During a pelvic exam, your doctor visually and manually assesses your reproductive organs.

A
pelvic exam usually is done as part of a woman's regular checkup, or your doctor may
recommend a pelvic exam if you're having symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge or
pelvic pain.

A pelvic exam is a relatively short procedure. In the course of a pelvic exam, your doctor
checks your vulva, vagina, uterus, rectum and pelvis, including your ovaries, for masses,
growths or other abnormalities. A Pap test, which screens

How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff
No special preparation is required for a pelvic exam, although your doctor may recommend
that you schedule your pelvic exam on a day when you don't have your period.

If you have questions about the exam or its possible results, write them down and bring them
with you to the appointment, so you don't forget to ask about them during the visit with your
doctor

What you can expect

By Mayo Clinic staff

Pelvic
exam

Pap test

A pelvic exam is performed in your doctor's office and takes only a few minutes.

You'll be asked to change out of your clothes and into a gown. You also may be given a sheet
to wrap around your waist for added comfort and privacy. Before performing the pelvic exam,
your doctor may listen to your heart and lungs and perform a breast exam.

During the pelvic exam

During the pelvic exam, you lie on your back on an examining table, with your knees bent and
your feet placed on the corners of the table or in supports called stirrups. You'll be asked to
slide your body toward the end of the table and let your knees fall to the sides.
  External visual exam. First, your doctor visually inspects your vulva, looking for
irritation, redness, sores, swelling or any other abnormalities.

 Internal visual exam. Next, your doctor uses a speculum — a plastic or metal-
hinged instrument shaped like a duck's bill — to spread open your vaginal walls and
view your vagina and cervix. Often, the speculum is warmed before it's inserted.
Inserting and opening the speculum can cause pressure or discomfort for some
women. Relax as much as possible to ease discomfort, but tell your doctor if you're in
pain.

 Pap test. If your pelvic exam includes a Pap test (Pap smear), your doctor collects a
sample of your cervical cells before removing the speculum. After the speculum is
removed, your doctor examines your other pelvic organs for signs of abnormalities.
Most experts agree that you should begin having Pap tests at age 21, though some
recommend that you begin within three years of becoming sexually active, or by 21,
whichever comes first. How often you need a Pap test depends on your age and
medical history. Talk to your doctor about when you should have a Pap test.

 Manual exam. Because your pelvic organs, including your uterus and ovaries, can't
be seen from outside your body, your doctor needs to feel (palpate) your abdomen for
this part of the exam. To do this, your doctor inserts two lubricated, gloved fingers
into your vagina with one hand, while the other hand presses gently on the outside of
your lower abdomen. This is to check the size and shape of your uterus and ovaries
and identify tenderness and unusual growths. After the vaginal examination your
doctor also inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to check for tenderness, growths
or other irregularities.

Usually, at each step along the way, your doctor tells you exactly what he or she is doing, so
nothing comes as a surprise to you.

After the pelvic exam

After the pelvic exam is over, you can get dressed and then discuss with your doctor the
results of your exam