{"id":19186,"date":"2021-08-03T10:03:07","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T15:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19186"},"modified":"2023-03-06T12:01:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T17:01:35","slug":"how-to-dress-for-a-doctors-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/how-to-dress-for-a-doctors-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Does It Matter What You Wear to a Doctor’s Visit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe you\u2019ve stared into your closet debating which outfit to wear to a routine physical, skin exam, pre-op consult or any other type of doctor’s visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will any doctor, nurse or receptionist judge you for showing up in sweats? Would dressing up be weird? What if you really, <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> hate the idea of changing into a hospital gown \u2014 can you stay in your own clothes?<\/span><\/p>\n

We talked with several doctors about what to wear to make your next appointment more comfortable and efficient.<\/span> It turns out sweats are totally okay (even encouraged). As for changing into that paper gown, experts say patients have more power to call the shots than they might realize.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Know when to expect a gown.<\/h3>\n

Some of the most common situations that might entail changing into a gown come up during dermatology and orthopedic visits, says Dr. Anthony Leazzo, chairman of family practice at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re doing a full body mole check or something on your back, for the comfort of the patient not having to contort in multiple directions around their clothing, we\u2019ll have them change,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Women may be asked to change for gynecological exams, including pap smears and breast exams. Genital or rectal exams will likely require disrobing from the waist down. But that doesn\u2019t mean the gown is a foregone conclusion or that you need to wear it.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re never required to change.<\/h3>\n

If changing into a gown makes you feel anxious or uncomfortable, speak up \u2014 your provider will accommodate your concerns (and if they don\u2019t, it\u2019s time to see someone else). Don\u2019t be afraid to ask why they want you to change if you\u2019re not sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny time a patient doesn\u2019t want to be in a gown, they should feel empowered to use their own clothing,\u201d says Dr. Yasaswi Kislovskiy, an ob-gyn in Pennsylvania and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health. \u201cIt\u2019s my job to understand the patient\u2019s goals for the visit and to explain what physical exam is needed and why it would help me to provide better clinical care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Melissa Dundas, an adolescent medicine physician in New York and also a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, agrees. \u201cPatients can refuse to change at any time,\u201d she says. As a provider who works with teens, Dundas says she takes extra care to understand the patient\u2019s discomfort, adding that some patients \u201cmay have a history of sexual abuse, and changing out of their clothes may cause them to feel exposed and trigger harmful memories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re uncomfortable at any point, you can bring it up to the medical assistant who brings you to the exam room, the nurse who takes your vitals or your doctor; or you can give the receptionist a heads up when you check in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can also ask to see the doctor before you change,\u201d says Dr. Jeffrey Quinlan, professor and chair of the department of family medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. \u201cOften, getting to meet your doctor before you are put in a vulnerable condition can alleviate or lessen your worry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dress like you\u2019re about to board a long flight.<\/h3>\n

In general, patients shouldn\u2019t stress about dressing for the doctor, Kislovskiy says: \u201c\u2018Dress for the doctor\u2019 implies that you need to do something unique or different for the visit. Rather, it\u2019s our job to ensure the patient\u2019s comfort.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, there are some practical considerations when picking out your ensemble. A good rule of thumb is to dress like you\u2019re about to hop a redeye.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWear loose, comfortable-fitting clothing like you\u2019re going to be on an airplane for five hours,\u201d Leazzo says. \u201cMost people aren\u2019t going to want to wear a turtleneck and jeans and thigh-high boots. The same can be true in the doctor\u2019s office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If your go-to travel outfit is a comfy pair of sweats, even better, Leazzo says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s probably ideal, because I can get to just about any part of your body through sweats,\u201d he says. \u201cThe patient shouldn\u2019t feel like they need to dress up to come to the doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on the reason for the visit, women may want to avoid wearing a dress or one-piece outfit that makes it difficult for the provider to perform an abdominal, heart or lung exam without changing into a gown, Quinlan says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWearing a sports bra can help maintain modesty while still allowing your doctor access to perform the necessary exams,\u201d Quinlan adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to the ob-gyn, certain pieces can also make it easier for you to stay in your own clothing if that\u2019s your preference.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want a breast exam, a shirt that opens in the front, like a button-up or a wrap-front that can be untied, can be helpful,\u201d Kislovskiy says. \u201cIf you think you\u2019ll need a pelvic exam, a skirt or dress that can be lifted above the waist will also work well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Make it easy to address your specific concern.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re heading to the doctor for an issue with a certain body part, think about how to help the provider access that area in a way that keeps you comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re coming in for a knee issue, skintight leggings or jeans wouldn\u2019t be the best,\u201d Leazzo says. \u201cWe might ask you to change so we can look at the knee and see if the joints are swollen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Same goes for heart or lung issues \u2014 your provider will probably \u201cneed to have access to the skin overlying that body part,\u201d Quinlan says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember to account for medical equipment, too: \u201cIf you have a port, ostomy, or drain that your physician or their staff will need to access, consider wearing clothing that makes this easier for both of you,\u201d Quinlan says, such as a port access hoodie for cancer patients at a chemo appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask for a same-sex chaperone.<\/h3>\n

For some patients, it\u2019s uncomfortable to receive a physical exam from a provider of the opposite sex.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPatients always have the right to a stand-by or same-sex observer in the room for exams when you are in a gown, or if your physician is examining your breasts or genitals,\u201d Quinlan says.<\/span><\/p>\n

In some offices, this practice is standard: \u201cIt\u2019s always beneficial to have a third party in there to say, \u2018Hey, this is very clinical, there\u2019s nothing else going on,\u2019\u201d Leazzo says.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t offered a same-sex observer, you can still request a chaperone or ask if there\u2019s a way to avoid changing for an exam altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re uncomfortable, we won\u2019t be offended in the least if you say, \u2018Hey, is there a way we can get around having to change?\u2019\u201d Leazzo says. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of time for us to discuss it. You should never feel forced when you come to the doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Work with your provider to find a solution that makes you feel comfortable.<\/h3>\n

Ultimately, \u201ca patient always has the right to refuse to change into a gown,\u201d Quinlan says. \u201cHowever, this may limit the doctor\u2019s ability to examine you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But in many cases, your doctor can provide workarounds to help make you more comfortable, even if some disrobing is still inevitable.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be challenging to deliver a baby through a pair of pants,\u201d Kislovskiy says. \u201cBut many patients wear their own comfortable dresses or sleep shirts to labor and delivery, and I\u2019ve had other individuals prefer to remain dressed in their own clothing for routine gynecological visits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ready to book a doctor’s appointment? Visit Zocdoc.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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