Screening pelvic examinations in asymptomatic average risk adult women / Hanna E. Bloomfield [and six others].
| Author/creator | Bloomfield, Hanna E. author. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication | Washington, DC : Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Health Services Research & Development Service, September 2013. |
| Description | 1 online resource (iii, 50 pages) : illustrations |
| Supplemental Content | https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo154676 |
| Subjects |
| Other author/creator | United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Health Services Research and Development Service, issuing body. |
| Other author/creator | Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (U.S.) |
| Other author/creator | Minneapolis VA Health Care System (U.S.). VA Evidence Synthesis Program. |
| Other author/creator | Evidence-based Synthesis Program (U.S.) |
| Summary | The routine pelvic examination has been a usual part of preventive care for women for many decades. In 2008, 63.4 million pelvic examinations were performed in the United States. Many women and providers believe that the routine pelvic exam should be included in an annual comprehensive well-woman visit. The exam consists of inspection of the external genitalia, speculum examination of the vagina and cervix, bimanual examination, and sometimes rectal or rectovaginal examination. Traditionally, the examination in the asymptomatic average risk women has been used to screen for pathology through palpation, visualization, and specimen collection.^Pathology potentially detectable on the pelvic examination includes malignancies (e.g., cervical, ovarian, uterine, bladder, vaginal or vulvar); infections (e.g., Chlamydia, gonorrhea, warts, candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis); pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); or other pathology (e.g., atrophic vaginitis, cervical polyps, uterine prolapse, fibroids). In addition, pelvic examinations are often performed prior to the provision of hormonal contraception. Recent high quality evidence-based reviews and guidelines have concluded that pelvic examinations are not required for Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening or for hormonal contraception initiation and up-to-date evidence-based guidelines for cervical cancer screening are also available. However, we are unaware of any systematic reviews that have investigated the utility of the pelvic examination for the other indications.^This systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the benefits and harms of the routine screening pelvic examination in asymptomatic, average risk, non-pregnant, adult women. For cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infection (i.e., Chlamydia and gonorrhea) screening and for initiation of hormonal contraception we summarize the results of recent reviews and guidelines from major US health organizations. For all other indications, we performed and report results from a comprehensive search of the medical literature. |
| General note | "Evidence-based synthesis program." |
| General note | "September 2013." |
| General note | GPO Cataloging Record Distribution Program (CRDP). |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 34-40). |
| Funding information | Prepared for: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Health Services Research & Development Service, Washington, DC 20420. Prepared by: Evidence-based Synthesis Program (ESP) Center, Minneapolis, MN, Timothy J. Wilt, M.D., M.P.H., Director. |
| Funding information | VA-ESP 09-009 |
| Source of description | Description based on online resource; title from PDF cover (VA, viewed April 14, 2021). |
| Genre/form | Technical reports. |
| GPO item number | 0985-A-12 (online) |
| Govt. docs number | VA 1.107/3:P 36 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |