Do Annual Pelvic Exams Benefit Asymptomatic Women Who Receive Regular Pap Smears?

RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) states that newer tests, including nucleic acid amplification tests of urine, have improved sensitivity and comparable specificity when compared with cervical culture.^8,9

An ACOG committee recommends annual exams, even though it found no evidence to support an annual pelvic exam for asymptomatic, low-risk patients. The USPSTF recommends against screening for ovarian cancer in general, (Grade D recommendation: no net benefit or the harms outweigh the benefits). The Task Force states that the sensitivity of pelvic examination in detecting ovarian cancer is unknown based on several ultrasound studies.¹⁰

A 2012 ACOG committee opinion recommends that an annual pelvic examination remain a part of the well-woman visit even though the committee found no evidence in support of an annual exam for asymptomatic, low-risk patients.¹¹ The committee notes that patients and providers should discuss the decision to perform a pelvic exam annually.