The term “pelvic exam” is a bit misleading. A woman who didn’t know better might think it meant having her pelvic bones examined. Imagine her shock when she discovered that the doctor did not want to see or touch her pelvic bones at all, and instead headed straight for her vagina. But to name the exam in a more accurate and descriptive way would be leading people down a path they are not supposed to go.
Naming the exam a “pelvic” exam leads people down an appropriate but rather deceptive path, and also accomplishes a number of different goals. One goal is to allow everyone to safely ignore the fact that the vagina is being examined at all. The doctor or nurse will not have to say to a woman, “I will need you take your cloths off and spread your legs now so I can look at/in your vagina”. Instead, the doctor or nurse can simply say “let’s get you ready for your pelvic exam”.
Another goal is to medicalize what is being examined. Examining the vagina can be a bit dodgy after all. Vaginas can be viewed as secretive, suspicious and dark places. They can also hold the power to captivate, enthrall, incite, tempt and seduce. To even say the word out loud can take courage for some. The term “pelvic exam” sounds much more sterile and scientific than the term “vaginal exam”, and is much more suitable to a medical environment.
Medicalizing the exam also accomplishes the goal of desexualizing the exam. A woman’s vagina magically becomes . . . something else. I’m not exactly sure how it happens, but suddenly it becomes acceptable to put a woman’s vagina on display for public viewing. And it is okay to look at it . . . in a ‘nonsexual’ way. For example, when a pubescent boy is found watching an educational YouTube video of a birth or a pelvic exam, the boy can safely say “no, it’s not porn, it’s okay to watch”.
Ignoring the sexual nature of the exam also helps some medical students and instructors in teaching hospitals to convince themselves that it is acceptable to practice the exam on anesthetized women without the women’s knowledge or consent. It helps to allow the exam practice to be viewed as something other than medically sanctioned gang rape. Desexualizing the exam also lessens the effects of convictions when doctors are caught doing something “naughty” while conducting the exams. Imagine if the headlines read something like: “Doctor So and So convicted of sexual assault when examining a woman’s vagina”. This headline sounds a bit redundant, since examining a woman’s vagina sounds a little like sexual assault just on it’s own. Instead, the headlines usually say something like: “Doctor So and So convicted of sexual assault while conducting a pelvic exam”. This headline sounds less redundant and also less severe.
I am in favor of changing the name from “pelvic” exam to the more accurate and descriptive name of “vaginal” exam. This might help to give the exam more recognition for the effects it can have on women, for the effects it can have on men, and for the effects it can have on pubescent boys.
well said – I agree 100%
Thanks bootz65. It is interesting how the only people being harmed by the deception are women. And I suppose the male drs who eventually get convicted for sexual assault/rape.
That happen to me when i was 17. i thought they were going to check my hips but when they brought out the speculum i was ni shock. i feel doctors almost always mislead woman if its not about pelvic exams its about pap smears.
Thanks for sharing this Anonymous. Your comment helps bring to light how women are not having the procedure explained beforehand. Drs should explain, in detail, what happens beforehand. Especially in your case as it was your first time. They should also provide information about why the test is being done and explain the risks. Then they should ask for consent before going ahead. When women aren’t offered informed consent before such an invasive exam it can have devastating effects. It is awful that it was done to you that way, and I don’t think they could get away with it today since the age has been raised. Although some are still ignoring guidelines.
I whould also like to add that I have a problem with the way paps and pelvics are presented to woman, in a way that we have no choise as tho its so ruten and normal doctors think all woman are excepting this test. The way the doctor said he was going to do a pelvic. doctors need to be taught to explan exams and get concent first. and respect any refusel.
A pelvic exam is not a misnomer. The exam observes the external features of the pelvis, along with external and internal reproductive anatomy. You give the impression that the exam is all about the vagina, because that is where the speculum rests, but that is simply not the case. The doctor is examining muscle tone and skin externally. The speculum is placed so that the physician can observe the cervix and take a pap smear if needed. The digital exam is utilized to palpate the ovaries and uterus. In fact, very very little of the exam is devoted to the vagina. Why, then, would it be more appropriate to call this a vaginal exam?
so agree
DIT, thank you for your question: “Why, then, would it be more appropriate to call this a vaginal exam?”. My purpose in writing this post was to help raise awareness about the harms being caused by the lack of information and choice being offered to women. When a woman is unaware of the invasive nature of the exam, and is not given a choice prior to the doctor going ahead, it can have devastating effects. Please open your mind and read about some of the experiences and trauma being done to women – all in the name of “health care” of course.
