This question was originally posted on Quora.com and was answered by Ed Averbukh, Doctor, working at Medicine and Healthcare I still remember the first one I performed, or, to put it right, was expected to perform while being a medical student (more than thirty years ago). I was somewhat shy and I felt terribly embarrassed when I have informed a relatively young female patient, who was hospitalized in the Internal Medicine department, that I have to perform a rectal exam on her as a part of the physical examination. She agreed, and I proceeded gently, putting on the examination gloves and then applying some Vaseline to my index finger. The patient was lying on her side covered with sheets, and I thought to myself that surely I can do it without removing the covers for the sake of her privacy and my embarrassment. Unfortunately I was wrong. I couldn't find the hole under the covers. I tried to palpate my way in, but apparently much higher than anatomically possible. I felt terrible. After my second failed attempt I stopped, said that everything is fine and retreated. It was, like Donald Trump says, “a complete disaster”. Fortunately, as an ophthalmologist I don't have to perform rectal exams on my patients and no one expects me to. What a relief. Source
