WP GynaeExams4

Gynaecological
Examinations:
Guidelines for
Specialist Practice
July 2002
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without the prior written permission of the Publisher (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists).
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© Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2002
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Contents
Page
Terms of reference ii
Working party membership ii
Summary iii
1. Introduction 1
2. Chaperones 2
3. Pelvic examination in the gynaecological patient 4
4. Specific procedures and investigations in gynaecology 9
5. Intimate examinations in special circumstances 11
6. Examinations in pregnancy 16
7. Breast examination in obstetrics and gynaecology 17
8. Training undergraduate and postgraduate students 18
9. Still and video photography 20
10. Communication, consent and choice 21
11. Implications for practice, training and research 22
References 23
Appendix A: Intimate examinations 25
Appendix B: General Medical Council:
Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients 26
ROYAL COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS
Terms of reference of the Working Party on Intimate
Examinations 1997
● to review the draft guidance issued by the General Medical Council
● to prepare guidance in relation to practice in obstetrics and gynaecology
● to consider the implications of the guidance for future training and
research in obstetrics and gynaecology
● to make recommendations to Council within six months.
The Working Party was reconvened in 2001 at the request of Council to

review the report and key recommendations contained therein.
Working party membership

As of July 2001:
Dr Patricia Crowley FRCOG (Chair)
Senior Lecturer Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Coombe Women’s
Hospital, Dublin
Professor Andrew Calder MD FRCP FRCOG, Centre for Reproductive

Biology, University of Edinburgh
Ms Linda Lamont BA, former Director of the Patients’ Association,

Consultant on patient affairs, Member of CESDI Interim Advisory Group
Dr Fay Hutchinson MBE Hon FFFP, Brook Advisory Centres
Mr Peter Milton MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist,

Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge
Miss Margaret Thom FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist,

212–214, Great Portland Street, London
ii
GYNAECOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS: GUIDELINES FOR SPECIALIST PRACTICE
Summary
General considerations
● Vaginal speculum examination and bimanual palpation of the female
internal genitalia are among the most intimate and potentially
embarrassing examinations carried out in clinical medicine.
● Most women will accept vaginal examination if the necessity for the
procedure is explained and the examination is performed by a healthcare
professional who is skilled, sympathetic and gentle.
● Prior to performing pelvic examination, it is essential for the
gynaecologist to consider what information will be gained by the
examination, whether this is a screening or diagnostic procedure and
whether it is necessary at this time.
● Verbal consent should be obtained prior to all pelvic examinations.
● A chaperone should be available to assist with gynaecological
examinations, irrespective of the gender of the gynaecologist.
● Gloves should be worn on both hands during vaginal and speculum
examinations.
● Patients should be provided with private, warm and comfortable
changing facilities. After undressing there should be no undue delay
prior to examination. Every effort must be made to ensure that such
examinations take place in a closed room that cannot be entered while
the examination is in progress and that the examination is not
interrupted by phone calls, bleeps or messages about other patients.
Procedure
● Pelvic examination should not be considered an automatic and inevitable
part of every gynaecological consultation. However, the management of
many gynaecological problems is based on competent pelvic examination
preceded by an explanation of its purpose and followed by effective
communication about the findings. Pelvic examination should not be
carried out for non-English-speaking patients without an
interpreter/advocate except in an emergency.
● Assistance with undressing should be offered if absolutely necessary.
● Gloves should be worn on both hands during vaginal examinations.
● Remarks of a personal nature should be avoided during pelvic
examination.
● Throughout the examination the clinician should remain alert to verbal
and non-verbal indications of distress from the patient. Any request that
the examination be discontinued should be respected.
● Easily understood literature and diagrams should be provided for
women undergoing invasive procedures such as colposcopy and
urodynamic investigations.
● There is no scientific evidence to support the use of rectal examination
as means of assessing the cervix in pregnancy or labour and, as most
women find it more distressing than vaginal examination, it cannot be
recommended.
iii
Special circumstances
● When examining a woman with particular cultural or religious
expectations, clinicians should be aware of, and sensitive to, factors that
may make the examination more difficult for the woman.
● Women who experience difficulty with vaginal examination should be
given every opportunity to facilitate disclosure of any underlying sexual
or marital difficulties or traumas. However, it must not be assumed that
all women who experience difficulty with pelvic examination have a
background history of sexual abuse, domestic violence or sexual
difficulties.
● The basic principles of respect, privacy, explanation and consent that
apply to the conduct of gynaecological examinations in general apply
equally to the conduct of such examinations in women who have
temporary or permanent learning disabilities or mental illness.
● When examining anaesthetised patients, all staff should treat the woman
with the same degree of sensitivity and respect as if she were awake.
● Exceptional gentleness should be displayed in the examination of victims
of alleged sexual assault. Equally important are measures aimed at
restoring the woman’s violated sense of autonomy. The woman should
be given a choice about the gender of the doctor and be allowed to
control the pace of, and her position for, the examination.
● Fully informed written consent must be obtained for all still or video
photography. The woman’s privacy and modesty must be protected and
every effort must be made to ensure that the video and photographic
images have no sexual connotations.
Training
● In order to ensure that women have access to the highest standard of
care, undergraduate medical students and postgraduate trainees must be
taught how to perform pelvic examination with appropriate expertise
and sensitivity.
● Written consent should be obtained from women undergoing procedures
under anaesthesia if a medical student is to perform a pelvic
examination for purposes of education and training.
● Appropriate technique, behaviour and expertise in the performance of
bimanual and speculum examination is an essential part of the training
syllabus for both general practitioners and specialists. Postgraduate
training should comprise genuine formative assessment of skills in these
areas.
● Induction courses for new house staff should include a session on the
appropriate conduct of gynaecological examinations.
● Trainees should be observed performing pelvic examination and should
be prepared to accept constructive criticism of their technique and
communication skills.
iv
1. Introduction
All medical consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially
distressing, but many patients find examinations and investigations involving
the breasts, genitalia or rectum particularly intrusive.
Most women will accept vaginal examination if the necessity of the procedure
is explained and the examination is performed by a doctor who is skilled,
sympathetic and gentle. Many women with gynaecological complaints are
reassured by such an examination and the management of many
gynaecological complaints can be greatly enhanced by a competent pelvic
examination, preceded by an explanation about its purpose and followed by
effective communication about the findings.
Some patients may, however, experience considerable distress, anger and

