Pelvic exam in Gynecology and Obstetrics: French Guidelines for Clinical Practice

Pelvic clinical exam (gynecological examination) can provoke discomfort, pain, distress and/or negative physical and emotional symptoms such as anxiety, fear and embarassment. Health professionals, and the society as a whole, are questioning its justification and reconsidering and the methods used to carry out pelvic examination (insertion of a speculum and vaginal examination) as part of women’s medical care. Apprehension of a routine pelvic exam (particularly for young women on their first appointment, women survivors of violence and women with chronic pelvic or perineal pain) can lead to avoiding or delaying/postponing a consultation, which could lead to a loss of opportunity (lack of hygiene advice, absent or delayed prevention (for example in terms of contraception), delayed diagnosis or screening, etc.).