’re required to be naked in front of the doctor.
Chalking this one up to cultural differences. At this point, it’s a cultural difference that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to, but as long as I’m living in France, I’d better learn! Here, it’s quite common to have a naked medical exam. I’ve even heard of people going to the doctor for a cold and asked to get buck naked. Urban legend? You let me know.
***
Have you ever had an embarrassing physical experience like this? Does being naked at the doctor make you uncomfortable?
Here’s more on going to the doctor in France >>
PIN my naked at the doctor post:
Maite says
It’s my first comment on your blog, but I have to say this: I don’t think it’s a cultural difference, acting like that for a doctor is not normal (I’m French).
I lived in a small town in France, and when I went to the hospital, at the gynecologist or at my regular doctor, they don’t look at me when I get undressed.
For an X-ray, I have a little room where I’m alone and I can get undressed, then the tech is asking if I’m done from the other side of the door, and then I can get in the room where I get my X-ray.
I don’t feel confortable being naked, even if they’re professionals. I don’t want to be naked if I don’t have to, and even then, they could give us a gown or something.
You don’t have to get used to this one if you don’t want to 😉
Diane says
Hi there Maite, happy to have you here! And thank you for weighing in. I don’t have another physical therapist/sauna experience to compare this to, so not sure if him peeking in the window to see how I was doing was normal. I mean he wasn’t ogling me or anything — just efficiently making use of his time I guess to get my next appointment in the books while I was getting dressed. I am 100% with you that gowns are cool and would be appreciated. I mean even if it’s just for the patient to feel more comfortable, it’s worth it!
Cosette says
I’m glad to hear from Maite because after reading that, Diane, I don’t think I’d ever go to a doctor in France!
Diane says
Well, maybe it’s not normal for a doctor to ogle you (in any part of the world), but in France they definitely do NOT give you anything to cover up with… no dignity I tell ya! haha
Richard says
It does happen even in the States. Being very light I was
given a COMPLETE mole check. The nurse and doctor
are both females. The nurse took my BP and weighed me
after she told me to take everything off. Then I was walked
down the hall to the exam room. So embarrassing! Naked
in front of all those people!
Eddie says
I know that feeling, as the same thing happened to me at a skin doctor specialist. The doctor was a female and the medical staff were all females too. Yes, I had to get totally naked and was somewhat embarrassed as a guy while the nurse and and female watched my whole male medical plight, especially when I was in men’s spandex sportswear with a healthy involuntary erection and slowly undressing layer by layer til finally completely naked. The female specialist escorted me to the examination and x ray rooms without a gown while others saw my naked plight, but it wasn’t so bad, as they were all naked young patients without gowns being treated for possible skin cancer too.
Scobbie says
I wouldn’t worry about being naked or undressing in front of a French doctor or French nurse, as they as they look at your anatomy as a natural part of being a human, male or female. I remember wearing rather snug, warm outer snowsuit and leotards underneath. I had to undress completely for a medical exam and the doctor was a French lady and her nurse was French also. As an American, male I was somewhat embarrassed when told all clothes have to come off. Despite being somewhat embarrassed and shy, both her and the nurse helped me out of my warm, snug and well fitting men’s kiddie style outer snowsuit snow including those sexy feeling leotard and tights. It did take some time stripping it all off,on a real cold day, but in the end They made me feel very natural being naked with them.
Dave says
We refuse to be exposed unnecessarily and your attitude encourages their dismissive attitude.
Isabel says
I had the same x-ray experience in Belgium when I was doing the paperwork for my work permit and a chest x-ray was required. The techs were two young guys and I was completely mortified! I did the same arms-over-chest-shuffle to the xray machine and beat it out of there afterwards as fast as possible!
Diane says
I know they’re medical professionals and all but still, I just felt exposed and awkward. Sorry you had the same experience. Not fun!
Ze Coach says
Hi Diane, I have a story with x-rays but here in the US. Being French, it surprised us.
My daughter hurt her ankle so my wife took her to a medical center. After the doctor looked at her, he asked my wife if she wanted an x-ray to be done. She was surprised because in France, the doctor would do it if s/he thought it was necessary and you would be covered by the “sécurité sociale”. But here in the US, I guess, because it could have a significant cost to you even if you have a medical coverage, you are asked if you want to make this kind of expense.
