Why is pelvic exam done

You'll be asked to slide your body toward the end of the table and let your knees fall open. Internal visual exam. Next, your doctor uses a speculum — a plastic or metal-hinged instrument shaped like a duck's bill — to spread open your vaginal walls and see your vagina and cervix.

The speculum might be warmed before it's inserted to make it more comfortable for you. Inserting and opening the speculum causes pressure that can be uncomfortable for some women.

Relax as much as possible to ease discomfort, but tell your doctor if you're in pain. Physical exam. Because your pelvic organs, including your uterus and ovaries, can't be seen from outside your body, your doctor needs to feel palpate your abdomen and pelvis for this part of the exam.

Your doctor will insert two lubricated, gloved fingers into your vagina with one hand, while the other hand presses gently on the outside of your lower abdomen. During this part of the exam, your doctor will check the size and shape of your uterus and ovaries, noting any tender areas or unusual growths.

After the vaginal exam, your doctor will insert a gloved finger into your rectum to check for tenderness, growths or other irregularities. Your doctor should tell you exactly what he or she is doing at each step so that nothing comes as a surprise to you. After the pelvic exam is over, you can get dressed. Then, your doctor will discuss the results of your exam. Your doctor can usually tell you immediately if the exam revealed anything unusual. Pap test results might take a few days.

Your doctor will discuss with you any next steps, additional tests, follow-up or treatment that you need. This includes adolescents, minorities, people with disabilities, and people who have been sexually assaulted.

Healthcare providers will take special care during pelvic exams by using lubrication during instrument insertion and educating women about the process before getting started. If you feel uncomfortable at any point during your exam, make sure to tell your healthcare provider. A transvaginal ultrasound, also called an endovaginal ultrasound, is a type of pelvic ultrasound used by doctors to examine female reproductive organs.

A pelvic MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves to help your doctor see the bones, organs, blood vessels, and other tissues in your pelvic region—the…. During a pelvic laparoscopy, your doctor uses an instrument called a laparoscope to examine your reproductive organs. Hello Rory offers treatments for a wide range of health concerns, from skin issues to reproductive health and more.

Overall, reviews of Rory are quite…. Vaginal peeling can be caused by many conditions and may include vaginal itching, burning, or swelling.

Accurate diagnosis is important for effective…. Menorrhagia is the clinical term for a heavy or abnormally long menstrual flow. A doctor can help identify an underlying cause and come up with a…. Most girls will get their first period sometime between the ages of 10 and 15, but it can happen as young as 8.

Clitoris pain can be caused by many things. Learn more about how it's diagnosed, the treatment options available, and more. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Pelvic Exam. Depending on the results of these tests, the doctor may advise a person to wait up to 5 years between Pap smears.

During this time, it is still a good idea to have a yearly pelvic exam. Women over 65 should continue to have pelvic exams as recommended by a doctor. Only those with histories of gynecological precancer should continue having Pap smears.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It can lead to scarring of tissues and organs, and infertility. The ovaries are located on either side of the lower pelvis. Learn about the possible causes of ovary pain, including cysts and endometriosis.

A pelvic laparoscopy is a commonly employed surgical procedure. It can help detect endometriosis, cervical cancer, and other conditions. It can also…. PCOS is a disorder where small fluid-filled cysts form in the ovaries, leading to an imbalance in female sex hormones.

Symptoms can include…. Vaginal swelling can occur for a range of different reasons. This article examines 14 reasons why a person may experience vaginal swelling, including…. What happens during a pelvic exam? Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, P. Procedure During the exam After the exam Pelvic exams during pregnancy How often should you get one? Takeaway A pelvic exam involves physically and visually examining the female reproductive and sexual organs. What is the procedure and why is it done?

Share on Pinterest A doctor may carry out a pelvic examination as part of an annual checkup. This includes feeling a girl's uterus and ovaries to be sure everything's normal. Teens don't usually get pelvic exams. Sometimes doctors do pelvic exams if they think there's a problem. For example, if a girl complains of heavy bleeding, missed periods, or discharge, the doctor will want to check for a cause. Otherwise, doctors don't recommend regular pelvic exams or Pap smears until a woman is 21 years old.

A medical assistant or nurse will give you a robe to wear and a sheet to cover you. You'll be left alone to undress — either fully if you're getting a breast exam as well or from the waist down. The doctor or nurse practitioner will come into the room and talk a bit about what to expect and why they're doing the exam. Then, you'll lie on the table so your behind is at the end of the table. You'll bend your knees and rest your feet in two stirrups, which are metal triangular loops that stick out from the end of the table.

These might look a little scary, but they're just there to rest your feet in and keep you more comfortable. The doctor will ask you to relax your knees out to the sides as far as they will go.