confusion following such an examination and, despite making no formal
complaint, may experience long-lasting difficulties arising from an unpleasant
or traumatic examination. In response to the concerns of the General Medical
Council (GMC) Fitness to Practice Committee, the GMC’s Standards
Committee has issued guidelines on standards for good practice for all doctors
in the conduct of such examinations. These guidelines are reproduced in
Appendix A of this report. The GMC Standards Committee recommended
that the Royal Colleges should also draft detailed clinical guidelines to help
establish recognisable standards of good practice with respect to intimate
examinations. In view of the fact that the vast majority of patients in obstetrics
and gynaecology will require at least one of these examinations or
investigations, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
welcomed this invitation to review practice and set out guidelines for optimal
practice and to consider the implications of these guidelines for future training
and research.
The Working Party considered that all of the following examinations and
investigations relate to the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology:
● digital vaginal examination in gynaecology
● speculum examination in gynaecology
● endovaginal ultrasound examination
● colposcopy
● hysteroscopy
● urodynamic investigations
● vaginal examination in pregnancy
● manual removal of the placenta or exploration of the uterus
● inspection of the external genitalia and vaginal examination of the child
or adolescent
● rectal examination in gynaecology
● rectal examination in pregnancy
● anorectal manometry and ultrasound
● administration of medications by vaginal pessary or rectal suppository
● examination of the breasts in gynaecology
● examination of the breasts in pregnancy
● mammography.
1
Specific consideration was given to any of the above procedures in:
● the unconscious or anaesthetised patient
● adolescents
● mentally ill patients
● patients with learning disabilities
● women from ethnic minorities
● women who have previously had a traumatic intimate examination or
who have been sexually assaulted in the past.
Obstetricians and gynaecologists may either be directly responsible for good