Diane says
Hi there, love hearing from French people in the US to get the flip side of things. Yes, the doctor absolutely checked because of insurance reasons and cost. It wasn’t a life threatening injury so you have the right to decline the x-ray even if the doctor recommended you get on. Not sure of x-ray costs but it’s not $30 or anything. Some health plans in the US don’t have ER coverage or coverage has to be pre-approved so the doctor was just covering his butt. Did you get the x-ray? Hope your daughter is OK!
Ze Coach says
Hi, yes we got it and my daughter is ok. Over here, sometimes, it feels like health is just like any other business like car maintenance for example. You decide what you want to fix, how much you want to pay, where to go to get the best service for your money among the competition.
Catherine says
Thanks for the heads up Diane. Suffice it to say I’m NOT looking forward to my initial medical exam… and the ones to follow!
Diane says
Aside from the surprise of not being given a gown to cover up with, everything went smoothly and was efficient and well run. So you have that to look forward to, I hope!
Punaiz says
Hello Diane,
I would suggest you read http://www.pol-editeur.com/index.php?spec=livre&ISBN=978-2-86744-603-0.
French are usually accepting too much from doctors in general, and some -as Martin Winckler- doctors propose to have a more balanced relationship with doctors (and it could extend to physical therapists).
Book in french are ok for you I guess, this one is usually well appreciated by French Women…
Diane says
I will look into it, thank you!!
Aude says
French girl here: my obgyn has a little “paravent” to undress behind. I usually wear a long button down which I keep on during examinations and helps me feel less exposed. If you’re uncomfortable, you can also keep your top on, then switch and wear your bottoms – that’s what I did on my first visit. Although there is more of norm towards undressing, a good doctor should be understanding and accommodate your modesty to some extent.
I also don’t think the doctor should barge in on you like – try say something like “j’arrive tout de suite” or “est-ce qu’on pourrait en parler à votre bureau?”, and if he doesn’t get the clue, don’t be afraid to clearly state you are uncomfortable. He should understand that, and if he doesn’t, change doctors! Eesh.
Diane says
A long button down is a great suggestion. And I agree that a good doctor should be understanding and accommodate different customs. I mean if I was raised to have doctors just stand there (and not have privacy) while getting dressed, I’d be used to it, but that’s not how things are the US. So I guess I’ll just take my chances and try to adapt to the doctor culture in France. And if it’s out of control, I’ll definitely change doctors. Thanks for weighing in!
Eddie says
Iv’e never been to a doctor in France, but have a female doctor treats her patients, the same way as in France. She will stay in the exam room while I’ll slowly strip off all my warm snug outfit with leotard and tights underneath them. This a long, slow process for me me and she seems to enjoy seeing my medical plight begin as a male, but does help me undressing completely, especially during the cold winter months when I’m wearing layers of warm and snug winter outer attire and ballet style underwear. Both the female doctor and lady nurse are very caring, gentle and professional with me with all my clothes and leotards all off and totally naked while being examined by the lady doctor with her nurse’s help. It’s like being in a French Medical facility.
Chris says
Yikes, never had an experience like this and I’d rather not! Interesting to read the comments indicating this should not be the norm. Glad to hear that and I would expect doctors to be sensitive to this situation. If not, I’d want to find another doctor.
Diane says
WEll maybe the norm is not walking past the divider curtain and peeking in, but it is normal to not be given anything to cover up with or have privacy while you’re undressing at the doc. It’s 100% the cultural norm in France.
Amanda says
What kind of doctors are you seeing, lady? xD
When I had to get the chest X-Ray done, I didn’t speak french, and apparently the lady told me to take off my shirt and bra, but I didn’t understand, and then she put me in a little room. Unsure of what to do, I waited until they opened the door where the woman gestured that I should take off my shirt and bra, but she shut the door to allow me my privacy. I’ve never felt like french doctors weren’t sensitive to my vulnerability, and I’m grateful for it.
