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Pelvic Exams May No

Longer Be Mandatory for

All Gynecologic AnnualsBy Dr. Lori Gore-Green

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The yearly trip to the gynecologist

can be a dreaded event for many

females. Pap smears are

unpleasant and can often be only

the tip of the iceberg, as many

doctors also include pelvic and

rectal exams as well.

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However, according to an article

completed by the Daily News that

summarizes a new series of

guidelines released by the

American College of Physicians,

the pelvic exams may no longer

be a necessary procedure to

inflict upon women who are not

pregnant.

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In the procedures involved in the

yearly check up with a

gynecologist, women are often

subjected to pelvic exams under

the pretense that the ordeal can

help in finding possible signs of

ovarian cysts, sexual transmitted

infections, uterine fibroids and

early detection of cancer.

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However, according to findings

published by the ACP in their

journal Annals of Internal

Medicine, the routine pelvic exam

has not shown to benefit as it was

previously thought to.

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The exam is now believed to

rarely detect important disease

and doesn’t reduce mortality in the

average risk woman who is not

pregnant.

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In fact, the examination is often

associated with discomfort for

many women, including a round

of potential false positives and

negative exams, along with

additional unnecessary costs.

However, this finding does not

apply to pap smears, which are

believed to still be beneficial.

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The researchers with the

American College of Physicians

are not the first to suggest that

pelvic exams could be excluded

from the routine trip to the

OBGYN. Carolyn Westhoff was

the first to suggest eliminating the

procedure, with an article

published in 2011.

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The article indicated that if the

woman was experiencing none

of the typical concerning

symptoms—such as discharge,

abnormal bleeding, pain, urinary

problems or sexual

dysfunction—the procedure was

very unnecessary.

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She, in turn, approves of the

announcement made by the ACP.

However, Westhoff and the ACP

are not without their opponents.

The guideline is expected to stir up

quite a bit of controversy.

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The American College of

Obstetrics and Gynecology

remains in favor of the annual

pelvic exam, as it allows doctors

to fully explain a patient’s anatomy

to them—including a reassurance

of normality and an ability to

answer any questions.