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03/15/2004
I do but I couldn't say why
Do you hide your underpants when you disrobe in the exam room?
Posted by Julie at 03:01 PM in I've learned a lot...but I'm not sure it's worth it. | Permalink
Comments (75)
Every time I take off my underpants, I consciously ask myself why I am hiding them under my clothes. Maybe I think the doctor will take one look at them and say, “Aha! This is why you aren’t getting pregnant.”
My husband finds it amusing.
Posted by: Jodi at Mar 15, 2004 3:10:22 PM
At times I have defiantly decided to leave them in plain sight, but even then I am careful to fold them neatly so that the crotch is entirely concealed.
Why do I do this? No one cares about my underpants.
Posted by: Julie at Mar 15, 2004 3:13:10 PM
Absolutely. I have no idea why either- I put them under the pile of clothes.
Posted by: Tessa at Mar 15, 2004 3:17:30 PM
I'm dying here! I used to hide them completely until I heard a comedian make fun of that. (You can check out my hoo-ha, but please don't look at my undies.) Now I consciously decide what to do at each visit. It ranges from good 'ol fashioned full-hiding to bra flung over the back of the chair and undies folded (I can't show the crotch no matter how bold I'm feeling) on top of the jeans.
Posted by: Julia at Mar 15, 2004 3:32:03 PM
Always-maybe even stuff 'em in the pocket of my pants. Some day they'll probably tumble out during monitoring.
I didn't know this was such a widespread practice that comedians took notice!
Posted by: Amy at Mar 15, 2004 4:09:05 PM
As a matter of fact I do. It backfired on me at the hospital though. For some reason(probably the mind numbing grief, but who's to say) I didn't remove my blood soaked pad before I hid them in my jeans. They decided to switch our room while I was being introduced to a certain condom sheathed probe we all love so well. So I got back to discover that someone had shoved my clothes into a plastic bag(pad and all) and that my undies had escaped and gotten blood on the outside of the jeans that I was being told to "hurry up and put on because we really need this room."
Posted by: cheryl b. at Mar 15, 2004 4:25:11 PM
God, yes! Always. I know it's silly, but I can't help myself.
Posted by: Leslie at Mar 15, 2004 4:52:47 PM
Always. What's more, I hide them crotch down inside my stuff.
Boy, Cheryl, what a bunch of truly dedicated health care professionals! I wonder if they encourage the critical cases to fish or cut bait -- i.e. die or get better -- because they *really* need the room?
Posted by: Jo at Mar 15, 2004 4:54:17 PM
YES! But I've always thought that I wouldn't if they were spankin' clean, new and frilly: if they conformed to my idea of what I thought women's underwear should look like--but I'm wondering if I'd hide them no matter what.
Eve
Posted by: Eve P. at Mar 15, 2004 5:05:25 PM
The best times are when I go for monitoring on the weekend, because I can go commando beneath my sweatpants. No need to perform panty origami in order to get them tucked inside my pants, crotch folded to the inside. No muss, no fuss.
Posted by: runnerwoman at Mar 15, 2004 5:07:01 PM
PANTY ORIGAMI!
Posted by: Julie at Mar 15, 2004 5:10:44 PM
Freaky...I don't recall ever noticing what I did with my underpants until today, but coincidentally this morning I did hide them under my pants. And that was after a careful selection of my best pair this morning, in honor of my appointment. Chalk it up to one more thing in the universe that just doesn't make sense!
Posted by: Kristine at Mar 15, 2004 5:19:01 PM
Before my next cycle I must learn how to fold my underpants into a reasonable semblance of a crane for good luck.
Posted by: Julie at Mar 15, 2004 5:20:21 PM
I bet you could get one of those books on how they fold napkins at fancy hotels. Seems to me they'd be about the same. You could impress your RE by using your panty crane as a puppet.
Posted by: runnerwoman at Mar 15, 2004 5:45:14 PM
Even assuming the laciest of cranes, I think it is safe to say that my RE is well beyond the point of being impressed by me.
Posted by: Julie at Mar 15, 2004 5:48:47 PM
I dare you to do the lacy-crane, Julie! It might not impress your RE, but it could very well earn you some state-sponsored, mandatory therapy!
