The small room, the cold stirrups, the dreaded speculum. Some women are afraid of getting pelvic exams, but the twice-a-year trip is necessary to help keep women – and their gynecologists – familiar with their genitalia. It really isn’t all that scary and only takes about five minutes.
Most gynecologists suggest that young women should begin having pelvic exams when they turn 18 or become sexually active. However, there are no defined reasons for a woman to begin getting pelvic exams.
There are some guidelines that can help young women determine when to start getting checked out, including if a woman has unexplained pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding that lasts for more than 10 days or vaginal discharge that causes burning or itching.
It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether or not you are sexually active if you have any of these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, it is important to talk to a health provider as soon as possible.
Gynecologists recommend that you not have sex, use vaginal creams or douche for 24 hours before the exam.
Pelvic exams can be embarrassing to some. It’s a good idea to consult your gynecologist before the exam and let her or him know if you are feeling nervous.
During a pelvic exam, a gynecologist will check your sex organs for any gynecological problems. There are usually three parts to the exam: an external exam, a speculum exam and a bimanual exam.
During the external exam, your doctor will look at your vulva (clitoris, labia and vaginal opening) and rectum for anything out of the ordinary.
The speculum exam is just that – a look at your internal sex organs using a speculum to dilate the vaginal opening. The bimanual exam is when the gynecologists use one or two gloved fingers to feel the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus for any abnormalities.A pelvic exam is basically a checkup but can sometimes involve a Papanicolaou (Pap) Test.
A Pap test is a microscopic examination of cells taken from the cervix. During a routine cervical screening, a gynecologist will swab the cervix with a small brush or “broom” to collect a cell sample. The sample is then examined for signs of human papillomavirus (HPV) and other cancer-causing or cancerous cells.
According to the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “cervical cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent, because there is a vaccine and a screening test available. It also is highly curable when found and treated early.”
According to youngwomenshealth.org, in the United States there are about 2 million to 3 million abnormal Pap test results found each year. Most of the abnormal tests show the early stages of diseases like cervical cancer.
The CDCP emphasizes the importance of getting tested for cervical cancer because “6 of 10 cervical cancers occur in women who have never received a Pap test or have not been tested in the past five years.”
The best way to detect cervical cancer is by having regular Pap tests. Pap tests have been connected to the decline of cancer and death from cervical cancer because getting tested promotes prevention and early detection.
Women should get a Pap test annually, unless they are at a higher risk and their gynecologists suggest getting tested more frequently. Cervical cancer is sometimes symptomless and cannot be detected without a cervical screening.
The image above is from youngwomenshealth.gov
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