practice in these areas because they or the trainees under their supervision
perform these procedures or they may be vicariously responsible for the
practice of midwives, nurses, radiographers, radiologists and anaesthetists
who perform procedures instigated by them.
The working party also addressed the issue of training and supervision of
undergraduate medical students and postgraduate trainees in obstetrics and
gynaecology in the performance of intimate examinations.
2. Chaperones
The guidelines issued by the GMC’s Standards Committee suggest that,
wherever possible, patients undergoing an intimate examination should be
offered a chaperone or invited to bring a relative or friend to the consultation
(Appendix A). These guidelines have been incorporated by the Royal College
of Physicians in their guidelines for training for all specialties (1996).
In a study of male and female adults and teenagers in a general practice setting
in the USA, Penn and Bourguet1 found that the majority of patients, of either sex
and of all ages, did not express a strong opinion on the presence of a chaperone.
However, substantial proportions of adult women (29%) and female teenagers
(46%) preferred that a chaperone be present during a breast, pelvic or rectal
examination by a male physician; 36% of adult women and 63% of female
teenagers wanted a chaperone present during a first examination of these
regions. Adults of both sexes thought that the nurse would be the best
chaperone, whereas teenagers ranked a parent first and the nurse second.
Patients indicated that they felt comfortable asking for a chaperone.
Phillips et al.2 assessed the attitudes of teenagers of both sexes to chaperones

during intimate examinations. Young males and females strongly preferred to be
accompanied, generally by a family member. With increasing age, males preferred
to be alone with the physician whereas females preferred to be accompanied.
Regardless of sex and age, virtually none chose the company of peers.
The US literature indicates that male paediatricians and specialists in

adolescent health are more likely to use a chaperone during pelvic
examination of adolescent females, but a surprisingly high proportion of male
doctors from these specialities do not use chaperones.3,4 In a survey of general
practitioners in the UK, Speelman et al.5 found that 75% of female and 21%
of male general practitioners never use a chaperone when performing intimate
2
examinations on patients of the opposite sex. None of the female doctors and
16% of the males always offered a chaperone in these circumstances. Only 1%
of respondents did not have a practice nurse.
The advantages of chaperones are self-evident. Chaperones are the ultimate

safeguard for the patient against abuse during examination. Great emphasis is
given to the role of the chaperone in protecting the patient against sexual
abuse but this is probably very rare. A more important role for the chaperone
may be the protection of the patient against other forms of real or perceived
abuse. The presence of a chaperone acts as a safeguard against a doctor
causing unnecessary discomfort, pain, humiliation or intimidation during
examination. A chaperone may provide reassurance to an anxious patient. On
occasions when the doctor’s attention is focused on performing procedures
such as colposcopy or hysteroscopy, the nurse-chaperone may maintain
communication and eye contact with the patient. A chaperone may assist an
infirm or disabled patient with dressing and undressing. Obviously, the
presence of a chaperone protects doctors against false allegations of sexual
abuse. The medical indemnity organisations consider the presence of a
chaperone helpful in the defence of a doctor against an allegation of sexual
misconduct during an intimate examination. However, allegations of this kind
are extremely rare and it is important that this aspect of using chaperones does
not receive unnecessary emphasis.6 Such a public perception could reduce the
chaperone’s ability to fulfil the roles described above.
There are theoretical disadvantages of a chaperone being present during a

gynaecological examination. Gynaecological consultations occasionally provide
an opportunity for women to confide deeply sensitive information about sexual
abuse, previous termination of pregnancy or domestic violence. The presence of
a chaperone may intrude in a confiding doctor–patient relationship and may
lower a doctor’s acuity in detecting non-verbal signs of distress from the patient.
This drawback is potentially offset by confining the presence of chaperones to
the physical examination and allowing one-to-one communication for the
consultation. Some patients’ levels of embarrassment may increase in proportion
to the number of individuals present during an examination.
While some patients may welcome the presence of a family member acting as
chaperone, there are potential disadvantages. The presence of a family
member may reduce the likelihood of disclosure of sensitive information and
delay the development of self-confidence in young women. The presence of a
dominant male partner may inhibit communication about past gynaecological
or obstetric history, marital or sexual problems or domestic violence. An
accompanying female relative may bring to the consultation her own agenda
of prejudices and fears about gynaecological examinations. It is the view of the
Medical Protection Society that a family member would not fulfil their criteria
for a chaperone, which they define as ‘someone with nothing to gain by
misrepresenting the facts’.
After careful consideration, the Working Party recommends that a chaperone

should be available to assist with gynaecological examinations irrespective of
the gender of the gynaecologist. Ideally, this assistant should be a professional
individual. However, the Working Party is aware that the costs of employing
3
a nurse or other suitable individual for this purpose may be a deterrent for
small or charitably funded clinics and accepts that a secretary or receptionist,
or otherwise a friend or family member, could act as a chaperone in these
circumstances. For women who require an interpreter, a friend or volunteer
may fulfil the role of both chaperone and interpreter.
3. Pelvic examination in the gynaecological patient

