Pelvic examination is a diagnostic procedure to examine the reproductive organs in a woman. Pelvic examination is performed either as a routine checkup procedure or to identify or diagnose any abnormal health condition.
Who performs a pelvic examination ?
Pelvic examination is performed by a Gynecologist in a doctor’s office or in a healthcare facility.
When is a pelvic examination advised ?
As mentioned earlier a Pelvic examination can be done as a part of routine evaluation of health or to determine any abnormality or disease. Few scenarios where a Pelvic examination is advised are mentioned as under.
- To diagnose vaginal infections
- To diagnose sexually transmitted diseases
- To examine any swelling, redness or growths in the genital organs
- To diagnose bacterial, viral and fungal infections of the reproductive system
- To check the causes of pain and discomfort in the reproductive organs
- As a primary step to advise a patient for birth control
- To diagnose abnormal bleeding from the uterus
You can ask your treating specialist to explain to you the indications for a pelvic examination in detail.
How do you prepare for a pelvic examination ?
You should ask your gynecologist about how to prepare for a Pelvic examination in detail. You will be asked to report to the healthcare facility or your doctor’s office for the pelvic examination. You should not use intimate washes, tampons, or any vaginal medication at-least 24hours before the examination. You should not indulge in sexual intercourse 24 hours before the examination. If you are on your periods or have abnormal vaginal discharge or if you are pregnant, you should inform your doctor about the same. The test takes a few minutes and you should wear loose and comfortable clothing for the test.
What happens during a pelvic examination ?
You will be asked to remove your clothes from waist down before the beginning of the Pelvic examination. The pelvic examination is either done manually by visualizing the genital organs or by the use of scopes and speculum to examine the inside of the uterus and the ovaries. You will be asked to lie down on your back and your legs might be raised up on leg support for better visualization. Your doctor will initially do the visual examination to examine the vulva, urethra and vagina and if required will also do an examination with a speculum or special instruments to examine the inside of the reproductive organs.
Sometimes a rectal examination is also performed along with a pelvic examination an is usually referred to as the Bimanual examination.
The examination usually takes about a few minutes to an hour at the maximum. If required a Pap smear can also be performed with a pelvic examination.
If any abnormalities are found during the examination, your doctor will discuss the same with you.
Are there any risks associated with a pelvic examination ?
No there are no risks associated with a Pelvic examination.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
