An internal examination is an unpleasant and uncomfortable experience for many women. The process involves a doctor inserting two gloved lubricated fingers into the vagina while using the other hand to feel for abnormalities in the uterus or ovaries.
Traditionally the vaginal examination has been promoted as a way to screen for diseases in non-pregnant adult women who do not have any symptoms. A number of private health screening companies also continue to advocate the internal examination as a way to spot serious conditions such as cancer of the womb and ovarian cancer.
But an article published this month by a group from the American College of Physicians casts significant doubt on the benefits of the vaginal examination. Based on a review of 52 separate studies, they concluded that that the examination rarely detects serious diseases and does not reduce death rates.
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