3.1 Guidelines
There is a need for guidelines relating to the performance of courteous, gentle
and informative speculum and bimanual examinations, which it is hoped will
be particularly helpful to relatively inexperienced practitioners and students.
In the course of a gynaecological consultation, it is usually best if the history

is taken with only the patient present, as this will afford maximum
confidentiality and enable the doctor to gain the patient’s confidence. Pelvic
examinations, whether by male or female doctors, nurses or midwives, should,
however, normally be performed in the presence of a female chaperone
preferably unrelated to the patient. Women who require an interpreter or who
communicate using sign language will obviously require an interpreter during
both history taking and examination (see section 5).
Pelvic examination should not be considered an automatic and inevitable part

of every gynaecological examination. Prior to performing pelvic examination,
it is essential for the gynaecologist to consider what information will be gained
by the examination and whether the same information is already available or
is going to be obtained from another source such as ultrasound or
examination under anaesthesia, regardless of the findings during clinical
examination. It is useful to consider whether the planned examination is a
‘screening’ or a ‘diagnostic’ test. A skilled and gentle pelvic examination is a
necessary and important part of the diagnosis of most gynaecological
conditions. However, the predictive value of ‘routine’ bimanual pelvic
examination as a screening test in asymptomatic women is very poor.7 The low
productivity of pelvic examination in the asymptomatic young woman prior
to commencing use of the oral contraceptive pill8 makes it difficult to justify
such an examination, which may deter uptake of contraception in vulnerable
young women. The British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology
considers that bimanual examination of the pelvis should be performed in a
woman attending for colposcopy only if indicated.9
In symptomatic women, appropriate digital or speculum examination can be

productive, for example, in assessing a patient with uterovaginal prolapse or
in evaluating a patient with dyspareunia. Explanation about the contribution
of the pelvic examination towards a diagnosis in the context of the presenting
complaint is an essential part of the preamble to obtaining informed consent
for examination. Verbal consent should be obtained prior to all pelvic
examinations.
Patients should be provided with private, warm and comfortable changing

facilities. Provision should be made for clothing to be laid aside appropriately
and for the disposal of sanitary towels, tampons or incontinence pads. After
4
undressing there should be no undue delay prior to examination. The practice
in some outpatient clinics of interviewing one patient while another is waiting
for examination may save a small amount of time but increases anxiety,
conveys the impression of a conveyor belt and may lead to consultations being
overheard. Gowns provided for outpatient gynaecology patients should be
comfortable and compatible with modesty. Improvements in the design of
gowns have been shown to reduce anxiety.10
Some patients will welcome a choice between donning a gown or continuing

to wear some of their own clothes, e.g. a wide skirt with underwear removed.
Alternatively, they may welcome the opportunity of bringing their own robe.
Muslim women will wish to continue to wear their head attire.
The woman should be given every opportunity to undress herself with

assistance from a nurse, chaperone or relative if this is necessary due to
infirmity. No assistance should be given with removing underwear unless
absolutely necessary.
Every effort must be made to ensure that gynaecological examinations take

place in a closed room that cannot be entered while the examination is in
progress and that the examination is not interrupted by phone calls, bleeps or
messages about other patients. In addition to the explanation given prior to
the examination, it may be helpful to give a running commentary on what is
being done during the examination.
Terms of endearment such as ‘pet’, ‘love’ or ‘dear’ should be avoided during

