What is a "pelvic exam"?

What is a "pelvic exam"?

Michael Tahery (Obstetrician & Gynecologist) gives expert video advice on: What is my doctor looking for during a breast exam?; Can I do my own breast exam?; How common are abnormal pap smear results? and more...

A pelvic exam always is a little scary because women don't know what they're facing or what's going to happen. Usually the way it works is that they come in, they sit in the stirrups, they lay down of course, and we use a speculum which we insert inside the vaginal area. First we inspect the clitoris, the vulva area, the openings, the rectal area for hemorrhoids or any other abnormalities. Then we put the speculum inside the vagina. We look for any inflammations, discharge and infection of any kind. Then we look at the cervix. We look for inflammation again or any discharge from the cervix itself, which is an opening to the uterus. Then we obtain a pap smear and we do this by a brush. We put the brush within the opening of the cervix, and we twirl it around, and we send this to the laboratory for evaluation. Then we remove the speculum and we use either the fingers or the ultrasound to evaluate the size of the uterus, tenderness, and position of the uterus and the ovaries. That usually concludes a normal pelvic exam.