whats the purpose of a pelvic exam?

[MermaidMom]

is it just to check for the mucous plug and stds? id like to skip it if so.... i want the least amount of medical anything with this baby as far as is safe and makes sense in my mind.

 

[SmokyJoe78]

Is this during pregnancy? I have a feeling we don't get one in the UK. I was due a smear test in november and couldn't have it cos I was pregnant.

 

[MermaidMom]

yea its standard in the states to do an internal ultrasound, pelvic exam and/or pap smear at 10 weeks or before... i think thats just too much and frankly unnecessary!

 

[NDH]

Even though it's been two years since my last pap my doctor even was fine waiting until after for mine without me even saying anything. I would have refused though - they can't make you do anything.

 

[fides]

at my 4 week visit, i declined the pap b/c i had just had one at the beginning of my previous pregnancy 6 months before. however, the OB still wanted to do a pelvic exam, just to check the cervix and to feel the position of the uterus. i didn't decline (i didn't know she'd be doing that, and i hadn't thought about it beforehand), but i don't know why she needed to check that when she wasn't even doing a pap. having had time to think about it, i would probably have refused now b/c i don't see the point.

 

[MermaidMom]

thanks everyone.

 

[lozzy21]

They dont do any in the UK untill your in labour so they cant be that important