It’s difficult to say no to someone you see as a professional, but they see so many naked bodies they’ve become desensitized to it. Maybe a little reminder wouldn’t hurt. I definitely would be the kind of person to say something if I wasn’t comfortable with a situation.
Diane says
Haha that’s the funny thing! I usually have no problem speaking up but I think in the moment at the phys therapist, I was more concerned with getting myself covered up and kind of froze, then focused on finding my pants instead of yelling at him to go away. And for the x-ray, I guess I was trying to respect French customs and just went w/the flow of not having any gown or anything. Mortifying!
Dr M says
Hi Diane,
A very interesting article. I’m from the UK but I worked as a doctor in France for two years and I agree 100% that attitudes regarding patient modesty are completely different in France. During one of my very first consults, a very attractive young woman came in with a knee problem. She was wearing jeans, so I asked her to show me. I was shocked when she started removing her top! When I asked her why, she said her previous doctors always required her to strip to her bra & pants for any examination – so they could do a general inspection. I’m pretty sure I felt more awkward than she did! There’s certainly a much more relaxed view of nudity and gowns are typically only provided to people admitted into hospital.
That being said, I would encourage you to be vigilant. I mainly worked in a hospital but I also spent a few months at a private clinic doing general consults and a few of the male doctors I worked with were very creepy! Undressing at an appointment almost regardless of your problem is fairly normal in some European countries like France & Germany, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it, nor should you. When I asked one colleague about this he laughed and said something like, ‘Only if they’re pretty, then it’s a nice treat’. The thing that shocked me the most was regarding women coming in for contraceptive prescriptions. There are no specific guidelines for prescribing the pill in France, so the direction of the appointment is at the doctor’s discretion. I can tell you for a fact that with certain doctors, ‘unattractive’ women just got a blood pressure check, whereas the ‘hot girls’ got the works – breast exams & pelvic exams.
What surprised me in your blog was your comment re the gynaecologist. Did the doctor make you strip completely naked (no bra & pants) in front of them? If so, that’s not normal. You should be allowed to keep your bra on (apart from during the breast exam) and be given a sheet.
Obviously I don’t want to scare you and 90% of doctors wouldn’t do anything inappropriate but I’d advise you to not take it for granted. Sorry for the long reply!
Diane says
Hi Dr. M, thank you for your insight! Whenever doing anything in France I always try to balance my cultural biases with the polite French way and have to say that at the doctor, I get kind of flustered. I don’t want to be that prude American but also am not comfortable with how everything is done here. Even just seeing the doctor greet me himself, in normal street clothes, was a bit of a shock. No nurse, nothing. It doesn’t surprise me that some of the doctors are a little bit perverted, had a chuckle at that, but I wonder how many just like to look versus those whose intentions could be considered criminal. There are bad people everywhere so I don’t hold anything against French doctors but since it’s the only country I’ve had experience with outside the U.S., it does give me a lot to think about and compare.
Going forward, I think I’m going to refrain from doing anything I feel uncomfortable with regardless of what’s normal in France. If I want to cover up, I’ll cover up and if a doctor is weird, I won’t go back. About the gyno, I mentioned the no sheet thing based on others’ experiences and they’ve scared me from going to the gyno here (but I should). It seems to be the norm to just get undressed in front of the doctor but I’m drawing the line there. I like privacy! And as I said above, without a nurse in the room, it seems strange that more French women don’t accuse doctors (either rightly or wrongly) of inappropriate behavior and sue. Happens all the time in the US, hence the nurse being in the room. I’d love to read a copy of the French code of ethics and conduct in the medical profession.
And one last thing, are you a man or a woman? Just curious.
Dr M says
Haha – I’m a guy (probably should have mentioned that).
Re your comment about just looking vs actual criminality, it’s a fine line – one that unfortunately does get crossed from time to time. But so often the victim won’t even realize or they won’t have much more than just a gut instinct. For example, if I approached a woman on the street, ripped off her top & rubbed her stomach (hypothetically of course haha!), that would clearly be a sexual assault. But, if I made a woman take off her top in my consult room and palpated her abdomen, knowing that this was unnecessary, that’s essentially the same assault but it’s tenfold harder to prove.