consultations, especially while performing pelvic examination. It is probably
better to avoid the use of first names under these circumstances also. No
remarks of a personal nature should be made during the examination, even if
they may be clinically relevant. For example, advice about the risks of
sunbathing prompted by the presence of a deep suntan should be given after
the examination has concluded. Similarly, no comment or discussion about
body weight should take place while the woman is undressed, despite its
relevance to gynaecological problems.
Poor self-esteem and embarrassment may deter obese women from attending
gynaecologists.11 In the assessment of a woman with dyspareunia, valuable
information may be obtained by assessing the ability of digital examination to
reproduce the discomfort. This is the only situation in gynaecological practice
where sexual problems should be discussed during the examination as
opposed to before and afterwards. It should be very clear to the patient that
any questions asked during the examination are entirely technical, relating to
the site and quality of the pain, and that the woman’s feelings and sexual
response are not being discussed.
Throughout the examination, the doctor should remain alert to verbal and
non-verbal indications of distress from the patient. Doctors who are trained to
combine the physical examination with an awareness and acknowledgement
of the patient’s feelings will learn more about the patient and give rise to fewer
complaints.
5
The reasons for carrying out a speculum examination must be clearly
explained to the patient and her verbal permission sought. As the object of
speculum examination is inspection of the vulva, vagina and cervix, it may not
necessarily be appropriate for such an examination to accompany bimanual
palpation on every occasion. It may not, for example, be necessary for a
patient being followed up subsequent to surgery for ovarian malignancy to
have a speculum examination carried out, whereas it would be appropriate for
such a patient to be examined bimanually.
Obviously, inspection of the clitoris is indicated in some cases of vulval cancer,

female genital mutilation and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In the course of
routine pelvic examination, however, care should be taken to avoid digital
contact with the clitoris.
3.2 Position for pelvic examination

The patient must be reassured and told what is about to happen at every stage
of the examination. She will be asked to lie in an appropriate position for the
examination. Usually the dorsal position is chosen for examination with a
Cusco speculum. The Sims or left-lateral position is used for Sims speculum
examination. The full lithotomy position is rarely used in the UK unless the
examination is being performed as part of a colposcopic assessment of the
lower genital tract. In a survey of practice in Great Britain,12 Amias noted that
the choice of position for digital and speculum examination was determined
more by habit and geography than by practical clinical considerations.
Seymore et al.13 showed that pelvic examination in the semi-sitting position
provoked less anxiety than examination in the supine position.
Whatever position is used, the patient must be made comfortable and

provided with as much covering as feasible. It may be easier to preserve an
appropriate degree of modesty with the patient lying on her side than on her
back, but many women find an unseen approach from the rear most alarming
and are less certain where the finger or speculum is going. It may be helpful in
certain clinical scenarios to examine the patient in a standing position. Careful
thought should be given to the necessity for this and to its appropriate conduct
to minimise the additional embarrassment it is likely to induce.
3.3 Vaginal specula

Of the many forms available, the Cusco bivalve speculum and the Sims
speculum are the most commonly used, the Cusco being particularly appropriate
for cervical inspection and the Sims if a speculum examination is being
performed as part of a full gynaecological examination in cases of suspected
uterovaginal prolapse and urinary fistula. Specula should be warm but not
excessively so. If they are of the metal variety and kept following sterilisation on
a cloth over a radiator, held under a warm tap for a few moments or held in the
doctor’s gloved hand prior to insertion, the degree of warming will usually be
adequate. The temperature of the speculum should be checked after any
procedures aimed at warming it to ensure it has not become excessively hot.
It is essential that an appropriate size of speculum be used and this may mean
that a single-finger assessment of the introitus will need to be performed prior
to selecting a speculum. This is particularly important in post-menopausal
6
women or post-operative patients in whom there may be some narrowing of
the introitus. A small speculum may be required in the nulliparous or virginal
woman, although such examination is rarely indicated in a virgin.
Specula appear to some patients to be large, cumbersome and potentially painful

instruments – they must be used with gentleness and sensitivity. There is no
excuse for fumbling with the instruments. If the examiner is relatively
inexperienced in the use of specula, it is essential that he or she practises
assembling the instruments prior to insertion rather than subsequently fumbling
and causing distress. Some of the disposable plastic devices have a noisy ratchet
device which some patients might find unnerving – the ratchet strip can be
broken and the speculum used without it if need be. The use of a water-based,
non-sticky lubricant such as one of the proprietary clear gels is advisable.
3.4 Performing a vaginal speculum examination

