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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A pelvic exam allows the doctor to assess gynecological health and identify possible signs of ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, cancer, or sexually transmitted infections.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Performing this type of exam helps lead to a more accurate diagnosis.<\/p>\n

How Is a Pelvic Exam Performed?It’s completely normal for a woman to initially wonder: what exactly is a pelvic exam for?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Generally, a pelvic exam consists of several stages, which together take just a couple of minutes or a bit longer:<\/p>\n

\n
• External visual exam. The vulva is examined for sores, swelling, redness, or any other abnormality.<\/li>\n
• Internal visual exam. Using a speculum, the doctor also checks for redness or other abnormalities inside the reproductive tract.<\/li>\n
• 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.<\/li>\n
• Rectovaginal exam. The doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to check the muscles and look for possible tumors behind the uterus.<\/li>\n
• Pap smear. If a Pap smear is done, the doctor will collect a sample of cervical cells during the internal visual exam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  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.<\/p>\n

  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.<\/p>\n

  At ABC Medical Center\u2019s Women’s Center, we can provide you with specialized care for your pelvic exam. Contact us!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  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 […]<\/p>\n

  Read More… from What Is a Pelvic Exam For?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":183014,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[947,992],"tags":[3285],"class_list":["post-609916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-magazine","category-womens-health","tag-enfermedades-de-la-mujer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n