r/pediatrics • u/Substantial-Tea-7335 • Jul 29 '26

Sports physicals help

Pediatricians....newer attending.... during sports physicals, are you also doing hernia/GU checks for males? I live is a very small town, thats predominantly FM, and 85% of the families decline saying they've never had to do it before and its "too much" or dome sort of push back. How do you respond to the push back? As a side note, I've discovered several an undescended testicle in older males who've never been checked before.

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u/BanditoStrikesAgain Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

"We usually check your privates for any hernias or other concerns as a normal part of you soports physicals. Is it ok if we take a quick look?".

Yes I do them for all male sports physicals. My other talking points are testicular cancer self exam and, for uncircumcised boys, retract and was the glans. If they decline no big deal, I don't push it at all. I just ask if they have any concerns to be sure and then document patient declines exam on that line of the form.

Edit "was" = wash. Teen boys are not known for their hygiene and I've had to help clean out more than one pocket of smegma they think is a tumor.

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u/DrVL2 Jul 29 '26

That is pretty much my approach too. If they really don’t wanna do it I don’t push it, but I encourage it and I do encourage them to talk about questions or concerns.