Beatrice asks “I joined the swim team and the coach says I need to have a sports physical. How do I avoid that?”
Avoiding your first sports physical is something almost every girl has considered. After all, you feel healthy already so there really isn’t a need for a doctor to check you. Or so it seems.
Most teams and many schools require a sports physical or a pre-participation physical. It helps make sure that your heart, lungs and body are health enough for tough physical activity.
Not every sports physical is the same either. In the most basic version you’ll keep your bra and panties on and won’t ever be naked. You’ll for sure do height and weight and have the doctor listen to your lungs and heart.
You’ll also be asked a lot of questions about your body and your lifestyle. If you use substances, if you notice anything strange when you work out and for girls… about our period and our sexual activity.
Some doctors will stop there. Others will want to do a full physical exam including a pelvic exam. You can learn more about those exams by reading other stories on this site.
You won’t be allowed to play sports without a physical if your coach says you need one. But ask your doctor or get your mom to ask for the most basic exam you can have. If you aren’t sexually active, aren’t having painful periods and don’t have any other symptoms you may be able to avoid the most embarrassing parts of a full exam.
At some point you will still need a full exam but maybe you can skip it for your sports physical… at least for now!