Anyway, I think your stance going forward is the right one. At the end of the day, you’re just there for a service and don’t have to do anything you don’t want to – ‘the customer is always right’ etc.
Diane says
Excellent point about the patient not even realizing if something “extra” was done. We put trust in our doctors to do the right thing, what’s necessary and not be perverts. Although this is where it gets tricky. My GP is not a pervert at all and I wouldn’t think twice if he had to check my stomach. But he’s also late-30s and attractive. So would I mind? Not really. Now if he was a close talker who stared a little too long and gave off a creepy vibe and was maybe 30 years older than me? Maybe I’d raise an eyebrow. But I’d still trust the doctor to do his job without the extras. Again, why the nurse being in the room is so important I feel.
I had this dermatologist in NYC who removed a mole and he was a total pervert. In a funny way but totally a pervert. He kept telling me to come back and make that appt for the full body skin check and winked with a big smile. I’m like no way in hell, dude! Hahah. Still never got that full body skin check.
Scooby says
My doctor is a French female and does treat me as a male. Iv’e been to see her a few times only and still somewhat embarrassed being totally naked with her, yet She does like examining her patients completely in the nude. Sometimes I’ll be wearing my favorite men’s snug spandex running tights with sexy microfiber undies. I’m examined completely, one part of my anatomy at a time, being don’t want poked and groped medically, yet her gentle and soft hands examining my whole body make me feel good, as she’ll slowly undress me while removing all my snug spandex sports outfit and underwear, piece by piece while examining my soon to be completely naked body male body. I like being medically examined by her this way, than being totally naked with no gown covering me. before being seen by her.
Scooby says
It was nice reading your experience and must say that being in the nude, male or female for a medical examination by a French doctor, especially a lady doctor. It doesn’t bother them, as it seems to a natural human situation., especially when they may watch you undress completely and you’re wearing very sexy and snug clothes and seem to take some more time getting it all off an if you’re an American woman or a man. Be proud baring it all especially if you are fairly young and in good shape.
Diane says
Hi Eddie/Scooby, you’ve left numerous comments like this here on this post and elsewhere on my blog and they’re really off-topic. I’m replying to kindly ask you to stop repeating yourself with soft porn-like material that isn’t welcome here. It is a bit much at this point. I’m happy to have you here if you enjoy posts on French culture and living abroad, but further comments like this will be deleted. Thanks.
Diane
Richard says
An interesting article.
I am always fascinated by cultural differences of all sorts between countries but our reaction to nudity (our own or others) has a special resonance as I cannot understand why an American, for example, should feel any more vulnerable being naked than, say, a French person when visiting a doctor in France. Neither person is actually any more vulnerable (or in danger) than the other so I can only assume that the American’s attitude to their own nudity is completely irrational.
Consider if the positions were reversed and the two theoretical patients were at an American doctor’s. If the French person were to (unnecessarily) completely strip off for their examination I’ve no doubt there would be a bit of an outcry by the doctor and his/her assistants. I guess they might even call the police. So if the French person is expected to follow American etiquette at an American doctor’s then why should the American expect to be treated differently at the French doctor’s just because they have an irrational fear of being seen naked?
One of the interesting aspects about cultural reactions to nudity is that in western cultures it is clear (but perhaps counter-intuitive) that the more relaxed people are about nudity the healthier their attitudes are to sex. One such indicator is the number of teenage pregnancies. In the US which is notoriously prudish it’s about 70 per thousand, in the UK where attitudes to nudity are influenced by both the US and mainland Europe the rate is about 50 per thousand (the highest in Europe) and in Holland where, for example, mixed public nude saunas are the norm the rate is just 5 per thousand. France is about 25. Of course there are other factors involved but by and large the more nude-friendly a country the lower the teenage pregnancy rate.
You say in your article “Now to set the record straight, I don’t have any problems with nudity. I’m not religious and I’m not put off by nudity in the least…”. I don’t understand why you make this statement because the whole of the article is predicated on your unease with nudity. Perhaps I have misunderstood your intention.
