YOUNG-WOMEN Messages for October, 2002: Re: pelvic exam

Re: pelvic exam

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 29 Oct 2002 09:53:39 -0600 (CST)

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At Tue, 29 Oct 2002, Lisa wrote: >
>I recently saw my doctor for my yearly check up. I am 15 years old and
>I have been seeing this doctor since I've been about 12. She is just my
>regular doctor, not a gynecologist. The nurse told me to remove all of
>my clothes and put on the paper gown. I thought this was a little weird
>because I never had to do that before. They always told me before to
>leave my bra and underwear on and then my doctor would ask me to take my
>bra off when she examined my breasts. The check up was as it usually
>was but this time my doctor asked me to put my feet in the holders and
>inserted a finger in my vagina and rectum and pressed on my stomach. I
>don't think she did a pap test. I was a little nervous because I didn't
>expect it and my mind went blank so I didn't ask the doctor any
>questions. My mom told me that it was normal for the doctor to do the
>pelvic exam, but even she didn't know that my doctor was going to give
>me that exam. I've never been to a gynecologist and I'm not sexually
>active, so I guess my question is, is that normal for a regular check
>up...should I now expect that every time.

It would have been nice you if had been given a little preparation, but I suspect that you will need to expect this from now on. I am not sure what criteria Pediatricians use to decide when they are going to start pelvic exams. No-one comes to my office unless either they or their doctor thinks they need one. The rules are that by the age of 18, or with the onset of sexual activity (not just intercourse), a girl should begin to have pelvic exams. Pediatricians are in the best postion to intervene in a young woman's life before she becomes sexually active and help forestall some of the potential complications of that activity. I suspect that she was just trying to be conscientious, though a word or two of warning and preparation would have been a better way of doing this.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for consultation and examination by a licensed medical professional.

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