The pelvic exam is part of a routine gynecological checkup, generally performed starting at age 21, and is an important tool for women’s health and body care.
What Does a Pelvic Exam Reveal During a Gynecological Checkup?A gynecological exam refers to the monitoring a doctor performs of a woman’s body and reproductive organs, with the goal of checking for any abnormalities and, if found, diagnosing and treating them promptly.
A pelvic exam allows the doctor to assess gynecological health and identify possible signs of ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, cancer, or sexually transmitted infections.
A pelvic exam may also be performed when the gynecologist has identified symptoms such as pelvic pain, unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, urinary problems, skin changes, and others.
Performing this type of exam helps lead to a more accurate diagnosis.
How Is a Pelvic Exam Performed?It’s completely normal for a woman to initially wonder: what exactly is a pelvic exam for?
Its main purpose is that, during this exam, the doctor examines the vulva and the reproductive organs, including the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
Generally, a pelvic exam consists of several stages, which together take just a couple of minutes or a bit longer:
- External visual exam. The vulva is examined for sores, swelling, redness, or any other abnormality.
- Internal visual exam. Using a speculum, the doctor also checks for redness or other abnormalities inside the reproductive tract.
- Physical exam. Also known as a bimanual exam, the doctor will palpate the abdomen and pelvis to assess the condition of the uterus and ovaries.
- Rectovaginal exam. The doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to check the muscles and look for possible tumors behind the uterus.
- Pap smear. If a Pap smear is done, the doctor will collect a sample of cervical cells during the internal visual exam.
Once the pelvic exam is complete, the gynecologist will let you know right away if anything unusual was found and may order additional tests, although Pap smear results will take a few more days to come back.
This exam is also a good opportunity for you, as the patient, to bring up anything that’s on your mind or any questions you may have about sexual health, pregnancy, or other topics.
At ABC Medical Center’s Women’s Center, we can provide you with specialized care for your pelvic exam. Contact us!