Diane says
Hi Richard, glad you found my post interesting. I think there are differences in every culture in regard to a whole host of things, many of which I write about on my blog. Just because I moved to France as an adult doesn’t mean I can or should abandon what I’m comfortable with. We take our beliefs and social customs with us and while I can learn about what the French do, just because I’m here doesn’t mean I will automatically be able to “act French.” Nor should I. There are many Muslim women in my town who come very close to wearing burqas. Should they abandon what their religion dictates (and what they’re comfortable with) just because it’s not mainstream in France, their new home? Or should I stop wearing gym clothes to the supermarket after I work out because it’s not the French thing to do? It doesn’t really matter.
About the part you quoted at the end — I’m standing by what I said. In general I have no issues with nudity, nude beaches, nude art, whatever. But at the doctor, I don’t think it’s appropriate to strip down in front of the doctor without some semblance of privacy — regardless of nationality. It puts the doctor in a position of power, being clothed and all, and I find that a little troubling. A commenter before you who was a doctor in France weighed in and said that a doctor watching you undress is NOT normal, in his opinion. I guess we all will do what we’re comfortable with and no one should expect any more or less. Thank you for your insightful comment — you’ve made some great points!
Nicole says
Hey Diane. I’m impressed you were able to stay relatively calm when that physical therapist walked in on you like that. I’m usually the kind of person who avoids making a scene so I probably wouldn’t have yelled, but I had an awkward experience two years ago that changed my mentality about these kinds of situation.
I went to Germany to start working as a TV presenter on a local sports show and I needed to have a medical before I signed my contract. I went to the doctor’s office on the morning of my first day on the job, so that I could get the medical certificate and sign my contract when I got to the studio. The doctor was a woman which I was kinda glad about but she had a male medical student with her. I’m not a shy person, there were a couple of times when I presented in a bikini on TV lol, but I didn’t like having someone else there. But I didn’t want to seem like a prude so I didn’t say anything.
The doctor told me to undress and I knew already that they often didn’t leave the room while you did that in Germany so I just started. The funny thing is I always thought it was pointless that the doctor left the room while you stripped and came back in later, just a waste of time, but I realized while doing it that it was 10 times more awkward stripping down with others in the room. Especially in front of a male student who was probably about 20 but looked like he was about 12 lol. I was also regretting my decision to wear a lacey thong!!
Most of the exam was okay, just normal stuff like listening to your heart & lungs. Then the doctor made me bend over so they could check my spine. I glanced at the boy and I’m pretty sure he was checking out my bum! I was mortified! Then she told him to do the rest. There were a few more things like rotating my arms, hopping on each leg, and having to do a duck walk! I know it was just procedure but it was sooo embarrassing! Having to do a duck walk in my bra & thong on command was probably the most humiliating experience of my life lol!
What I learnt from this experience was that I should have spoken up and just told the student to leave straight away. It would have made the whole thing far less awkward! So now, if someone walked in on me like they did to you, I would probably give them a piece of my mind lol! My advice would be to make your views clear even if it’s a little uncomfortable.
Jim says
Great idea, ‘cos you really want to be examined in 5 years time by a Doctor who has no experience at all because all the patients demanded he leave when he was a student !!!!!!!!
Perhaps you should be a little less sexist and see a medical Student rather than a Man ?
Michael says
Don’t be a prude. The human body in its naked form is not something to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It’s only the brainwashing you have been given that equates a naked body with being somehow ‘dirty’. Wrong..wrong..wrong. The naked human body is beautiful. You only have the one. Look after it. Embrace it. Get naked.
Janet King says
Absolutely. 😉
Lauren says
Diane –
I know that you posted this a while back, but I figured I would just let you know what doctors/the medical community in France. First of all, I have never been to a doctor in France but have been to a fair number in the US. My boyfriend is from France and has been living in the US for about 5 years. I stumbled upon a similar article to yours a while back and brought it up to him – his immediate response was that you should always keep your underwear on and just take it off when it needs to be off.
We went to visit a friend of his from high school, who is nearing the end of her time in medical school. While I did not understand much of the conversation (French love to speak in French regardless of knowing there is someone who doesn’t speak French in the room), my boyfriend told me later he was glad that I couldn’t because I would have said something rude.
