<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" &amp;quot;I love getting annual pelvic exams!&amp;quot; said no one, ever. There are few situations more awkward than a doctor wedging a lubed-up speculum up your vagina. While admittedly uncomfortable, experts have long relied on pelvic exams (which include a visual and physical inspection of the inner and outer lady parts) to detect cancer, infections, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and other asymptomatic but dangerous conditions. It&amp;#039;s why the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends these annual screenings for women over 21. However, The American College of Physicians (ACP) just published  new recommendations that challenge this standard practice. After reviewing decades of clinical studies dating back to 1946 and weighing the pros (early diagnosis) and cons (over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment, cost, fear, and discomfort) of these exams, the ACP is recommending against annual pelvic examinations for nonpregnant women with no symptoms. Why? Existing research suggests that pelvic exams aren&amp;#039;t particularly effective in detecting ovarian cancer or other serious conditions, and aren&amp;#039;t associated with lower mortality rates. In fact, many studies found that preventative screenings could end up causing more harm (hello, anxiety) than good \u2014 especially among women who&amp;#039;ve dealt with sexual violence in the past. But not all OB-GYNs agree with the recommendations. &amp;quot;Just because we don&amp;#039;t have studies and proof doesn&amp;#039;t mean you shouldn&amp;#039;t use the best tools to maintain health and try to improve and extend people&amp;#039;s lives,&amp;quot; says Jill Maura Rabin, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Hofstra North Short LIJ School of Medicine. Rabin stresses that pelvic exams give doctors an opportunity to identify problems that patients might not even notice \u2014 from ovarian cysts to chlamydia, and even melanoma, which can hide beneath the clitoral hood. &amp;quot;People may be afraid [of pelvic exams] and uncomfortable \u2026 but a well-done exam shouldn&amp;#039;t hurt and becomes less scary as you build up trust in your doctor,&amp;quot; Rabin says. What&amp;#039;s more, ACOG still stands by  their guidelines. In a statement issued yesterday, they say their guidelines &amp;quot;acknowledge that no current scientific evidence supports or refutes an annual pelvic exam for an asymptomatic, low-risk patient, instead suggesting that the decision about whether to perform a pelvic examination be a shared decision between health care provider and patient, based on her own individual needs, requests, and preferences.&amp;quot; The statement also notes that the pelvic exam is just one part of your annual gyno visit, which features the all-important breast exam, contraception chat, and immunizations, plus a pap smear every one to three years to screen for cervical cancer. So even if you don&amp;#039;t think you need a pelvic exam, it&amp;#039;s important to keep your annual appointment with your doctor. RELATED:  5 Things Your Gyno Isn&amp;#039;t Telling You Follow Elizabeth on  Twitter. Photo Credit: Getty Images "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/news/a28108/annual-gyno-visit-necessary/?src=rss>