Gloves should be worn on both hands by the examining doctor for all vaginal
and speculum examinations.
The patient must be told about each manoeuvre prior to it being undertaken.
When she is in an appropriate position and is comfortable, she should be told
that the examiner is going to examine the vulva, separate the labia and insert
the speculum. It should be inserted to its full length and then gently opened,
enabling inspection of the cervix. If the cervix is pointing anteriorly, such as
would commonly be the case with a retroverted uterus, or deviated to one or
other side, a certain amount of adjustment of the position of the blades may
be necessary and this should be carried out with great gentleness. Sometimes
it will be necessary to use a blunt instrument such as a sponge-holding forceps
to gently move the cervix clear of the tips of the speculum blades if an
adequate view is to be obtained. Sometimes the speculum is introduced too far
and is in either the anterior or posterior fornix. In this case, the cervix will
only appear if the speculum is gently opened and withdrawn.
The examination may now proceed, with the taking of swabs from the posterior
vaginal fornix or the endocervical canal, if appropriate, and the taking of a
cervical smear, should this be indicated. It may be necessary to mop secretions
from the cervix in order to obtain a good view of its epithelium. It is important
that the patient be told of all these manoeuvres before they are carried out in
understandable and non-patronising language. When the operator is happy with
the information obtained from speculum inspection of the cervix, the instrument
will be slowly and gently withdrawn and the vaginal walls inspected during its
withdrawal. There is a danger of trapping the cervix between the blades of the
speculum if it is not held open a little as it is withdrawn.
Taking cervical smears is a separate subject and one of some complexity.

Suffice it to say that appropriate sampling devices must be used and the whole
range must be available, including spatulas with short and long tongues as
well as endocervical brushes. The patient must be warned in advance if the
operator is about to take a smear, as some discomfort can result, especially if
an endocervical brush is used. She should also be told that there may be some
bleeding following the taking of a smear and reassured that this is not usually
of any clinical significance.
7
3.5 Bimanual abdominal/vaginal examination
This is considered by most women to be the most intimate of examinations
and its use should be restricted to occasions when it is necessary that such an
examination be performed. There are occasions when a speculum examination
alone may be carried out but, in a woman with gynaecological symptoms, the
two should usually be combined. In order to minimise the inevitable
discomfort of bimanual examination and to obtain the most information from
the procedure, it is important that the bladder is empty.
Gynaecologists should be trained to perform bimanual examination in both

the left lateral and the dorsal position, in order to cater for the patient’s
personal preference. The dorsal position is probably the most commonly used
but some may feel that the left lateral or Sims position possibly allows the
patient to preserve a greater degree of modesty. There may also be more
abdominal-wall muscle relaxation in this position. Bearing in mind that it is
the abdominal hand that does most of the palpating, it is obviously necessary
for as much abdominal-wall relaxation to be obtained as is possible. Some
patients find it extremely difficult to relax when being subjected to what for
them is a most embarrassing procedure. Every effort should be directed to gain
the patient’s confidence and reduce her anxiety.
It is important that abdominal palpation as part of the bimanual examination

procedure commences with the ‘abdominal’ hand relatively high on the
abdominal wall, as it would otherwise be possible to miss substantial masses
arising from the pelvis. Feeling the outline of the uterus is best achieved by
using the vaginal finger or fingers to elevate and bring forward the uterus by
means of gently exerting pressure on or behind the cervix. It is not always
mandatory to insert more than one finger, especially in very slim patients.
Most students and junior doctors will require a considerable amount of
practice before they can accurately and consistently delineate the uterine size,
shape and contour, especially if the uterus is retroverted.
In addition to these features, it should be possible for the examiner to form an

impression of the degree of mobility or fixity of the uterus. Following
examination of the uterus, the adnexa are palpated bimanually. Normal-sized
ovaries may not be palpable, especially in the overweight or postmenopausal
patient. The right ovary is more readily palpable than the left, which may be
difficult to feel if it is lying behind the bowel, particularly if the bowel is loaded.
Clinical evidence of solid or cystic adnexal masses may also be detected,
together with evidence of ‘cervical excitation pain’, produced by gently moving
the cervix and putting the adnexal structures slightly on the stretch.
All these procedures must be carried out with extreme gentleness but even if
this is achieved and even if a major degree of patient confidence is also
obtained, there will inevitably be some discomfort associated with bimanual
palpation. The examination may also be uninformative, particularly if the
patient is obese or very tense and anxious.
At the conclusion of speculum or bimanual examination, the patient should be

given some tissue with which to remove any remaining lubricating gel. Ideally,
washing facilities and a mirror should be provided so that the patient can dress
8
in comfort and privacy. Thereafter she should be told of the examiner’s
findings, once she is seated back in the consulting room. Although the patient,
particularly if elderly, may appreciate the presence or help of a nurse or
chaperone while she is dressing, it is generally preferable if the consultation
subsequent to examination is conducted with only the doctor and patient
present, for reasons of confidentiality, unless of course the patient wishes
otherwise or needs the services of an interpreter or sign language.
3.6 Rectal examination

