• Sexual Health

What to Expect During a Pelvic Exam

Published: June 30, 2025
Updated: June 30, 2025
4 mins

An OBGYN (obstetrician-gynecologist) is a healthcare provider who can help you manage your reproductive and sexual health. Health experts typically recommend seeing your gynecologist once a year for a well-woman visit. A well-woman visit is a routine doctor’s appointment consisting of preventative strategies like a Pap smear or the occasional pelvic exam.

A pelvic exam is one aspect of a well-woman visit your gynecologist may recommend if you’re experiencing unusual vaginal symptoms or are pregnant. A pelvic exam is not a routine part of every gynecology visit. A pelvic exam can show signs of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and more.

What Happens During a Full Pelvic Exam?

A pelvic exam is a quick process that typically takes around 10 minutes to complete. Before your pelvic exam, a healthcare provider will ask you several questions about your health history, medications, and any other information related to your reproductive health. Be sure to share any discomfort you may be experiencing related to your reproductive health.

A healthcare provider will also give you a few minutes to change out of your clothes into a hospital gown for the exam. During the exam, a healthcare provider will ask you to lie down on the exam table and place your legs up into footrests at the bottom of the bed. A healthcare provider will instruct you to slide your hips toward the edge of the table so that they can examine the vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus. 

What are the Different Types of Pelvic Exams?

A pelvic exam consists of looking at both the outside and inside of the vagina. A healthcare provider will use a speculum (a plastic or metal tool) to gently separate the walls of the vagina. Pap and HPV tests during a pelvic exam can show signs of abnormal cell changes and cervical cancer. 

The following different types of pelvic exams can detect abnormalities in the vaginal tissue.

Speculum exam: During a routine well-woman visit, a healthcare provider may use a tiny brush to collect a sample of cells from the cervix during a pelvic exam. 

Bimanual exam: A healthcare provider checks the inside of the vagina with their hand using gloves and a lubricant while gently pressing on the abdomen during a bimanual exam.

Rectovaginal exam: A healthcare provider may perform a rectovaginal exam to check for tumors in the uterus and lower wall of the rectum.

Is a Pelvic Exam Painful?

You may feel slight discomfort when a healthcare provider is examining the inside of the vagina. Women experiencing inflammation in the vagina may feel some minor pain or discomfort at the beginning of the exam. When getting a pelvic exam, taking deep breaths and relaxing the muscles may help reduce some of the pain and discomfort.

Some women who have experienced sexual assault or other bodily harm in the past may not feel emotionally comfortable during a pelvic exam. A healthcare provider can also describe to you exactly what is happening step by step to ease your concerns. They may consider a different approach and can provide additional reassurance to ensure you feel safe during your exam. A healthcare provider may also offer mental health counseling to help with any anxiety or trauma attached to getting a pelvic exam.

When Should You Have Your First Pelvic Exam?

Women typically get a pelvic exam as part of routine gynecological visits around 21 years old. Some people may get a pelvic exam done before then if they experience symptoms that require a pelvic exam.

A healthcare provider may recommend getting a pelvic exam if you experience the following symptoms:

• Abnormal bleeding

• An increase in discharge

• Pain during urination

• Redness

• Itchiness

Gynecologists perform pelvic exams routinely performed for women interested in getting an IUD (intrauterine device).

How Often Should You Have a Pelvic Exam?

Typically, a pelvic exam isn’t necessary unless there is a medical concern or a woman is pregnant. However, if you have a family history of cervical cancer and HPV, your healthcare provider may recommend getting a pelvic exam more often.

How to Prep for a Pelvic Exam

Before a pelvic exam, discuss any concerns or questions you have about a pelvic exam. You can eat and drink as you normally would right before a pelvic exam. 

You can also have a trusted loved one in the room for support if needed. In some cases, a healthcare provider may also allow you to use a mirror to see what’s going on during the exam to increase your comfort. Be sure to have an honest and open conversation with your healthcare provider after your exam about next steps.

When Should You Expect Results from a Pelvic Exam?

After your pelvic exam, results may come back right away or take a couple of days, depending on the doctor’s office. If you don’t hear back from your healthcare provider, you can follow up by calling the office about your results. A healthcare provider may ask you to come back for additional tests or discuss results if needed.

Where Can I Learn More About Women’s Health?

A pelvic exam is one of the many ways a healthcare provider can help you manage and treat any changes to your reproductive and sexual health. Seeing your gynecologist once a year can help you get ahead of major health changes. At LifeMD, a licensed healthcare provider can help you learn more about preventative measures in between doctor’s visits for optimal health.

Get started today with learning about other tests to protect your health.

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