She had been saying that it was very commonplace among the medical students who practice to attempt to push the boundaries of what is appropriate with a patient in terms of stripping. She said that it wasn’t abnormal for the medical students to ‘play with the genitalia’ of unconscious patients and that they would regularly discuss and make fun of the bodies of their patients. She claimed it lightened the mood in a generally depressing profession. When my boyfriend attempted to say that that is inappropriate conduct, the other French people there agreed with the medical student and said that doctors are within their right.
To the other people commenting in this thread, nudity isn’t that abnormal at a doctor’s office. But there is a point in time where it crosses a line and becomes an abuse of the profession.
Diane says
Hi Lauren, thank you for weighing in. Your story about the med students’ conversations is horrifying!! I bet that happens everywhere though.
The boundary pushing thing is something I can see happening so easily. The doctor is in a position of power and as the patient, you want to follow the doctor’s orders — he/she is the educated one who is trying to help so it’s only normal to trust them. And when they abuse the trust? I wonder how much of a focus is put on ethics in medical school in France and the US. Any doctors out there?
I think certain people have predispositions to being out of line. Like “normal” people aren’t going to push the boundaries but if you’re kind of a pervert and you go into medicine, I can see how it’s an easy way to be a pervert legally. Because as long as you don’t cross the line, you can call whatever you’re doing “doctor stuff,” you know what I mean? And in France I’ve never seen a nurse in the room with the doctor like there is in the US. As for lightening the mood by making fun of people, I guess that happens everywhere but I’d like to think every doctor treats every patient like they would their own mom/dad/sister/brother. With respect and care.
It’s a very fine line indeed. Again, I have no issues with nudity but when the doctor is in a position of power and you’re the patient, sometimes providing a sheet to cover up with or turning one’s back to let someone undress in private goes a long way.
Thank you again for taking the time to comment and sharing your insight.
Eddie says
It feels so nice wearing very snug and sexy spandex ballet style underwear during the cold winter weather, I do feel very comfortable being with a female doctor of French decent, as they don’t mind seeing a guy snug and secure in those spandex ballet ballet leotard and much to one’s surprise, they are very accommodating to many American males and stay with them while they slowly and in a shy manner strip naked out of that warm spandex ballet style underwear for her examination without him being covered in a gown, but completely naked and does’t phase her while examining his now naked body. You get used to it, as a male after a few serious time consuming visits and medical exams by her. As an American male and being helped by getting any snug and sexy attire off become just a natural happening with a French or European female doctor.
Eddie says
I do really like having to undressing completely,but react shyly, especially with a French nurse helps to undress me out of layers of European cold weather attire as a young man and being totally naked with no gown for a French female doctor.
Alice says
I know your pain!
I had my navy admission physical exam recently and it was done by a male doctor. At first I thought it might be a group thing but it was one-on-one, and there was no nurse.
I had to strip down to my skivvies and do different exercises, like push-ups and squats (super awks!). I purposely wore modest panties that completely covered my butt and a sports bra. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise that they needed to do a scoliosis test, and apparently my sports bra covered too much of my back, so I had to take it off! Touching my toes while topless, and getting my back felt up, wasn’t much fun!!
It really annoyed me how they didn’t say beforehand not to wear a sports bra. I could have easily worn a normal bra and not had to get my hardware out for the little Indian doctor.
Diane says
Oh no, Alice, that sounds so embarrassing! I thinks sometimes it’s the fear of the unknown that is the issue and not knowing what’s next or what’s expected of you causes even more stress. Like for me, if I had known ahead of time there was no nurse and the doc/physical therapist was going to walk in without knocking and see me naked, I probably still wouldn’t have liked it but at least I’d be prepared. Same thing in your case, if you had known about the sports bra vs. regular bra, you could have been better prepared. Was your exam in the US? I hope you passed! 😉
Alice says
Thanks Diane, yes I did pass. I live in England. Now I just have to do a ‘pre-joining fitness test’ before being given a start date. I’ll have to run 2.4km in 13 mins 10 secs, on a treadmill. It should be easy enough – hopefully!
