To be honest, I don't mess with any of it. I don't see the need.

But the fact that insurance won't cover potentially life-saving testing is pretty upsetting to me. The thing that bothers me the most about it is that it's difficult to get birth control without being subjected to testing I personally consider unnecessary. less

In a world where our medical technologies are perpetually improving, why do we still subject ourselves to uncomfortable, invasive, outdated procedures every year (or more than once a year)?
Pap Smears should already be replaced with the CSA (Cervical Specific Antigen) blood test. It's considerably more accurate and it can catch cervical cancer much sooner. The fact that gynecologists are still using the PAP smear is a detriment to their patients.

There are blood tests for STDs. There are ultrasounds to look at internal structures, rather than working blind. Unless there's actively a problem with the vagina itself, I can't see any reason that pelvic exam should still exist.

So, is there anyone else out there that's anti-pelvic exam or anti-gynecology? What are your reasons? Share your knowledge and your opinions. less

In a world where our medical technologies are perpetually improving, why do we still subject ourselves to uncomfortable, invasive, outdated procedures every year (or more than once a year)?
Pap Smears should already be replaced with the CSA (Cervical Specific Antigen) blood test. It's considerably more accurate and it can catch cervical cancer much sooner. The fact that gynecologists are still using the PAP smear is a detriment to their patients.

There are blood tests for STDs. There are ultrasounds to look at internal structures, rather than working blind. Unless there's actively a problem with the vagina itself, I can't see any reason that pelvic exam should still exist.

So, is there anyone else out there that's anti-pelvic exam or anti-gynecology? What are your reasons? Share your knowledge and your opinions. less

I go and get mine every year, but my mom had cancer in her Uterine Lining by the age of 30, so I want to know if the slightest thing is wrong. I do feel like they are necessary, there are things that these test you are talking about can not determine and as many others have said they are not paid for by insurance companies. Plus it is kind of silly to do a bunch of test when all you need is a PAP. less

And I reiterate, a ultrasound can be used to check positioning of internal structures, to check for ovarian health, etc. I know I occasionally get cysts, because I've had an abdominal ultrasound to determine it, which they've basically told me "will resolve themselves on their own". I fail to understand how it can be helpful to me to know this if there is nothing that needs to be done about it.

I have had an extensive conversation with a doctor wherein they admitted that I was correct in every argument I presented. It isn't about anxiety, it's about paying for shit that doesn't need to be done to my body. And subjecting myself to unnecessary procedures to begin with. It seems that most of the things done in a pelvic exam can be self-checked easily enough with a little knowledge.

I'm not asking to be lectured on my stance, I'm asking who agrees with me. Kindly refrain from using shame tactics if you disagree. Facts should make your point. less

It is helpful to know you get cysts on your ovaries, because if they happen frequently enough they can be signs of other problems (such as polycystic ovarian syndrome). They can also cause scarring, which can lead to fertility issues.

While I agree PAPs are a pain in the ass to get, due to being so uncomfortable in many ways, I think for a lot of people they are still necessary. For those who have no family history of problems and tend to have good gynecological health, I can see the CSA and an ultrasound being a solid alternative (with enough knowledge to keep up on other things a PAP tells). For those less blessed, a regular PAP can tell your gyno more. It's their job to deal with those issues, and they spend days on end watching for the signs, and are good at noticing smaller signs that an ultrasound may not pick up. Such as vaginal fluid, odor, discoloration, scar tissue, etc.
I've had enough ultrasounds to know things often get misinterpreted or overlooked, or get missed due to the angles they check from. I've had qualified doctors freak me out when an ultrasound apparently showed signs of something terrible, then I get referred to a specialist, wait a couple months to get in (while I freak out about the potential possibilities of what they say is wrong), only to find out the specialist says it is something else much more simple and tolerable (or in another case something else entirely).
But then again, I have a family history of problems and have PCOS myself. less

But all you need to replace the PAP is the CSA. It seems silly to do a full pelvic when you just need a little pin-prick.

That said, people keep saying there are things a pelvic can determine that other testing can't. Anyone care to be more specific? less

More than just cervical cancer or ovarian cysts are checked for during a yearly or every other year pelvic exam. Ultrasounds are very expensive and as some internal abnormalities are similar in tissue density to normal tissue, things can be missed. Ultra sound doesn't catch everything. I know of NO doctor or nurse that would substitute a simply a CSA and an ultra sound for a full physical exam.

One can tell things from many points in palpating organs, skin tone, even the way the patient expresses herself. There's more to it than just catching one or two diseases. It's for total sexual, urinary and lower intestinal health.

There are also issues that effect fertility that can effect total health, and need to be addressed, even if one will never want to reproduce. There is more to the word "fertility" than simply wanting to have babies. Things that cause infertility usually, almost always effect total body health and need to be addressed. I also don't know of any competent doctor that will do a tubal ligation without a full pelvic exam first, as well.

This is from WebMD.

A pelvic exam is a way for doctors to look for signs of illness in certain organs in a woman's body. The word "pelvic" refers to the pelvis. The exam is used to look at a woman's:

Vulva (external genital organs)
Uterus (the womb)
Cervix (opening from the vagina to the uterus)
Fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs to the womb)
Ovaries (organs that produce eggs)
Bladder (the sac that holds urine)
Rectum (the chamber that connects the colon to the anus)

When Are Pelvic Exams Done?

Pelvic exams are performed:

During a yearly physical exam.
When a woman is pregnant.
When a doctor is checking for an infection (such as chlamydia, vaginosis, trichomoniasis, candida and others).
When a woman is having pain in her pelvic area or low back.

Nothing replaces good old fashioned hands on exams. I know lactation clients who want me to "diagnose and fix" them with a phone conversation with no face to face visit, it simply can't be done. The same goes for most forms of medicine. Seeing, talking to and examining a patient had been done for millenia, and no high tech test or imaging will replace these tools.

A physical exam is a lot less expensive than an ultrasound, and no doctor is going to order an ultrasound of the pelvic area without first palpating the area and doing a full physical exam. At least not where I practice.

No "shame" was used in my post, if you felt shame.... well, I can't really address that. I do think it's less than wise to try to convince others to ignore their health, however. (Maybe everyone else doesn't know as much about these things as you seem to know?) I am sure you will do whatever you feel is right, as a doctor told you "all your arguments were 100% correct." Did they say that physical exams were totally unnecessary? I can't see a competent doctor saying that. I've worked with more than a dozen of them, and know more. They know the value of good hands on, eye to eye medical care.

You may know your body well, many women do. While basic things you do know about may be fine, there are issues you may know nothing about that could easily be missed. But, it's your body....

It's obvious you aren't going to have a pelvic exam, but as it is not only the Standard of Care, but very useful for most women, most will continue to have them. And doctors, NPs and midwives, either with or without a CSA will continue to perform them. less