Posted by: Julia at Mar 15, 2004 5:54:32 PM
Of course. Hey, I hide them under my clothes all day long, why would I let them out just because I don't happen to be wearing them?
I even hide them the few times I lay my clothes out for the next day at home!
Maybe if I was one of those teenagers with the low-rider pants and the waist high panties....
Posted by: Suzanne at Mar 15, 2004 6:12:35 PM
Me too! Why? Why do we do this? Why, also, do I make a point of wearing non-scary underwear on those days I do monitoring ONLY TO HIDE THEM?
I don't fold though. More of a wad.
Posted by: AmyinMotown at Mar 15, 2004 6:25:50 PM
Usually I hide them in my pants, bunched up on a chair.
At my next RE visit (most likely tomorrow am) I will be folding them into an airplane and chucking them at my doctor's head...just 'cause.
Posted by: Liz at Mar 15, 2004 6:45:07 PM
I felt so silly folding my underwear up, (crotch in, thank you very much,) just before being introduced to Mr Wand on a very heavy Day 3, but I did it anyways. Is there etiquette for such things???
(Panty Oragami is seriously the funniest thing I have heard in a long time.)
Posted by: JJ at Mar 15, 2004 6:50:47 PM
LoL!
Bra, panties, and yes even socks get hidden away under the pants.
It's silly!
Posted by: Deirdre at Mar 15, 2004 7:46:18 PM
Yup, I hide 'em, every time.
I remember once being irrationally self-conscious the day the nurse had to dig my panties out of my little plastic "effects" bag to scrape for amniotic fluid when then suspected I had been leaking... that was just great. Three people rummaging for my panties, and then asking if maybe I had a panty shield on that day (yes, I did. Total mortification.), and then they dug THAT out of the trash, and stood there with one of those little litmus paper thingies trying to see if it turned purple after rubbing it with my panties and then with the liner, and THEN finally getting a slide, scraping THAT all over my unmentionables, and then inspecting it under a microscope for tell-tale "feathering." Who says obstetrics isn't a team sport everyone can enjoy?
Posted by: Mindy at Mar 15, 2004 8:04:45 PM
Panty Crane Puppet!!! Bwah-hah-hah!
I'm so glad you brought this up, Zhu-lee. I feel so much better, I totally thought I was insane for hiding my underwear. What is with the compulsion to fold the crotch in, too, even though I'm already stuffing them down into my jeans? Like, in case someone moves my clothes and the panties fall out, at least they won't fall crotch up? I always fold my clothes neatly on a chair, too, even though at home things are strewn around willy-nilly.
I got over needing to shave every time I had to go, and I can lay around with my hoo-ha exposed for hours, but by god, no one is going to see my underwear!
Posted by: jen at Mar 15, 2004 8:50:00 PM
yes.. folded neatly into my pants. Then afterwards I usually leave the office with toilet paper stuck to my shoe.
Posted by: BrendaS at Mar 15, 2004 9:38:03 PM
In order to do the panty origami, I would think one would have to startch the panties first wouldn't they? You would really look uncomfortable walking the RE's office with starched panties!
For the record, my panties are folded, crotch in and they along with my bra are tucked between my shirt and pants when I go to the dr.
Posted by: Kim at Mar 15, 2004 9:38:56 PM
I'm going to start sewing a hidden zippered pocket inside my pants for secure storage of my shameful, shameful smallclothes.
Posted by: Julie at Mar 15, 2004 11:46:20 PM
This is so funny, I do it too but have never thought about it. Hysterical!! Why do I do it? I think because it seems messy to leave it lying on top of the pile?
This is so funny, don't know why but this has cracked me up. (could be the flu meds)
Posted by: Tertia at Mar 16, 2004 8:09:45 AM
On a related topic:
If you are at work, and need to change a tampon but don't feel like taking your entire purse, do you stuff your tampon into the waistband of your pants under your shirt (or otherwise conceal it) while you walk to the bathroom? One time I walked around brandishing my SuperPlus like a sword and made jokes about it, but it was after hours and I had a pretty good idea I wouldn't run into any men..... Why do we do this?
Julie--I don't think I've commented before, but I've been reading you for awhile. Best wishes to you, and thanks for sharing so many wonderful insights!
Posted by: giddy at Mar 16, 2004 8:31:02 AM
We hide underwear and tampons etc. because we don't want to embarass anyone who might see them and because we've been drilled to be embarassed ourselves if anyone sees them.
Back when slips were big (does anyone wear a slip anymore?) how many times did you check to make sure your slip wasn't showing? Or how do you feel if you're out somewhere and you realize you're wearing white pants and bright red underwear.... I guess it happens less today but remember all the clothing gymnastics we used to go through to keep bra-straps from showing?
Posted by: Suzanne at Mar 16, 2004 8:53:02 AM
OMG, yes I did...
Posted by: Carrie at Mar 16, 2004 11:10:03 AM
I'm seeing my RE today for an u/s. Now I'm going to be laughing the whole time I get undressed deciding what creative thing I should do with my panties...
Posted by: Robin at Mar 16, 2004 11:28:15 AM
Hoo boy! I haven't had a good laugh like that in awhile! In my office that can be a bit dangerous because I'm the only woman. When they ask me what I'm laughing at all I can tell them is "Trust me, you don't want to know."
But yes, I too hide my undies or at the very least (if I'm wearing my black wedgie-proofs) I'll fold them crotch in. I guess, I'd have to say I do it out of consideration for the doctors. Just because they have to look at your cootch doesn't mean they should have to look at your dirty undies too. Unless, of course, you're in Mindy's situation. How did you ever look them in the eye again?
Posted by: Carrie Jo at Mar 16, 2004 12:18:00 PM
Ah, but they don't look! I am convinced of that. I mean, would you?
Posted by: Julie at Mar 16, 2004 12:24:41 PM
So I went in for my appointment today - and in solidarity, I left my undies out, crotch up, for the world to see.
On a related note, when I told my husband about the thread here today, I realized that if I went the Panty Origami route, I would do a pelican...
Then it would be a Pelican Brief!
Okay, I'm done. Thanks for coming. Enjoy the veal and tip the waitstaff!
Posted by: Liz at Mar 16, 2004 1:11:33 PM
No, I guess I wouldn't.But then that's part of why I'm not in the proffesion. My best friend is a nurse, though. One time when we went out drinking, I got too drunk and ended puking all over my jacket and she was kind enough to clean it up for me. I appologised profusely and she told me, "Honey, I've seen a LOT worse." and I replied, "There's not much worse than puke" to which she replied, "Try puke with feces in it." I think that topped it, wouldn't you say? So, Yeah now that I think about it, there are way grosser things they normally have to contend with.
Posted by: Carrie Jo at Mar 16, 2004 1:16:08 PM
Well, I'm a weirdo, because I don't fold or otherwise conceal my panties when I take of my clothes for an exam.
But I'll be goddamned if anyone EVER sees me take any sort of feminine protection product across the room when I go to the john. I'll either take the whole damned purse, or go through outrageous pains so as not to reveal the item's presence on my person.
Mindy, that's got to be one of the most embarassing stories I've ever heard. My condolences.
Posted by: mollie at Mar 16, 2004 1:31:07 PM
Panties...folded...under the top...over the jeans...crotch in.
It's a sickness.
Posted by: Sherry at Mar 16, 2004 1:37:21 PM
**hands Carrie Jo a trophy for "Mostly Vile Anecdote Ever Related in a Bar or Frankly Any Other Location on the Face of This Earth, for the Love of Fuck's Sake"**
And Mollie, I didn't really think about it again for a while... I was immediately wheeled into the OR for an emergency c-section upon verification of feathering! As far as changes in subject go, it was quite the doozy.
Posted by: Mindy at Mar 16, 2004 2:28:21 PM
P.S. I meant "Most Vile", not "Mostly Vile." I think we can all agree that it was more than just "mostly" vile.
Posted by: Mindy at Mar 16, 2004 2:33:42 PM
Yes! I hide them...even though I make sure to wear pretty ones on days I have appointments.
Hi! I'm Amy, and I'm insane.
Posted by: amalah at Mar 16, 2004 2:44:15 PM
Been checking back and laughing all day. Yep. Sometimes neatly folded, sometimes balled up and hidden - guess it depends on my "compulsion" level for the day.... What about the bra everyone? Doesn't come off as frequently - usually at the hospital, I guess - but does it get hidden? Mine gets the "Victoria's Secret" special tuck the cups together, wind the straps up and hide them that I was taught on the job one holiday season.
