Pelvic Exams

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/pelvic-1.aspx

What is a pelvic exam?

A pelvic exam is an examination that your doctor or a nurse performs to make sure that your reproductive organs are healthy.

Here are a few reasons why a pelvic exam is a good idea:

• They make sure that your pelvic organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) are normal.
• They can detect infections that can cause vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or infertility. If you have one of these infections, a regular pelvic exam can help make sure that it’s detected early, so you can get treatment before any serious damage is done.
• Probably the best reason to get a pelvic exam is that it includes a “Pap” test that can detect early stages of some types of cancers. Spotting these early signs of cancer could even save your life.

“Pelvic exam”, “Pap test” or “Pap Smear”?

During a Pap smear, the cells from the cervix are "smeared" onto a microscope slide using a q-tip.

You may have wondered before if there is a difference between a “pelvic exam”, a “Pap test” and a “Pap smear”. A “Pap test” and “Pap smear” are the same thing – they are a test that involves collecting cells from your cervix and then looking at them through a microscope to make sure they are normal and healthy. It is sometimes called a “smear” because the cells from the cervix are “smeared” onto a microscope slide. A pelvic exam is a little different – it refers to the entire exam of your reproductive organs, part of which is the collection of cells for the Pap test. Some people think that a Pap test is a screening test for all sexually transmitted diseases, this is not true.

When do I need a pelvic exam?

If you are sexually active, or if you’re 21 or older, your family doctor or health care giver will discuss the necessity of a pelvic exam. Sometimes, a pelvic exam might also be necessary if you have unusual discharge or bleeding from your vagina, or unexplained pain in your pelvic area. A pelvic exam can sometimes help identify the cause of these problems.

It’s very important for women to have regular pelvic exams. After your first visit, ask your doctor or nurse when you should schedule your next visit. Typically, you will be asked to schedule your next exam a year later. After you’ve had two or three yearly exams, your doctor may suggest that you can reduce your exam frequency to once every two or three years.

You should also speak to your healthcare provider about how often you should be having pelvic exams.

According to Statistics Canada, more than five million Pap tests are performed annually in Canada.

My Story

• “I was a little bit nervous during my first pelvic exam, since I didn’t really know what to expect. Mostly, I think I was just feeling shy and embarrassed. But once the test got started, my doctor was very nice and professional, and she helped guide me through it. She helped me relax a bit and I definitely felt a lot more comfortable after she explained all of the steps to me – that I would need to undress, and that she would do a breast exam, press on my organs, insert the speculum, remove a sample, etc….
  The exam itself didn’t hurt, and in the end I’d say the whole thing went very well. I can’t say that I particularly ‘enjoyed’ having the exam done, but it felt nice to know that I was taking good care of myself and being active about my health.”
  - Isabelle
• I remember that going to my first Pap test was quite stressful and nerve-racking. I wasn’t really sure what to expect or if it was going to hurt – and I don’t exactly have what you would call a “high threshold” for pain. By the time I got there, I was getting pretty nervous.
  Lucky for me, I have a really great relationship with my family doctor. She knew exactly what my concerns where, and talked me through everything. At every step in the exam, she told me what she was doing and what I would be feeling while she was doing it. I was even told that if the exam was too painful she could stop and we could do it at another visit. She also told me how to position myself so it would be easier for her and more comfortable for me. I was pretty relieved once the procedure was over - it went a whole lot better than I imagined it would! The exam was a bit uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing, but I’m certainly not scared to go for my regular Pap anymore.
  - Melissa