Pelvic Exams And Menstrual Bleeding: What To Do
If you are scheduled to have a pelvic exam, you may be nervous. Imagine you are getting ready to leave when you discover that you have started your period. Should you reschedule? Should you feel embarrassed? Here are a few things you should know about how to handle your menstrual period during a pelvic exam.
The Helpful Period
You may think it is unfortunate, but some pelvic exams and procedures actually work better when you are menstruating. For example, if you are going to get an intrauterine device (IUD) implanted or removed the device must pass through your cervix. When menstruating your cervix is partially dilated, and is softer than when you are not menstruating. Some doctors will actually wait until you are menstruating to do a procedure like this so that it is less painful for you. Your physician may even prescribe a medication that may purposely start your period before your procedure.
The Hindrance Period
Some pelvic exams will not be possible with obstructive bleeding. These exams include any that are diagnostic or procedures that involve precise movements. For example, a colposcopy is where specific locations on your cervix are biopsied in order to check for cancerous cells. If you are bleeding a lot during that procedure your physician may not be able to get a clear look at which cells are needed for the biopsy, which could result in a false negative.
Questions to Ask
When you are trying to decide whether or not to go to your appointment, ask yourself the purpose of the exam. Is it a casual checkup? If so, some bleeding may be okay. Is the exam to investigate and diagnose? Then you may need to wait until you stop bleeding. If the problem being investigated is the fact that you are bleeding, your physician will understand and work around the problem. As previously mentioned, they may be able to prescribe you something to stop or start the bleeding, as needed. You may also want to think about how heavy your bleeding is. If you think that waiting a day or two will drastically change the outcome, you should wait.
In conclusion, starting your period is not a death sentence for a productive pelvic exam. Talk to your doctor or the office's nurses if you are unsure as to how you should proceed. You should know that most OB/GYN physicians, such as the physicians found as Naples Ob-Gyn, see menstrual bleeding frequently during pelvic exams. There is no need to be embarrassed-its natural!