Why Do Women think That Pelvic Exams Are Safe When they are really not?

There is so much information out there to prove pelvic exams are not necessary. Like for instance pelvic exams have been linked with cancer. There are so many less humilating and violating ways to test for things. Pelvic exams are humiliating rape rituals. I have only had one pelvic exam in my life. It was the first and only one for me. So why do women want to submit themselves to these humiliating procedures, and don't say because "my doctor told me to" becuase of course they going to tell you too because thats the only way they get most of their money.

If you want proof check out this great group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/wom...

Jesus, there are so many rude, hysterical answers from women who can not accept the fact that a lot of women do feel raped during those exams. It's interesting to see the way women who admit their fear about this and especially when they refuse to submit to these exams are being bashed by other women. When a woman or girl does not want to undergo this, then she has all the right to(and without being scorned!), ESPECIALLY when she feels raped. Then to tell her that she is "crazy" if she does, is really a weird unacceptable attitude(maybe some women want to desperately suppress their own humiliated feelings by screaming 'crazy nutjob' to those who dare to say how they really feel?). This reminds me of the way rapists (who are officially labeled as such) will justify their deeds by simply stating that their act was not a rape... remember only the victim can say by her feelings whether it was rape or not.
Those who claim that the OP should see a psychiatrist because of her feelings need to see a psychiatrist themselves. We no longer live in the Middle Ages, do we?

As for the 'necessity' of this particular exam: I know that the bimanual exam is completely useless and the pap smear can be replaced by more accurate methods such as the CSA blood test (I wonder why women are never offered this..? Hmmmmm...), so indeed the periodical spreading and stretching of a woman's legs and vagina to test for diseases is unnecessary.

B.T.W. women do not die of cancer, just because they don't do pelvic exams, that is a crazy statement.

(to Mathie: I'm sorry for what you feel you have to go through, but have you ever asked your doctor to use an ultrasound instead to check for things?)

Would you please give link to your scientific studies that back up your claim.

I agree with poppet.

Pelvic exams are the only way to test for specific STDs and other female abnormalities. Where do you get your information?

Just because you don't like going to the gyn or may have been raped by him, does NOT give you the right to pass around untruths about the exam. Things that are NOT true.
Pelvic exams have no link with cancer. They are not "rape trials". The only link they have is if you do NOT have any. I had a friend who died of cancer because she did not go.

If you were raped by your Gyn, report him. But, don't tell lies about pelvic exams just because you are angry.

Girls: Pay no attention to this person. She has issues and needs to see a psychiatrist.

Rape???

because sometimes 5 minutes of 'humiliation' as you call it could save your life. and the way i see it, its only humiliation when its being done in front of someone you don't really want seeing that kind of thing being done. you think your bits are the only ones they've checked? also, pelvic exams don't just check for cancer, it checks for infections, cysts, wounds etc.

i personally had a lump close to my cervix that made sex extremely painful. how could i ask for help from docs without a pelvice exam? it turns out it wasn't cancerous but had it been they would never have been able to know how to approach it without a pelvic exam. unless of course you're willing to divulge the information that you claim proves there's no need for them.

next time you have a go about something that saves lives back yourself up first, you're making yourself sound silly. or if you've had a bad experience, say so, don't blag it by saying there's evidence when you haven't offered any.

if there would have been no one around to check my cervix i would have never known that i was pre-cancerous! i think that the information you are recieving is BOGUS! people like GYN's are NEEDED these times because of everything (std wise) that is going around! cervical cancer isn't an unknown thing in my family and im GLAD they are around to test us for that stuff my GYN put a lid on my cervical cancer before it started....

recheck your information and stop giving false info to people that are actually scared and want to know whats going on or what to expect at a gyno exam! (especially first timers)

and if you were raped, then i think you should seek legal help because THATS violation...just because your gyno 'raped you' doesn't mean that they are all like that.....

X3

Exams are there to check for cancer. It's very difficult to diagnose problems in the female reproductive system. However, I would definitely say that it has always been a humiliating and terrible procedure for me. There's no way getting around that fact. I cry every time and I hate it. If I didn't have cyst problems I wouldn't subject myself to it. Certainly it has it's place but I'm sick and tired of being told I should feel good about it because I'm keeping myself healthy. There's nothing to feel good about when you get a pelvic exam. It's part of life and sometimes life isn't great.

