According to a study published in the December 12/26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, routine pelvic examinations conducted by U.S. physicians, lack scientific evidence supporting their use for women.

Analia R. Stromo, BS and colleagues from the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia and researchers from the Soltera Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Tucson, Arizona, reviewed data from the 2009 DocStyles survey of 1,250 U.S. internists, family practitioners, general practitioners and obstetrician/gynecologists.

Physicians were asked how often they performed pelvic examinations for each of the following reasons: ovarian cancer screening, other gynecological cancer screening, as a requirement for starting oral or hormonal contraception, to screen sexually transmitted infections or as part of a well-women exam.

Obstetrician-gynecologists were most likely to conduct pelvic exams at 71-98%, followed by family practitioners and general practitioners at 55-89%.  Internists were the least likely to do so, with a low of 29% reporting routine pelvic exams to screen for ovarian cancer and a high of 54% using the screening for well-women exams.

The authors write, “Use of pelvic examination for these purposes is not supported by scientific evidence and is not recommended by and U.S. organization.” Conducting such exams unnecessarily is not without problems particularly when used for early ovarian cancer detection.

“The accuracy of pelvic examinations for early detection of ovarian cancer is poor, with a false-positive rate of 98%, leading to “over-testing and undue anxiety.”

In addition, an invasive pelvic exam for sexually transmitted disease or before prescribing hormonal contraceptives may discourage women from seeking contraceptives or deter women from routine screening for sexually transmitted infections.

Traditionally, pelvic exams were performed in conjuction with an annual Papanicolaou test for cervical cancer.  In 2003, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist recommended the screening be reduced to once every 3 years if the Papanicolaou test is negative.

The trend of testing procedures ordered by physicians have proven to be dangerous. Injury, unnecessary surgeries or death can occur as a result of popular testing procedures or false positives.  Here at HealthQuest, we are all above true prevention.  That’s “getting healthy and staying healthy!”

Tune in for our HealthQuest Radio show on December 31st at 11:00 am on AM560 WIND for further discussion on this topic.