For many of us as women, an annual pelvic examination has been a requirement since the day we went through puberty. However, a new clinical practice guideline by The American College of Physicians may be calling into question the blanketed need for such exams. After reviewing 52 studies, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now suggests that a pelvic examination should actually be a shared decision between healthcare provider and patient. The contributing factors? Individual health circumstances, as well as personal needs and preferences.
As healthcare providers, we at Full Circle strongly believe in a collaborative and communicative approach between midwife and client. Over the past 15 years, this methodology has allowed our clients to be active participants in their own care, ultimately leading to better health and greater comfort around decision-making.
How our annual exam differs from what you may experience elsewhere:
While annual pelvic exams may no longer be recommended routinely as per the above study, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is still advising them, and we do recommend that our patients continue having them.The reason for this? We use annual exams as a key opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of each woman that we see, so as to craft personalized recommendations catering to her emotional and reproductive health.
Our midwives acknowledge the sensitive nature and intimacy of the pelvic exam. We actively encourage our patients to be open about their history and feelings, and enter each exam with an understanding of their preferences and past experiences.
We encourage patients to actively participate in their exams, if it increases their comfort level. For more information, read Aviva Romm’s fantastic blog on how pelvic exams can (and should!) be done gently and respectfully, with patients even participating by optionally inserting their own speculum.
We follow these updated guidelines for Cervical Cancer screenings for patients with no history of abnormal pap smears: no pap smears before age 21, every three years between the ages of 21-29, and one every five years, with an HPV screening, between the ages of 30 – 65.