Just wondering if anyone has succeeded in bypassing the genital exam if you were told you had to get it? I'm not comfortable at all with the thought of that!! Ugh. I was just telling an American friend about it and she said she can't believe you have to have a genital exam to get into the U.S. ... I said apparently some of the doctors don't even do it, but the papers from Montreal DO say it is required and apparently the doctor I'm going to has done it. Strange. I don't even see why it would be necessary for me... I'm not sexually active at all and never have been; my fiancé and I won't even hold hands... I'm a waiting til marriage person!!!

Dr. Seiden's in Toronto DID NOT give me a genital exam. In fact, they barely gave me an exam at all. They marked down that everything was fine despite their lack of exam.

I don't think you can bypass it but you can probably request that a woman does it. I'm pretty sure all they would do is look to see if there's any obvious problems like sores or something.

BTW, even if you are not sexually active you should get an annual gynecological exam to check for any abnormalities like cervical cancer.

I can definitely understand why you're uncomfortable, but it is a female doctor doing it and it is very, very quick. It literally takes 2 seconds, and no matter what, you're going to have to strip down and put on a paper gown for her to check over the rest of you as well. She's very... motherly, I guess is the way to describe it, somewhat older and very friendly. If I was you, I'd do my best not to worry so much about it, it's not AS terrible as it seems, and you're just going to overstress.

I mean, they can't just take your word for it that you've never been sexually active. That doesn't work for the STD blood tests they do, can't just say "I haven't had sex/used unclean needles, I couldn't possibly have HIV, etc..."

Yeah, I was thinking about that (the last paragraph.) Since so many people do that stuff it makes it a little unfair to those who don't because it means they can't trust anyone's word! Ugh! Good to hear that she's quick though! And at least there is a paper gown for the rest? Does that include the breast exam?

She'll go slightly under the gown (through the top) for any chest exams, but that's very quick as well. Nothing about it is overly thorough, that's for sure.

Ok, at least that's good to hear. I don't want to be touched there but at least I'll be covered and it will be quick!!! Thanks for the reassurance =)