A pelvic exam is part of a regular physical checkup. During the exam a health care provider examines the pelvic organs (vagina, cervix, uterus and ovaries). During a pelvic exam you might be checked:
- to make sure the reproductive organs are healthy
- for sores and lumps on the genitals
- for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- for infections in the vagina (e.g., yeast or bacterial vaginosis)
A pelvic exam may include a Pap test. A Pap test looks for changes in the cells of the cervix. Pap tests are very important for cervical cancer screening. A sample of cells from a person’s cervix are collected and tested for changes that could lead to cervical cancer. Current recommendations are to begin having regular Pap tests starting at age 25, or 3 years after becoming sexually active, whichever is later.