Yearly Pelvic Exams Deemed Unnecessary

Women may not actually need to get their often-dreaded pelvic examinations, at least not annually. The American College of Physicians declared yearly pelvic exams as largely unnecessary Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The influential medical group said pelvic exams are not an accurate diagnostic screening test for ovarian cancer and argued that the fear and discomfort associated with them may actually discourage women from seeking medical attention and having routine checkups. Their revised guidelines challenge a longstanding annual medical ritual for women and may not be fully accepted by the medical community any time soon. In direct response, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reiterated its support for annual pelvic examinations.