Gynecological check

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The gynecological examination, also known as a gynecological examination, serves to prevent and diagnose illnesses. It includes, among other things, a consultation and a vaginal examination. Here you can read everything about the gynecological examination when visiting a gynecologist, the procedure and duration of the examination and how often it should be carried out.

What is a pelvic exam?

The gynecological check-up is an important check-up. It serves, among other things, for the early detection of breast or cervical cancer, but also offers advice on issues such as pregnancy, menstruation, sexuality and contraception or experiences of abuse.

When to do a pelvic exam

The gynecological examination is primarily a preventive examination. Women should exercise these regularly, especially so that the doctor can identify malignant diseases of the female genital organs at an early stage. Apart from that, women should of course also go to the gynecological examination if they have symptoms. The following symptoms are often the reason for the gynecological examination:

Pain, burning or itching in the genital area, for example when urinating or having sex
Vaginal discharge
Period symptoms, for example pain, very heavy or very long bleeding
Noticeable changes in the breast, such as lumps or hardening

The gynecologist is also the right contact for questions about sexuality, the desire to have children and pregnancy and contraception.

Gynecological examination in children

In the following cases, a gynecologist's examination is necessary even for young girls:

Pain, burning, discharge, or itching in the genital area
Bleeding from the vagina before your menstrual period starts
Suspected malformations, developmental disorders
Suspected sexual abuse

In most cases, an external examination of the genitals is sufficient to clarify these complaints, so that a palpation examination of the vagina is not necessary.

Gynecological examination: procedure

Before the actual examination, the doctor asks the patient to provide a urine sample. He examines the urine with a test strip for germs, signs of inflammation or blood. If there are indications of pregnancy, he can also check this on the basis of the urine. Once the bladder has been emptied, this also facilitates the subsequent ultrasound examination of the lower abdomen.

Gynecological examination: consultation and medical history survey

At the beginning of the examination by the gynecologist, the doctor asks the patient about current symptoms or unusual occurrences. He would also like to know whether breast or cervical cancer has occurred more frequently in the immediate family - this can be an important indicator of a family history! Further topics that the gynecologist addresses and on which he advises the patient are:

current contraception or contraception wish
Regularity, strength and duration of the menstrual period
Occurrence of intermenstrual bleeding or vaginal discharge
Taking medication
Metabolic diseases
Sexuality and partnership

Gynecological examination of the external genital organs and the abdominal wall

The doctor asks the patient to clear the abdomen and take a seat on the gynecological chair. This is a lounger with the back part tilted back slightly. The patient lies on it with the pelvis slightly raised and can comfortably rest her feet on supports. This gives the doctor a first look at the woman's external sexual organs and can already assess external changes such as reddening, abnormalities in the mucous membrane, injuries or malformations. He also palpates the lymph nodes in the groin region and the lower abdomen.

Gynecological examination (rectal and vaginal)

The gynecologist uses a so-called speculum to examine the vagina and the cervix. The doctor smears a little lubricant on this and carefully inserts it into the patient's vagina. By opening the speculum, the vaginal wall is spread slightly so that the doctor has a clear view of the vaginal vault and the cervix. For a more detailed examination, he can also examine the vaginal canal from the outside with a so-called colposcope, a kind of magnifying glass with a small light source. For the early detection of cancer, the doctor takes a smear, the so-called Pap test, from the transition area from the vagina to the cervix.

Further information: Pap test

Read how the Pap test works and why it is so important in the article Pap test.

After withdrawing the instruments, the vagina is examined by palpation with both hands (bimanual examination): First, the gynecologist carefully inserts his index finger and checks the elasticity of the tissue and the presence of lumps, protrusions or indurations.

Then he also places his second hand on the abdominal wall in the area of the lower abdomen. In this way, the doctor can carefully palpate the uterus and its appendages - in young, slender women of sexually mature age, the ovaries can also be assessed in this way. It is also important to check the portio-sliding pain: The doctor wiggles his finger on the portio, i.e. the transition area between the vagina and the cervix. If this causes pain, there may be inflammation in the pelvis.

From the age of 50, the rectal palpation examination, i.e. the examination of the rectum and its neighboring structures with the finger, is also part of gynecological preventive care.

Gynecological examination: ultrasound

An ultrasound examination with a special transducer is often carried out when you visit your gynecologist. This is shaped so that it can be easily inserted into the vagina. This allows the gynecologist to assess the wall and mucous membrane of the uterus, the cycle phase, the ovaries and the spaces of the small pelvis.

Gynecological examination of the chest

The patient is allowed to get dressed again at the bottom and should take off her top and bra for the breast examination. The doctor simply feels the breast for lumps, indurations, or pain. He also shows the patient how she can regularly examine her breast herself - this makes sense because the patient can identify changes very early and consult a doctor. From the age of 50, the patients receive an X-ray examination of the breast, the so-called mammography.

What do I have to consider after a gynecological examination?

After visiting your gynecologist, you should feel your breasts regularly yourself, as your doctor has shown you. This is recommended about once a month. The easiest way to do a self-examination is between the third and seventh day after the start of your menstrual period: the mammary gland tissue is particularly soft at this point and changes in the tissue are more noticeable.

How often do I have to go to the preventive medical check-up?

Visits to the gynecologist for the early detection of diseases should be carried out annually from the age of 20. From the age of 50, women are also entitled to a mammogram every two years. How often you should go to the gynecologist naturally also depends on the individual risk of the disease. For example, if your family has an increased incidence of cancer, inform your gynecologist about it. He can tell you exactly how often you should have the pelvic exam.

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