The American College of Physicians (ACP) issued new guidelines ( can be accessed here ) on 1st July 2014 advising against routine pelvic examinations for asymptomatic, non-pregnant adult women who have low risk for uterine or ovarian cancers. The guidelines continue to advocate routine examination of the cervix as well as pap smears because it is clear that these screenings are effective in early detection of cervical cancer, thus saving lives.
But they state that the bimanual exam, in which a physician inserts two fingers into the vagina and palpates the abdomen to check for uterine and ovarian tumors, “ rarely detects important disease and does not reduce mortality and is associated with discomfort for many women, false positive and negative examinations, and extra cost.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) disagrees. ACOG acknowledges “ that no current…