For all of you Panty Origami fans, when you are bored with panties you can move on to (think phonetically):
"Kokigami: Performance Enhancing Adornments for the Adventurous Man" by Burton Silver & Heather Busch.
(Amazon link provided - where you will note that customers who bought "Kokigami" also bought "The DaVinci Code." - Hmmm, anyone else think that is funny?)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1580082459/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-5704932-3654222#reader-link
Julie - thanks for brightening an otherwise dull day!
Posted by: Boulder at Mar 16, 2004 3:00:39 PM
What is it about Julie's writing that makes 41 people (oops, make that 42) respond to a question about panties?? Huh?? What's your secret, lady? I wanna know!
:)
Posted by: Kristine at Mar 16, 2004 3:30:51 PM
Okay, so I'm late to this game, but I confess that yes, I'm a panty hider--and it can be an issue depending on the size of the examination room. At some rooms at Cornell, there's an extra chair where you kind fold, stack, and hide your dainties, but in other rooms, things are kinda tight....On my first few visits I had a fear of the doc kicking over my little stack of clothes and exposing my panties and then thinking less of me because they had flowers (or didn't) or were crisp and new (or weren't). Like I have this kind of time....
Posted by: Lisa at Mar 16, 2004 3:39:24 PM
Carrie Jo wrote:
"Try puke with feces in it."
Ah, vomit and excrement. That reminds me of the time I...
Wait. No, it doesn't.
But I bet you believed me.
Posted by: Julie at Mar 16, 2004 3:54:17 PM
I can't believe it..but I do it to. My husband in the room waiting for me to get examed (he goes every time bless his heart) and there I am forcing him to hide the whole she-bang so that my -Female- doctor doesn't accidently see that I wear bra's and panties.
What the heck is up with it? I don't remember my mom sitting me down and saying 'Now honey, when you go in and they want you to take off your clothing, those nice people who will be looking at your -naked- body and shoving bits and pieces up into it, do not need to see your underwear'
Madness.
Posted by: Magnolia at Mar 16, 2004 4:26:27 PM
Oddly this reminds me of a time (trust me this one isn't so gross) when I was in 1st grade. The girls were comparing their panties at recess and of course my turn came. Unfortunately I was wearing (gasp!) plain white undies rather than a pair with flowers, hearts, or My Little Pony on them, so I was teased for quite a long time for wearing "boy's underwear". Apparently the bit of lace at the waist band didn't make any difference.
Posted by: Carrie Jo at Mar 16, 2004 4:59:30 PM
Oh, wait, I forgot:
Last time my husband and I were at the OB for a prenatal check, I had an additional test run for yeast, and had to wait for the doc to return with the verdict. In the meantime, I got dressed, but at a somewhat leisurely pace. She ended up coming back in the room when I was in my bra and panties, and she said, quite breathlessly, "OH! Excuse me!!" And hurried back out the door.
My husband and I thought it was hilarious that the doctor would act all embarassed about seeing me in my underwear, considering the procedures she'd just performed on me.
Posted by: mollie at Mar 16, 2004 5:14:16 PM
Let's keep this one rolling...
I almost really embarrassed myself yesterday. It was my 1st ultrsound at this new office. When I came in the room everything was all set up. The doctor and his med student were standing there discussing something. At my old OB office, I was always left in the room alone to "disrobe" but they were both in there...so I stood for a few minutes trying to decide if I was supposed to just take my pants off. I was getting pretty close to just stripping down, when the dr. turned around and pointed out the changing room behind me. Oh I would've been embarrassed...which IS crazy when you think about it. They can't watch me take my pants off, but they can get up close and personal with my crotch after I do. Weird.
Posted by: Kristine at Mar 16, 2004 6:03:19 PM
You know, I can't remember where I heard this, but it is sooooo true: now be honest, ladies, you'll get undressed in front of your doctor, and you'll get undressed in front of your man, but you WON"T do it in front of BOTH of them.
Posted by: Mindy at Mar 16, 2004 6:34:41 PM
Can I just say one more thing? Eleven-word post, fifty comments.
Posted by: Mindy at Mar 16, 2004 6:36:01 PM