I can see how you might think they are invasive and generally a bad thing from a patients point of view, but they are also hugely beneficial. Different things such as cancers and an inflammed pelvis can be detected, and it can save you from ages of unnecessary pain and discomfort, as opposed to the 5 minutes of discomfort you'd feel during a pelvic exam. Buck up or get cancer, your choice.

I agree with all the answers that have been given so far. I'm a medical assistant that works in a OB/GYN clinic and also on the research side for this clinic. The doctors do these test for a reason and to check to see if you are healthy and do not have cervical cancer. We have a couple of studies going on that involves with HPV and cervical cancer. That's why its so important to do the Pap exam once a year.

If you feel that you was raped, report your doctor. He or she needs to be stopped and before they do it to someone else. Was there a nurse or MA in the room while you were being examed?

Ever heard of cervical cancer, endometriosis, lesions?
A pelvic exam is one of the only ways to detect them. I "submit myself to it" because dying isn't cool.
Prostate exams for guys and going to the dentist aren't pleasant either, but they are necessary.
If your doctor was unprofessional or you suspect she/he molested you, seek legal help.

it makes me so sad that all these women find pelvic exams so humiliating and pain full. granted, I have a sensitive cervix and the pap smear can hurt a bit, but I don't understand how having an educated, compassionate doctor or nurse examine you could be humiliating? I've always found it rather comforting to go in once a year and be reassured that everything is fine, I'm taking care of myself, I'm healthy and ready for another year of good sex and good life.
just imagine how much more humiliating and pain full it would be if a failure to conceive where your first hint at an undiagnosed STD, or if pain full sex, were the first indication of life threatening cancer.

secondly, equating a routine exam by a careful practitioner to rape is digesting, it devalues to pain of the millions of women who have actually been raped. if you have been sexually traumatized I'm so sorry, and I hope the man who hurt you rots and burns for eternity. but don't perpetuate a sick belief that a woman's vaginal aria, or her vaginal or reproductive health are disgusting, shame full, or unimportant.

First, I've never heard that pelvic exams "cause" Cancer. Where did you get your information? Maybe you should consider seeing another doctor if you had such an horrible experience with your present doctor. For me personally, I would rather submit myself to a 5-minute (as you put it a humiliating procedure) than die of Cancer. I did not have health insurance for over 1 1/2 years. When I finally did get insurance and went to the doctor, my doctor informed me that I was due for lab work, a mammogram, and pap test. She also asked me if I wanted to get a Flu shot (which I did). I was not overly excited about having these procedures done, but I did have them completed. By informing me that I needed these procedures done, I considered my doctor as being very thorough, not simply trying to get, as you say, most of her money. I had all of the above procedures done, and all it cost me was a $30.00 co-pay. Incidentally, if you think that pap tests are the only way that doctors "get all their money," consider this: My husband had back surgery 2 years (thank God we have insurance) ago, and the neurosurgeon who performed the surgery charged the insurance company $272,000.00 (no, that's not a typo - the total bill came to two hundred and seventy-two thousand dollars).

This is one of the most nonsensical things I've ever read.
Grow up and don't spout off inane statements.

I'd like to know what other way you can find out that your cervix has pre-cancerous cells.

Besides, I'm pretty sure I've seen you around here before, and your questions are always complete nonsense. (i.e. TROLL) You should be ashamed for trying to scare people into thinking that a simple helpful procedure is something vulgar, humiliating, and unneccessary.

Sassy, I don't think Cassandra has these feelings because she has such beliefs about her vagina.
I feel similar like she does and in no way think that my vagina and reproductive health are disgusting or shameful. It is the way they treat you that is disgusting and feels like this. Witht hat type of argument you can say that it's ok to have any man **** you because we dont have to be ashamed about our vagina? Huh? That's not the reason I dont want to, I am not ashamed of my vagina.
thanks for the links wasno, i always believed there had to be a better way than *this*.

They are not necessary and may well be harmful. Thousands of people die every year because of Dr's mistakes and infections.

If you feel you must go find a good female ob/gyn. Best to keep all strange men from between your legs!

Check out the link below and educate yourselves.


Pat P.

because society today has pounded this ridiculous idea into woman's' heads that that's the only way when it is not, there are such things as blood tests and ultrasounds to find cancers and what not without violating a woman. I agree with you, I think it is not necessary for pelvic exams, but if you must have it done because there is no other way, always have a female doctor, a man has no idea what a woman's body is like, I don't care if they went to college or what they think they know, they are NOT WOMEN!!!!