Marty says
It’s been a year since the last comment, and over two from the original post, but I want to point out that subcultures can differ markedly from the prevailing culture. I live in the United States and have adopted the nudist/naturist subculture. I recently had a complete physical examination from my new primary care physician. She offered me a gown, I asked why, she said it was purely for my comfort, and I said I didn’t need it. She didn’t stay in the room while I undressed, or afterward when I dressed, perhaps because she had other things to do than watch me. For a moment, after the examination was over, I thought it amusing that we were discussing my condition with her seated fully clothed in a white coat while I sat naked on the examining table. But neither of us was uncomfortable with the arrangement.
My conversion to full nudity for medical examinations came a few years earlier at a full skin examination by a dermatologist. I was asked beforehand whether it was OK for Dr. X to observe, and I said it was. After considering whether to strip completely I kept my boxer shorts on. Dr. X turned out to be a woman, and the dermatologist (male), when the time came to examine my skin under the shorts, merely pulled the waistband away, not down, and peered down through the gap. Not good enough, I thought, and vowed never again to obstruct a doctor’s view of my body in any way.
Scoobie ( nick name) says
I’ve had a French female doctor give me a complete unclothed physical exam. Again, I was wearing my favorite extra snug spandex underwear and not knowing how much time feeling, groping and looking my naked m young male body would take. It was quite a surprise, when told to completely undress for her, despite being a male and while enjoying the snug secure feeling in my European style spandex men’s underwear under warm and also snug outer winter sports attire. She was very gentle with me also, yet stayed in the room as I started to undress, unbuttoning and unzipping my warm outer winter outfit. Seeing my embarrassment as a young male, she asked and finished,gently stripping off all of my warm snug outer clothes including that European spandex underwear. There I was totally naked with a healthy erection, yet she acted so natural as to my full nudity and sexual arousment, then commenced doing my physical exam, as I was soon rather relaxed with her, now realizing being nude with this doctor, even a female, was no big issue with her, as she was very aware of my cultural upbringing and acted as this was a normal medical situation.
Scooby says
It can be embarrassing for an American guy too at times with a French lady doctor, yet, in the long part, I like being medically examined by this lovely French female doctor. She does really like guys in good shape and in snug sexy men’s outfits too. She’ll tell me all my nice fitting spandex clothes and underwear has to come off , as much to my enjoyable surprise this French female doctor will slowly and gently undress me, while explaining what will be done during my examination. By the time she finishes telling me what will happen, all my sexy snug spandex clothes are off and I’m totally naked with her and her female medical staff. In the end, I didn’t mind being nude as a young male, as She and Her French female medical staff treated me quite well and I soon appreciated being naked while examined by a French lady doctor. I guess being naked for a medical exam is just a normal thing for them in France and even if their patient’s are male or female.
Janet King says
I live in America and I still don’t know why so many women — and even men — are embarrassed about nudity, especially at a doctor where the professionals have seen it all. They’re not going to laugh at you or take advantage of you.
Physicians in the USA are so restrictive about covering nudity it is hilarious. It’s just skin and nudity is the most natural thing in the world. Yet it’s too a point where they force us to wear full gowns an sheets and anything else to cover our bodies.
If I lived in France, I’d just parade down the hall past the others stark naked if necessary and just smile and say hi. LOL. Wish I could that here.
America needs to loosen up. Nudity is NOT sex. Leave it up to the patients, but if some want to pass on gowns and other coverage and go au natural, let them. What’s the big deal?
Same goes for massage therapists.
just me says
Interesting thread for me. I’m a man in the USA who just got back from a visit to my urologist (male) for a biopsy due to having cancer; his nurse (female) was present during the exam, and after the doctor finished and left, she remained in the room doing some work and told me I could go ahead and get dressed.
I had had only a tshirt on, and a cloth draped over my bottom. I took off the cloth and proceeded bottomless to my clothes, which were nearby draped over a chair. I mentioned that I’m not embarrassed, and she said that she wasn’t either. I stood there bottomless for a moment, then started to get dressed, starting with my socks, as we discussed nude/clothing optional beaches and hot springs we had visited!