Rectal examination may be indicated if there are symptoms such as change of
bowel habit or rectal bleeding, which may suggest bowel disease. It is
occasionally used as a means of assessing a pelvic mass in a virginal patient
but many young women find this unacceptable. Rectal examination should be
carried out with the patient in the left-lateral position. Proctoscopy, as well as
digital examination, may be required if the symptoms are of rectal bleeding.
Anorectal lesions such as anal fissures may be exquisitely tender and it is
important that a thorough explanation be given to the patient with regard to
the need for the examination. Extreme gentleness must be used during the
examination and a full account of the clinical findings given to the patient. If
there is any suggestion of significant bowel pathology, the opinion of a
colorectal specialist should be sought.
4. Specific procedures and investigations in gynaecology

4.1 Colposcopy
Referral for colposcopy following abnormal cervical cytology is distressing and
can lead to anxiety and psychosexual problems.14 The need for examination in
the lithotomy position, the fear of malignant disease and an awareness of the
association between cervical neoplasia and sexual transmission of disease
combine to make this potentially one of the most traumatic investigations in
gynaecology. The guidelines for good practice laid down by the National Health
Service Cervical Screening Programmes in conjunction with the British Society
for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology9 are a model for the appropriate conduct
of all intimate examinations and should be followed. Many of these guidelines
are applicable to the conduct of analogous clinics, such as urogynaecology and
outpatient hysteroscopy. They emphasise the need for an appropriate clinical
environment with adequate privacy, changing facilities and a suitable couch. The
Working Party endorses the recommendations for easily understood written and
verbal information prior to and during attendance at a colposcopy clinic and the
exclusion of any questions about the woman’s sexual history.
Informed consent for the colposcopic examination itself, and also for any
destructive or ablative treatment at the same visit (the ‘see and treat’
approach), must be sought before the woman has undressed and sat on the
colposcopy couch. It would be inappropriate to obtain consent for a
procedure while the woman is already on the couch or in lithotomy position.
4.2 Hysteroscopy and outpatient endometrial biopsy

Outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy are now a routine part of the
investigation of menorrhagia, intermenstrual and postmenopausal bleeding in
most units. Patients should be appropriately selected and well prepared for
9
this procedure. The provision of written material prior to clinic attendance
and an adequate verbal explanation prior to starting the investigation is
essential. Facilities and comfort should be of the same standard as for
colposcopy. The presence of a fully trained nurse familiar with the procedure
is essential, so that a chaperone will always be available.
4.3 Urodynamic investigations

These investigations are conducted by gynaecologists, urologists or nurse
practitioners. The need for the modified lithotomy position, the insertion of
rectal and urethral transducers and the requirement to micturate in public
make this another embarrassing and undignified procedure. Once again, the
provision of appropriate written information in advance and the presence of
an encouraging nurse-chaperone may make the procedure less of an ordeal.
4.4 Endovaginal ultrasound examination

Transvaginal ultrasound has been found to carry many advantages over an
abdominal approach. For example, the use of a vaginal probe overcomes the
need for a full bladder and the poor resolution experienced with
transabdominal ultrasound in obese patients. The deeper parts of the pelvis
may be visualised accurately. It has become a standard preliminary
investigation of many gynaecological problems, including menorrhagia,
suspected pelvic masses and first-trimester bleeding.
While this technique is usually well accepted by patients,15 the fact that it is a
much more invasive examination than transabdominal ultrasound must be
borne in mind. Women who have never experienced ultrasound examination
before or whose previous ultrasound experience consisted of transabdominal
ultrasound may be taken aback by the appearance and use of the transvaginal
probe and by the condom-like sheaths used to cover the probe. This
examination is increasingly performed by a gynaecologist in an outpatient
clinic but may be performed by a radiographer or radiologist. The
gynaecologist initiating this investigation has a responsibility to explain to the
patient what is entailed and to ensure that this investigation is not attempted
in women for whom it is obviously inappropriate, such as women with an
intact hymen, elderly women with a narrow atrophic vagina, women with
radiation stenosis or vaginismus. If there is uncertainty as to the suitability of
the woman for transvaginal ultrasound, preliminary digital vaginal
examination by a gynaecologist is essential. The College of Radiographers has
issued clear guidelines16 on the use of transvaginal ultrasound:
● Informed consent must be sought by the radiographer who is to perform

