Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Gyn. Pelvic Exam

angela146 · 08-21-2003, 05:27 PM

Can anyone give me a good reason why we really need an annual pelvic exam?

My point:

1. The primary reason is supposedly to detect cervical cancer, which is almost always caused by the HP virus.
2. All of the other stuff that they do, i.e. feeling and probing and checking every single part of the female-specific anatomy, has nothing to do with detecting HPV. So, why do they need to do it?
3. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. We don't have annual testing for HIV, or any of the other lethal STDs, so why do we need special annual procedures to detect HPV?

My theory #1: Most women will do anything a doctor tells them to do whereas most men won't see a doctor unless taken to one in an ambulance (yes, this is hyperbole but you get the point).

My theory #2: We don't really need this. In the old days, it was an excuse for doctors to fondle women in every conceivable way. Today it's "the way we've always done it", i.e. a practice blindly followed by doctors, including women doctors, because it is part of standard medical practice.

Take a look at the following link, which describes the "procedure" for doing a pelvic exam. It explains each of the procedures involved. Most of them are "checking" for abnormalities. What kind of abnormalities are they looking for and do they *really* need to do this every year?

http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs...vic/index.html

I have not had a "routine" pelvic exam since I went off the pill. I absolutely hated them and only had them done because the doctor would not give me an RX for the pill unless I had a pelvic exam every year.

Now that I am not on the pill, nor any other form of birth control with my husband, I can't be easily blackmailed.

BTW: When I have sex with anyone other than him (or when he has sex with anyone other than me), rest assured, we practice safe sex. Any risk I have of cervical cancer would also translate into a risk of AIDS and, as I indicated, no doctor has ever suggested that I get an HIV test every year.

Can anyone give me a good reason why a doctor should have to fondly my labia, clitoris, ovaries and uterus to see how tender they are?

Why do I care? It has nothing to do with pain or discomfort. In fact, it would be easier for me if they would stop trying to be so gentle and careful. If they used a cold speculum coated in sandpaper (sterilized sandpaper, of course), it would at least give me something to focus on so I cold ignore the feeling that I'm being raped.

The gentle hands and probing fingers, especially at the beginning of the exam feel *way* too sexual for my taste. It also doesn't help to have a woman doctor, since women are not a sexual turn-off for me. Getting fondled by a woman is no less of a sexual act than being fondled by a man.

I also hate it when they tell me to relax and move my knees apart. It just feels like, "Lie back, spread your legs really far apart and let me fuck you with this nice metal expanding dildo.

(Note, btw, in the medical procedures that the doctor is supposed to touch my inner thigh before touching my anywhere else. The idea is to make it easier for me. Exactly why would I want somone lightly touching a major erogenous zone unless the purpose was to get me off?)

If I had my druthers, and if it really needed to be done, I would have my husband do it. Then I *could* relax and let it be sexual. I wouldn't mind it if hubbby fondled anything he damn well wanted to fondle... He inserts things in there on a regular basis. He could be nice and gentle and I could even get turned on by it.

OK, I know that I'm venting here but am I being that unreasonable?

08-21-2003, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
angela146 Loser Location: Somewhere near Hubby	Gyn. Pelvic Exam - Feel Violated Can anyone give me a good reason why we really need an annual pelvic exam? My point: 1. The primary reason is supposedly to detect cervical cancer, which is almost always caused by the HP virus. 2. All of the other stuff that they do, i.e. feeling and probing and checking every single part of the female-specific anatomy, has nothing to do with detecting HPV. So, why do they need to do it? 3. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. We don't have annual testing for HIV, or any of the other lethal STDs, so why do we need special annual procedures to detect HPV? My theory #1: Most women will do anything a doctor tells them to do whereas most men won't see a doctor unless taken to one in an ambulance (yes, this is hyperbole but you get the point). My theory #2: We don't really need this. In the old days, it was an excuse for doctors to fondle women in every conceivable way. Today it's "the way we've always done it", i.e. a practice blindly followed by doctors, including women doctors, because it is part of standard medical practice. Take a look at the following link, which describes the "procedure" for doing a pelvic exam. It explains each of the procedures involved. Most of them are "checking" for abnormalities. What kind of abnormalities are they looking for and do they really need to do this every year? http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs...vic/index.html I have not had a "routine" pelvic exam since I went off the pill. I absolutely hated them and only had them done because the doctor would not give me an RX for the pill unless I had a pelvic exam every year. Now that I am not on the pill, nor any other form of birth control with my husband, I can't be easily blackmailed. BTW: When I have sex with anyone other than him (or when he has sex with anyone other than me), rest assured, we practice safe sex. Any risk I have of cervical cancer would also translate into a risk of AIDS and, as I indicated, no doctor has ever suggested that I get an HIV test every year. Can anyone give me a good reason why a doctor should have to fondly my labia, clitoris, ovaries and uterus to see how tender they are? Why do I care? It has nothing to do with pain or discomfort. In fact, it would be easier for me if they would stop trying to be so gentle and careful. If they used a cold speculum coated in sandpaper (sterilized sandpaper, of course), it would at least give me something to focus on so I cold ignore the feeling that I'm being raped. The gentle hands and probing fingers, especially at the beginning of the exam feel way too sexual for my taste. It also doesn't help to have a woman doctor, since women are not a sexual turn-off for me. Getting fondled by a woman is no less of a sexual act than being fondled by a man. I also hate it when they tell me to relax and move my knees apart. It just feels like, "Lie back, spread your legs really far apart and let me fuck you with this nice metal expanding dildo. (Note, btw, in the medical procedures that the doctor is supposed to touch my inner thigh before touching my anywhere else. The idea is to make it easier for me. Exactly why would I want somone lightly touching a major erogenous zone unless the purpose was to get me off?) If I had my druthers, and if it really needed to be done, I would have my husband do it. Then I could relax and let it be sexual. I wouldn't mind it if hubbby fondled anything he damn well wanted to fondle... He inserts things in there on a regular basis. He could be nice and gentle and I could even get turned on by it. OK, I know that I'm venting here but am I being that unreasonable?