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Exams?
Somebody please explain to me why pelvic exams are necessary in the beginning of the pregnancy? I can understand later on to see if you're dilated but as of now, if you're free and clear of any diseases and don't have any problems, why do they even bother? I refused it today at my first appointment, I'm not risking the chance of getting an infection. But I just don't understand why they do it. Is it just routine? I know I can refuse it any time but their only explanation was to check for chlamydia and gonorrhea, of which I have neither. And to do some cultures. Cultures of what? Everything's fine. I don't trust them at all and don't think it's necessary, checking for STD's when I've only been with my husband seems outrageous to me. The doctors office said they're going to make me do it next time, I'm refusing next time too unless I hear a valid reason for it. I'm only 11 weeks.
There are many important reasons why the doctor does a pelvic exam during pregnancy one very important one is to measure the cervix make sure it is long enough and strong enough to support your pregnancy. My aunt refused her exam as well and gave birth to and baby girl at just 25 weeks she was only one pound at birth. They later found out she had a short cervix and never knew if she had gotten the exam the doctor would have known and had her on bed rest and took other precautions
Like pap smears or important pelvic exams are important they do not just check for stds.
Its better to get it done if the doctors say so they definitely know what they are doing but they will stop if you start bleeding during it
It actually isn't necessary. My midwife refuses to check until 42 weeks. I beg her to check me all the time because I'm in so much pain.
I thought for sure she would do a pelvic exam when I went to my first appointment but she told me then that there was absolutely no need to do an exam.
I thought for sure she would do a pelvic exam when I went to my first appointment but she told me then that there was absolutely no need to do an exam.
If you keep refusing they won't know if you have something that will threaten your pregnancy. Why not trust the people who are trained to help you and believe that when they say it's important they mean it? Might just be me but I would do anything to make sure my baby was safe and healthy. It's just a pelvic exam you're going to have to get over it and get one done at some point.
All I'm saying is, that's the only reason they gave me. Doesn't seem very valid. I don't just listen to doctors blindly, you can have morons in any profession. Especially when it comes to having a baby. I'm not going to allow something that's been proven to cause infection unless it's for a very good reason. Dorrae - that is a valid reason, I'm very sorry for your aunts loss.. Xxcourtlynxx - that's interesting, I wish there was such a midwife or doctor in my area. I don't even trust the family doctors around here, I wish I could go to a real city but my options are limited. The one hospital is basically a death sentence and the other that I went to is very impersonal and routine, didn't even seem concerned about my existing health conditions when I'm at high risk for passing out. It's a "one size fits all".
Just talk to your doctor let him or her know your concerns. If you have a good doctor have take their time and slowly walk you through what is best done so you feel at ease
My aunts daughter was a fighter she turned 16 last week truly a blessing but she has a number of health issues from being so premature
Even if your not pregnant its still best to get it done I dont know why a doctor says it's not necessary and my doctor asked me is everything alright down there and if anything needs to be checked I don't know why a doctor would say its not necessary lol
Well they rotate doctors, so it's never the same one. They won't care. I saw the midwife today instead of the doctor and she said I'll get somebody different next time and they will just do it anyway. I'm looking for a new place anyway, I don't like this place already. All they could give me was general pregnancy advice that applies to everybody when I voiced my concerns... maybe I can find a doctor that doesn't just brush me off, but I'm not letting the people at this place anywhere near me lol
Switch doctors if your uncomfortable but no matter where you go they will still do a exam lol
Pelvic exams are not just to check for STDs. Some women have an incompetent cervix and you won't know unless you get a pelvic exam. A woman I work with has an incompetent cervix, didn't know it, and her baby came out when she was 4 months pregnant. My best friends daughter also has an incompetent cervix and if she didn't get checked she would've lost her baby too. Also, just because your husband is the only person you've been with does not mean that you don't have any STDs, I'm not trying to imply anything, that's just the truth. They can see if there are any changes in the cells on your cervix as well which can indicate cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer if untreated can be deadly I recommend those exams rather pregnant or not.
I thought the exam was unnecessary too since I'm only 10 weeks and all other tests have came back good, but I didn't refuse it and they found cancer cells in mine, you never know what could be going on
Just an update - I refused the pelvic exam. They dismissed my concerns about bad cramping. A week later I went to the ER and turns out had a complete placenta previa. ER doctor said no pelvic exams (among other things) and if I had complied it could have hurt me and the baby... glad I refused, must have had some kind of feeling more than just my nervousness, Idk it's hard to explain... thanks for all your replies
Check the research...early pelvic exams (and even late ones) do not lead to better pregnancy outcomes. Glad you refused and nothing worse happened to you or bub :)
Everyone just assumes whatever doctors do is best for you. Well it's not always the case. They do what is often best for a population, not an individual, and even then what they do is not always evidence based, but a personal belief or based on a poor protocol. Each pregnancy I've had STD checks with my blood tests, 5 altogether in the last 3.5 years, and yet me and my husband were virgins when we married and would never touch anyone else. They could save so many $$$ by just asking and treating people on an individual level, but no, I'm just a number in a system for them and they have to tick all the boxes. Good for you for saying no to something that didn't seem right!
Everyone just assumes whatever doctors do is best for you. Well it's not always the case. They do what is often best for a population, not an individual, and even then what they do is not always evidence based, but a personal belief or based on a poor protocol. Each pregnancy I've had STD checks with my blood tests, 5 altogether in the last 3.5 years, and yet me and my husband were virgins when we married and would never touch anyone else. They could save so many $$$ by just asking and treating people on an individual level, but no, I'm just a number in a system for them and they have to tick all the boxes. Good for you for saying no to something that didn't seem right!
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