Task Force: Not Enough Evidence To Recommend Yearly Pelvic Exams For Women
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's conclusion applies only to women who are not pregnant and who do not have pelvic symptoms, such as pain or unusual bleeding.
The Washington Post:
The Days Of The Dreaded Annual Pelvic Exam For Women May Be Numbered
There's great news for women who dread that annual pelvic exam (i.e. basically everyone). On Tuesday, a panel made up of medical experts that advise the government said that there's not enough evidence to support doing them for women who are healthy and not pregnant. The conclusion, issued as a draft recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is a strong endorsement of the recent evidence that has been building against the practice that is performed 63 million times annually and is estimated to cost $2.6 billion. This is the first time the task force has made a statement related to pelvic exams for gynecologic conditions and is likely to impact what millions of women decide to do about the test and what insurers will cover. (Cha, 6/28)
Stat:
Millions Of Women Undergo Pelvic Exams With No Proven Benefit, US Panel Concludes
Doctors who perform routine pelvic exams have vigorously defended their worth against previous criticism, but on Tuesday their organization, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, backed away from that firm stance, acknowledging there is little to no evidence that the exam benefits asymptomatic women. (Begley, 6/28)
Earlier, related KHN coverage: Dueling Recommendations About Need For Pelvic Exams Leaves Women Confused (Boodman, 10/13)