====== Pelvic exam ======
Pelvic Exam: What You Need to Know About This Important Procedure
A pelvic exam is a routine part of well-woman care. It’s a quick and relatively painless procedure that can help your doctor check your reproductive organs for any abnormalities.
What Happens During a Pelvic Exam?
During a pelvic exam, your doctor will:
- Ask you about your medical history and symptoms
- Examine your external genitalia, including your vulva and vagina
- Insert a speculum into your vagina to widen it so that they can see your cervix
- Use a cotton swab to collect cells from your cervix for a Pap test
- Manually feel your uterus and ovaries to check for any lumps or abnormalities
Why Is a Pelvic Exam Important?
A pelvic exam can help your doctor find and treat a variety of health problems, including:
- Cervical cancer: A Pap test can detect cervical cancer in its early stages, when it’s most treatable.
- Uterine cancer: A pelvic exam can help your doctor find uterine cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in women.
- Ovarian cancer: A pelvic exam can help your doctor find ovarian cancer, which is often difficult to detect in its early stages.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): A pelvic exam can help your doctor diagnose PID, which is a bacterial infection of the reproductive organs.
- Uterine fibroids: A pelvic exam can help your doctor find uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus.
How Often Should I Get a Pelvic Exam?
The American Cancer Society recommends that women get a pelvic exam every three years starting at age 21. However, your doctor may recommend more frequent exams if you have certain risk factors, such as a family history of cancer or a history of sexually transmitted infections.
What Should I Do If I’m Afraid of Getting a Pelvic Exam?
It’s perfectly normal to be nervous about getting a pelvic exam. However, it’s important to remember that this procedure is an important part of your health care. Here are a few tips to help you relax:
- Talk to your doctor: Let your doctor know that you’re nervous. They can answer your questions and help you feel more comfortable.
- Bring a friend or family member: Having someone with you can help you feel more relaxed.
- Take a deep breath: Before the exam, take a few deep breaths to help you relax.
- Think about something else: During the exam, try to think about something else to distract yourself.
Pelvic exams are an important part of women’s health care. By getting a pelvic exam regularly, you can help your doctor find and treat any health problems early on.
Secondary keywords:
- Pap test
- Cervical cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
