5 Things Your Gynecologist Can Tell From A Basic Exam

Wondering if you should make an appointment? Those 20 minutes could reveal more about your health than you realize. By Corrie Pikul Only 17 percent of women see their gynecologist for an annual exam. And while the American College of Physicians recently said that healthy-seeming women don’t really need a pelvic exam, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, along with many doctors, still believes in the value of a full workup. We asked Lauren Streicher, MD, an associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s medical school, to give us some great reasons why the other 83 percent of us might want to schedule an appointment. They can (literally) spot what's ruining your sex life. Many patients are hesitant to discuss their sexual difficulties, says Streicher, who is also the author of Love Sex Again. They're often embarrassed or don't think it's important enough to bring up to a medical professional. Gynecologists can recognize vaginal dryness due to estrogen fluctuations: The tissue, which is normally deep pink and glistening, looks pale—almost white—and matte, says Streicher. They can recognize the condition that's ruining the rest of your life. During a manual exam, gynecologists, who are experts in this particular territory, are sometimes able to detect when muscles have weakened to the point where they may cause incontinence—another health issue that Streicher says an overwhelming number of patients are...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news