can you still have a pelvic exam while on your period?
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Yes, it's totally okay to get a pelvic exam when you're on your period. But most nurses and doctors would rather do your pelvic exam on a non-period day when you're not bleeding, or at least not bleeding heavily. That's because menstrual fluid (aka period blood) can affect the results of some lab tests.
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Or, even more important, can you get a Pap smear or pelvic exam on your period? When it's that time of the month, seeing your gynecologist might be the last thing you want to do. But the truth is, your gyno really doesn't care if you're on your period or not, and we'll explain why below.
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A pelvic exam usually lasts only a few minutes. Your doctor checks your vulva, vagina, cervix, ovaries, uterus, rectum and pelvis for any abnormalities. A Pap test, which screens for cervical cancer, is often performed during a pelvic exam.
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Your health care provider can check for STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia with a pee test or a swab from the vagina. Doing a urine sample test or a swab test for these STIs while you are on your period is no problem.
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Lots of women get pelvic pain and cramping, but your period isn't always to blame. Cysts, constipation, pregnancy -- even cancer -- can make it feel like your monthly visitor is about to stop by. It can be tough to tell whether the pain's being caused by something simple or more serious.
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Yes, You Can Swim On Your Period. It's safe to hit the water on your period, as long as you wear a tampon or menstrual cup while you're swimming.
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A pelvic exam involves physically and visually examining the female reproductive and sexual organs. It allows a doctor to look for signs of infection and illness. The doctor performing the exam may be a gynecologist or an OB-GYN. They will examine the: vulva.
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MYTH: You can hold in your period You cannot hold in your period. Pee and period blood do not exit the body from the same place – urine exits from the urethra which has sphincters so can be controlled while period blood exits from the vagina which does not have sphincters so cannot be controlled.
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Doctors perform pelvic exams during pregnancy for the same reasons. They look for abnormalities and infections. Also, a pelvic exam can help a doctor to evaluate the size of the pelvis and cervix. This will help them to evaluate whether cervical weakness could lead to miscarriage or preterm labor.
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Regardless of whether a pelvic examination is performed, a woman should see her obstetrician–gynecologist at least once a year for well-woman care. A pelvic examination is not necessary before initiating or prescribing contraception, other than an intrauterine device, or to screen for sexually transmitted infections.
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We are often asked if a menstrual cup can be used with heavy periods. The short answer is yes but it's more involved than that. Though many who are cup-curious feel that they have a heavy flow most quickly learn that they really don't bleed as much as their tampons or pads may have implied.
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If you have been sexually active, the doctor might also test you for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. To test for STDs, the ob-gyn will take a swab of tissue during the pelvic exam and/or check blood tests.
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See for more info on exercising during your period. In terms of the old pad or tampon debate, the answer is always whichever you feel most comfortable with. Yes, tampons might be a safe bet if you're constantly in motion, but with all the fancy new pad technology available today, pads are fine, too!
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Getting your period is a sign you're not pregnant, so it's safe to say you don't need to take a pregnancy test if you're on your period. A lot of people have questions about the right time to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are most accurate after a missed period.
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Some cervical cancer may be found during a pelvic exam. Your provider can't see precancer changes such as dysplasia. But the provider may see some invasive cancer during an exam. If something suspicious is seen during the pelvic exam, more tests will be needed.
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A colposcopy can be done during your menstrual cycle, but it is better to have it done when you are not on your period.
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5. Avoidance of examination during menstrual bleeding and 2 days before and 2 days after menstruation. In the case of sampling during menstruation, the urine is often contaminated with a large amount of red blood cells and epithelia which makes it impossible to obtain reliable results.