# Ladies: Socks on or off at the OBGYN? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789 "2010-01-05T20:10:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/21 "2010-01-05T23:35:43Z")
If I wear socks to the gyn office, they stay on. If I wear sandals or ballet flats without socks, then no socks. But I definitely wouldn’t take off my socks to be examined. I’m naked enough already! ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/22 "2010-01-05T23:36:48Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > My current gyn has covers that look like potholders (oven mits?) on the stirrups. I looked at them the last time I was having the annual torture, and they were advertisements from a pharmaceutical company. > The exam rooms at my clinic are pretty cold, so I leave my socks on. Mine has those, too, but then I start wondering when was the last time they washed those little covers. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/23 "2010-01-06T01:38:05Z")
Yeah, I’m laying there with my legs spread and my cooch exposed while a stranger pokes around my nether-regions and feels up my breasts…my feet are pretty much the last thing I’m thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/24 "2010-01-06T03:55:14Z")
If I walk in wearing sandals I won’t have socks anyway. If I walk in with socks I probably won’t bother taking them off, unless I’m also wearing long underwear in which case it all comes off so it can be reassembled neatly later. Like **Renee** said - someone is probing my cootchie, prodding breasts, _doing things_ to intimate places and ya’ll are worried about… socks? Well, I suppose it might be more interesting than counting ceiling tiles to take your mind off how cold the damn speculum is. (Actually, every doc I’ve ever had use a speculum on me has been very good about warming it up first) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/25 "2010-01-06T04:40:13Z")
> [@Bloody\_L](#): > > What about like those long socks? Like knee to thigh-high socks? I once had to get up in the stirrups in white knee socks and pigtails (I was in my early 20s). The doc was an older man and completely fine as far as I could tell, but it was definitely a shot-for-shot remake of some Barely Legal porn, somewhere. I answered socks, BTW. And they come off for sexy cooch prodding. Lets me remember which is which. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/26 "2010-01-06T04:45:37Z")
Socks on, always. Even if I were wearing sandals, I would bring socks. They make me feel less naked. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/27 "2010-01-06T06:45:21Z")
If I’m wearing socks when I get there, they stay on. Not a matter of feeling less exposed or anything like that, it’s just that it isn’t necessary to take them off. And then have to put them back on. The doctor isn’t looking at my feet. Although I did have one comment on my ‘cute socks’ once. I think he might have been trying to keep things light. Nice of him to make the effort, but really…? It’s a doctor. You do what you have to do and go about your day. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/28 "2010-01-06T07:28:11Z")
There are only two times my socks come off, and doctor visits are not one of the two. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/29 "2010-01-06T14:24:42Z")
Maybe next time I’m in the stirrups I’ll make it a point to wear my rainbow toe-socks, just to see if anyone notices. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/30 "2010-01-06T16:10:29Z")
On. I feel so naked already, why make myself feel even more naked? ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/31 "2010-01-06T18:27:12Z")
I have no real preference; if I’m wearing socks, they can stay on or come off, but generally in the past, I’ve gotten gyn exams at times when I’m wearing sandals with no socks. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/32 "2010-01-06T20:16:51Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I said “it depends”. I almost never wear close toed shoes (except for the gym and I never where gym shoes anywhere else) so therefore rarely have socks on. But if I did I would definitely leave them on. Those stirrups are cold! Me, too. I wear tennis shoes when walking/exercising, and at no other time. But I would definitely leave my socks on if I were wearing them. If not… well, my toes will just turn blue. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/33 "2010-01-06T20:26:27Z")
On. Add me to the “it’s too cold list”. My feet get cold and they are up in the air too long, then I get cramps in my feet. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/34 "2010-01-06T20:42:14Z")
Socks on. Skirt on, too. I mean, really–I get in the stirrups, and it falls out of the way anyway. Same with my shirt–I wear a loose t-shirt, take the bra off underneath while I’m waiting. There’s no good goddamn reason for me to wear the stupid-ass paper gown. I’m probably going to be in there for fifteen minutes before the doctor gets in. The jeans and underwear go off, too. My OB/GYN’s never complained. Everything’s easily moved/adjusted for the pressing pelvic part, too. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/35 "2010-01-06T21:37:05Z")
I am barefoot 99% of the time I’m at home, but I am squicky about putting my bare feet where other people’s feet germs may have been. So I can’t imagine taking my socks off at any doctor’s office unless I didn’t have to walk barefoot. In my gyno’s office, at least, there’d be no way for me to take off my socks and stow them away and get to the exam table without putting my bare feet on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/36 "2010-01-06T21:50:06Z")
I’ve been to 3 OBGYN’s in 5 years (finally settled on a great one) but most didn’t have covered the stirrups. I wear socks when the stirrups aren’t covered. But as a side note, one of them had soft felty covers that was advertising a particular drug! I mean, I’ve seen pens and clocks and hand sanitizer and notepads…but branded felty stirrup covers!? They think of _everything_. ---
**Author:** ![Jelly\_Roll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jelly\_Roll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelly_Roll)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/37 "2010-01-06T22:10:32Z")
Socks on, always. And if I’m not wearing socks with my outfit that day, I bring a pair with me. I’ve never really though it (in fact, I thought everyone did this), but I think I’m in the “it keeps me from feeling _totally_ exposed” camp. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/38 "2010-01-06T22:59:23Z")
IIRC, the last few years they’ve TOLD me to keep my socks on. Probably part to keep the tootsies warm and partly so the OB-GYN doesn’t have people’s feet in her face all day. (Yes, I appreciate the irony. But she’s not there to inhale foot fumes.) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/39 "2010-01-06T23:09:50Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > But as a side note, one of them had soft felty covers that was advertising a particular drug! I mean, I’ve seen pens and clocks and hand sanitizer and notepads…but branded felty stirrup covers!? They think of _everything_. At least it wasn’t the speculum (though it does remind me of the Aflac duck). ---
**Author:** ![Countrypolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@Countrypolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Countrypolitan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789/40 "2010-01-07T00:42:23Z")
Socks on–my feet are cold all the time anyway, and I have ugly feet, so they stay on. This time it was a bright pink pair of SmartWools. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-socks-on-or-off-at-the-obgyn/523789.md?page=3)