Anal exam?

Question

This is a serious question.......

When did they start doing rectal exams on wemon with a pap.? I think it is odd and i have never had it done before. Any reason why??

Answer 1

Rectal exams in conjunction with paps have been going on for MANY years. In addition, to checking for any rectal abnormalities, this procedure allows the doctor to palpate (feel) the female organs by having his fingers under the uterus and holding everything steady while he feels the uterus/tubes/ovaries with his other hand through the abdomen. Otherwise, the organs would just "float" away from his hand as he does the exam.

I can testify that this is a very important exam...not just because I am a nurse, but because a few years back my doctor discovered a large mass on my ovary while doing this exam.

Answer 2

By pap, did you mean Papanicolau smear?
The pap's smear involves scraping out cervical discharges and smearing that on a clean slide to send to a laboratory for analysis. This could help in detecting infectious microorganisms, STD and even early cancer cells.
Gyne usually have to do a rectal exams so as not to interfere or contaminate with the "sampling" of the cervical area through the vaginal area. They could still palpate the uterus through the rectal route for mass, cysts or any other abnormal growths also of the adjacent ovaries.
In this way , whatever will be collected from the vaginal area will not be contaminated by any lubricating gels or powder from the examining gloves.

Answer 3

A rectal exam has always been done as part of a pelvic exam. That is how the doctor is able to feel your organs. It has nothing to do with a pap smear.

Answer 4

actually it's pretty common and not at all odd although it isn't always performed. If it is performed you should at least have piece of mind that you are getting higher quality care because it is somewhat of an advanced technique and usually the better doctors are the ones who do it.