A well-woman exam, recommended every year, usually includes a clinical breast exam and a pelvic exam. The pelvic exam involves looking at your vagina and feeling around the pelvic area.

It’s normal to be nervous about your first OB/GYN visit. Learn what to expect at your appointment including the pelvic exam and pap smear.

A pelvic exam is a routine procedure used to check for signs of disease in female organs. The provider will check the vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix.

However, other organizations such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), still recommend yearly pelvic exams for women over the age of 21.

But, Westhoff noted, the exam inspires fierce loyalty for reasons both cultural and financial. “A pelvic is deeply embedded in what it means to be an OB-GYN.

Should a doctor always use instruments during a pelvic exam? What is pelvic massage therapy, and who is authorized to perform it? Can someone who’s not an OB/GYN perform a pelvic or breast exam?

Do I need an annual pelvic exam? Learn what a pelvic exam involves and when you may benefit from one.

Alexander Raths / Shutterstock But many in the medical community still believe an annual pelvic exam is the safest option — including the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Why a yearly pelvic exam helps The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology guidelines advise against annual Papanicolaou tests— Pap smears — which are used to diagnose cervical cancer.

But with pelvic exams, there’s really no need to perform one if the woman is asymptomatic, said Maryam Guiahi, an OB-GYN and researcher at the CU School of Medicine.

An OB-GYN will be able to do a complete wellness exam for you. They will evaluate any need for potential treatment, especially if you’re starting to experience pain with sexual intercourse.