Do I really need a pelvic exam?

[Kz79]

Periods have been out of whack for about a year now, going longer in between and getting heavier. I’m 44 so assume this is the start of peri but decided to check with GP. Finally managed to get an appointment and was seen almost an hour late after the two people before me were in for 30 min each. GP ordered some bloods and an ultrasound then said she didn’t have time to do my smear and a pelvic exam because she was running late. So I now have an appointment for next week for smear but I really don’t see the point in the pelvic exam seeing as I’m getting an ultrasound, what would that tell the GP that the ultrasound wouldn’t? I responded to the text message from GP saying I would book smear in the new year but she’s insisting doing it next week. I’m not worried about smear as I doubt anything related to that would cause period to go weird. Should I decline pelvic exam and just have the smear done and wait for ultrasound?

If you are having a smear a pelvic exam at same time not much more bother. Best to cover all bases

TBH I dislike pelvic exams and I’m only doing the smear because I’m overdue by two years and GP made a fuss about it. Last pelvic exam about five years ago was quite painful because GP was rough and in a rush and the pain of the smear test will be enough to cope with TBH. I really only wanted a ultrasound scan and blood tests and would much prefer to avoid any intimate exams for reasons I’m not going in to.

Well a pelvic exam is having a look with a speculum which they will do as part of the smear anyway. so they are kind of one and the same.

I agree pelvic exams and smears are awful

I understand that but I’m specifically talking about the GP using fingers to have a poke around, I really can’t see them getting much from that when a ultrasound would give them a far more detailed picture of what’s going on. I think I will cancel the appointment and wait for the scan then think about the smear in new year.

I haven't had a pelvic exam since 1985, except with a urogynae surgeon who was going to do surgery. They don't seem to be much use unless done by an expert.

I'd guess it's because U/S can see if there are any masses (which could be fibroids etc) but the exam can see if things can be felt and moved around, are they squishy or hard etc. I had mine the other way round, pelvic exam - gp said straight away he was 99% certain it was a fibroid causing the issue. I then had to wait 6 weeks for the scan (under 2ww supposedly 🙄), had he not been able to tell me it was almost certainly nothing to worry about within 10 mins I think I'd have a very stressful 6 week wait!

Please don't delay your smear any further.

You can let the practitioner carrying out the exam know that you have had trouble with them in the past, and ask them to start with a smaller speculum, warm the speculum etc.

You can also take some painkillers half an hour beforehand, and chew something minty during.

I’m really not interested in having smears for personal reasons, irrespective of the size of the speculum. I’m a reasonably educated person and have made an informed choice.

“Should I decline pelvic exam and just have the smear done and wait for ultrasound?”

If you’re having problems why wouldn’t you just take all tests offered in hope of finding an answer to your problems. You say you’re not worried about the smear as you doubt anything to do with that would cause your period problems, cervical cancer can cause the period problems you described.

So tell the GP that. I'm not sure what you want from asking Mumsnet.