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Pelvic Exams May No
Longer Be Mandatory for
All Gynecologic Annuals
By 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.