KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The pelvic exam has been a standard part of women’s health care, but now a major doctors’ group says many women shouldn’t have routine pelvic exams.
Like most women, Jen Harmon expects a check of her height and weight and of her blood pressure when she visits her OB/GYN’s office. She also expects a pelvic exam.
“There is value, I believe… just the early detection of everything you don’t normally see,” said Harmon.
But the American College of Physicians disagrees. It’s recommending against routine pelvic exams for non-pregnant women of average risk with no symptoms. The doctors’ group says the exams rarely detect important disease, do not reduce deaths and are associated with anxiety, embarrassment, discomfort and added cost.
The guideline only applies to the exam, not to pap testing for cervical cancer. The group does recommend that.
Dr. Leanna Mosher, an OB/GYN at St. Luke’s Hospital, thinks the guideline will create a lot of confusion. She fears it will result in women thinking they don’t need to see the doctor at all.
“I’m fearful they’re going to decide to not go and have that visit and they really should have that visit and determine with their doctor whether they have any risk factors,” said Dr. Mosher.
She says they need to determine if there are risk factors that mean the woman needs pelvic exams. Dr. Mosher also fears the guideline will result in women not getting recommended pap tests.
“Women out there still need to follow those screening guidelines,” she said.
Pap tests are now recommended every three years for women of average risk between the ages of 21 and 65.
Another doctors’ group, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, still recommends annual pelvic exams. The American College of Physicians says its recommendation against them is part of an effort to eliminate wasteful practices in medicine.
