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Is routine antenatal booking vaginal examination necessary for reasons other than cervical cytology if ultrasound examination is planned?
Author(s) -
O'DONOVAN PETER,
GUPTA JANESH K.,
SAVAGE JOHN,
THORNTON JAMES G.,
LILFORD RICHARD J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb09482.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , miscarriage , gynecological examination , gynecology , pregnancy , ectopic pregnancy , vaginal discharge , malignancy , physical examination , surgery , genetics , biology
Summary. Sixteen ovarian cysts, including one borderline ovarian malignancy, and ten trichomonal vaginal discharges but no cases of cervical incompetence or ectopic pregnancy had been detected at booking vaginal examination in 11 622 consecutive antenatal case records abstracted retrospectively. In an attitude survey of pregnant women 77% believed that vaginal examination was reassuring, 55% found it unpleasant, and 18% thought it could cause miscarriage. This, and a review of the literature, suggests that routine vaginal examination if ultrasound is planned has few advantages beyond the taking of a cervical smear.