It’s the first time I’ve ever had a medical professional be so casual about nudity with me. Usually they scurry out of the room immediately and tell me to get dressed when they leave, then cautiously knock before re-entering. It was refreshing, and a fun conversation!
JP says
@Just ME
Yes, there are some enlightened doctors and nurses in the US who have a no fuss approach to nudity.
At my annual exams I am asked the undress gradually at different stages and eventually end up nude for the last few examinations. The nurse does not leave the room while I undress or while I get dressed, just works on her computer after the examination to record the results. She does break eye contact after the examination is over, I suppose that’s to indicate this is business not a general chat or time to get to know each other while naked.
I’m sure if I asked for a gown I’d get one, its an unnecessary expense for what is questionable privacy since in a head to toe exam nothing goes without scrutiny.
James Stokes says
Try being male at ANY medical setting, anywhere.
We get none of the privacy and respect for our dignity that women get from the opposite sex. None.
Maybe women would be less stressed if they stepped up to the plate on that equality thing and didn’t label all men as being untrustworthy. Be less self conscious, the way you expect men to be, and perhaps it’ll be ‘no big deal’ – like the female staff always tell me. Like I said, men don’t get a choice and its getting worse and worse for us.
Eddie says
Iv’e been to going to a female doctor for physical exams and other medical care only in the U.S. for several years, who known me well too. Iv’e never been to a doctors visit any time in Europe including France. Many physical exams are during the cold winter months and I’m well dressed for the cold weather. Some physical exams are last minute calls for later the same day and the doctor has seen most of her patients for the day. My doctor always requires that, I’m completely undressed for my examination too. There is much anxiety on my part, as do have an erection at times and do fear she may find a reveling development of a man’s disease, as I get older. My health is always good and Not overweight either. I.m used to being naked with her and the same female nurse, yet do feel somewhat embarrassed having an involuntary erection under all those layers of warm snug winter clothes, snug bib corduroy overalls long sleeve button up flannel shirt with opaque tights a long sleeve back zipper leotard and close fitting lycra undies. When it’s time to get ready for the doctor and start undressing, she’ll watch my rather slow, yet somewhat embarrassing process getting all those warm snug clothes all off with the nurse’s help. Being dressed in all my warm snug winter outfit does help keep my medical fears down and once totally naked and being examined by her doesn’t bother me, but in the end, I always get a good bill of health, despite being naked with her and the nurse while having an involuntary erection. They are both very professional with me also.
Eddie says
There are doctors, mostly female in the U.S. that a guy being naked, while having a normal men, sexual reaction doesn’t bother them and as said to me and other single guys, “Don’t be ashamed, as they’ve seen it all before with both male and females”. A female doctor or medical specialist can tell if he’s in decent health before examining him, by what he’s wearing and how long it takes for him to completely undress before being examined by a female doctor. I’ always have much less medical anxities, when be examined by a female doctor anytime.
Eddie says
It’s really nice having a physical examination by two female medical specialists ( doctor and RN nurse) Although this in the U.S.A, both ladies are very good, professional and gentle with me, as a male. During the warm summer months, I do like wearing my close fitting water polo swim briefs with men’s denim shorts. Undressing and being completely naked with them, doesn’t seem to bother them, as I do get somewhat embarrassed when in the nude with no gown, yet I do feel very at ease with them helping to completely undress me and both the female doctor and her nurse do like my summer attire, as I’m stripped naked and examined by the female doctor.
Jen says
“upon arriving in France, all newbies have to have a medical examination including a chest X-ray to check for TB before being issued a permanent residency card. ”
until now 2021, I still hear that people need to ne naked when you do X-ray for OFII and residence card purpose.
How weired, I mean In many countries(US, UK, Australia, New Zealand……), Asia (Taiwan, Japan……) and more, an exam gown is povided when doing X-ray.
Thank you for your blog post.
Eu Sei says
“Prude American”? Because the Frogs like to see naked women parading around their hospitals/clinics, doesn’t make people who disagree with the practice prude. It’s just common sense. It is your body and you shouldn’t have to disrobe in front of strangers who have NOTHING to do with your exam! I hate how Americans like to criticize themselves, while forgiving almost anything on “sophisticated” Eurotrash!