Given the exam’s invasive nature and the way women are often aggressively pressured into the exam, the after effects can be similar to having been raped. Although in some ways and some instances worse, because it is medically sanctioned and socially accepted. Perhaps reading this post: http://forwomenseyesonly.com/2013/01/02/psychological-harms-of-pelvic-exams/ and the comments made by many of the women on this and other posts will help to educate you regarding the devastating effects this exam can have on women.
You cannot be serious. How can it be “very very little” about the vagina when that is where most of the “action” occurs?! Trust me. When you’re getting it done, it is VERY much about the vagina when you have a cold metal object shoved up there and stretching you so the doctor can “observe”.
When I was in my early twenties, I was told that I needed a “pelvic ultrasound” to look at my ovaries. Now, they did legit need to look, because I was showing every symptom of having PCOS. But imagine my shock when I was made to strip, had the nurse yank my legs apart, and start lubing me up. And when I expressed distress and horror, I was told that “this is what you consented to” and the nurse proceeded to shove the ultrasound wand into my vagina without further preamble – or express consent.
I was never informed of the realities of what would be done to me. My doctor made it sound like they’d just be doing an external scan. And I was never given the chance to say “no” before the procedure was forcibly done to me.
The tests did reveal that I have PCOS. To this day I’m not sure whether what happened qualified as assault or rape, or nothing at all because I had been scheduled for a pelvic ultrasound (even though it was clearly not with my INFORMED consent). Every time that I’ve ever mentioned the incident to someone, I have been told that “it was just a medical test” and that I’m “overreacting, you asked to have it done.”
I do know that the experience, combined with my distrust of men and awareness of the power play/sexual nature of vaginal exams, is why I have never had a full exam performed. I’ve looked into it but no one has been willing to respect my request for a female doctor at the very least.
Once burned, twice shy.
I was given a bogus pregnancy test in my early twenties – which was in the late 1980s. I went to see a male Dr. he asked me to remove my clothing then did an internal exam and breast fondle – then when I asked the results – he said leave a urine sample and call back for the results in about a week. I realised the whole naked exam was pointless and I had just been abused. This has given me a phobia of male gynecologists and doctors – I will not see them for any intimate exams
This has proved very useful – because my female Dr referred me for a full scan when she was taking me into her patient list. It was at a seperate centre – when I arrived the male Dr asked me to undress, including my underwear/nickers.
I put the gown on but didnt remove my pants or bra – he asked me why I didnt do as asked, that he needed to do a pelvic scan with the vaginal probe. I refused and he said he would do the rest of the scan and tell me if it was necessary. I thought this was a very arrogant statement – since I just made it clear, it wasnt going to happen
My approach is always to read up on any medical procedure – especially if it is remotely connected to the reproductive system. I did a lot of reading regarding fibroid tests and learned that an abdominal scan can be assisted by drinking plenty fluids – it aids what they can see using the external scanning device and can avoid the vaginal probe. Doctors wont tell you this – they just assume it doesnt matter or make a difference. I will do anything to avoid future medical trauma and abuse.
Thats the problem I have with theses tests. No one ever explanes what the exam involves to the woman. they should not just asume the woman knows. I also notice the way doctors expect woman to just be okay with these exams. the thing is they are trained to see these exams as just meadical. but how can they expect all woman will feel the same. its as tho they hid every thing from woman and prevent informed concent out of fear that alot whould refuse if they new the test was vaginal or that there is a high false positve rate and the follow up are extreamly invasive. i do think its a male domenated field. and there is no way a man whould ever go for what woman are expected to go thru.
I dont like the way doctors hide things like high false positve rates and how invasive the follow up are from woman. There is a attitude that woman dont have a right to say no to these exams and that we dont need to know the risks. its very disrespectfull that woman are treated like meat.
there is such power in names and naming. thank you for putting this out there! naturally, (*ahem, as a feminist*) i love your opinions and your blog
Thank you myfeministbriefs! I love your opinions and your blog too