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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System

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Published on: September 20, 2018

Are Pelvic Exams Necessary Anymore?

Paula Tucker¹, Dian Dowling Evans

¹Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University Atlanta, Georgia.

Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal

|November 6, 2019

Summary

Excluding pelvic exams in early pregnancy emergencies with confirmed intrauterine pregnancies on ultrasound does not increase patient morbidity. This finding supports evolving emergency department practices for vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.

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Area of Science:

Emergency Medicine
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Clinical Trials

Background:

Traditionally, pelvic examinations are standard for evaluating vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain in early pregnancy.
Advancements in diagnostic imaging, particularly ultrasound, offer detailed views of intrauterine pregnancies.

Observation:

The study investigated whether omitting pelvic exams in emergency department (ED) settings for first-trimester vaginal bleeding or lower abdominal pain, with confirmed intrauterine pregnancy on ultrasound, impacts patient outcomes.
This addresses the relevance of traditional examination methods in the face of modern diagnostic technology.

Findings:

Excluding the pelvic examination in this specific patient group did not lead to an increase in morbidity.
Ultrasound confirmation of an intrauterine pregnancy is a key factor in this finding.

Implications:

Emergency department practices for evaluating early pregnancy complications may be evolving.
Healthcare providers, including emergency nurse practitioners, should stay informed about evidence-based changes to ensure patient safety and incorporate patient preferences.
The necessity of a routine pelvic exam in all cases of early pregnancy bleeding or pain, when ultrasound confirms an intrauterine pregnancy, is questioned.