the scan and the wishes of the woman must be respected. She must not
feel unduly pressurised or coerced by the radiographer into having
transvaginal ultrasound; rather, the radiographer must be positive and
informative about the procedure.
● A written policy relating to the chaperoning of radiographers, regardless
of their gender, should be agreed locally and women using the
ultrasound service must be made aware of it.
● Wherever possible, transvaginal ultrasound should take place in a closed
room where maximum privacy may be ensured.
10
The Working Party regards the presence of a chaperone as particularly
important, as the radiographer or radiologist may be an unfamiliar person and
the examination usually takes place in a dimly lit room. There was a
unanimous view that the examination must take place in a ‘closed room’ on
all occasions rather than ‘wherever possible’.
4.5 Anorectal ultrasound and anorectal manometry

These investigations now form part of the evaluation of anal incontinence in
women. It is important that the referring gynaecologist explains the nature
and purpose of these investigations to the woman. Again, informed consent
should be sought by the individual performing the investigations, who should
be accompanied by a chaperone.
5. Intimate examinations in special circumstances

5.1 Ethnic, cultural and religious considerations
The ethnic religious and cultural background of some women can make
gynaecological examinations particularly difficult and some examples are
given below.
Muslim and Hindu women have been brought up with a strong cultural taboo
against being touched by any man other than their husbands and have a clear
preference for women doctors when such examinations are necessary. In general
practices or hospital clinics where this request is difficult to meet, it may be
possible to staff a clinic with a female doctor on an occasional or sessional basis,
e.g. one gynaecology clinic every two weeks. Community representatives with
whom the Working Party consulted agreed that women from these cultural and
religious backgrounds would accept the need to be examined by a male doctor
in an emergency or as dictated by unavoidable clinical circumstances.
Evidence was given to the Working Party that cultural and religious factors make
nudity particularly difficult and embarrassing for some women; for instance,
inspection of the breasts requiring a woman to undress to the waist and sit
upright with her arms behind her head. All sensible measures to reduce the extent
and duration of nudity should be taken which do not jeopardise the thoroughness
of the examination; for example, uncovering only one part of the body at a time.
As with all women, an adequate explanation of the nature and purpose of the
examination given before the woman undresses will usually reduce anxiety.
The presence of a female chaperone is regarded as essential. A nurse or
healthcare assistant should be used in this role, as most women would find
examination in the presence of a friend or family member embarrassing. A link
worker or professional interpreter should be present when examining non-
English-speaking patients, except in an emergency. Having a family member
acting as interpreter is not ideal. The Asian Family Counselling Service is
aware of rare cases where a family member has wittingly or unwittingly
altered the sense of an interpreted conversation with a health professional.
Every effort should be made to provide translations of all written material on

procedures, such as colposcopy, hysteroscopy and urodynamic studies, for
women who are unable to read or understand English.
11
Many religions, including Islam, Hinduism and Orthodox Judaism, incorporate
particular taboos about menstruation. For instance, Hindu women are barred
from the kitchen at this time. For women from these cultural backgrounds, a
pelvic examination during menstruation would be unacceptable, except in a
medical emergency. As these taboos may extend to the presence of any bleeding
from the vagina, women should be warned of the possibility of vaginal bleeding
occurring after having a cervical smear performed.
Understanding of and sensitivity to such cultural considerations should be

incorporated into the training of medical students and postgraduates.
5.2 The first vaginal examination

The conduct of the first vaginal examination may influence the young
woman’s confidence in and uptake of gynaecological and family planning
services for the rest of her life. As with all medical interventions, it is
worthwhile taking a moment to consider the necessity for the examination,
whether it is a screening or diagnostic procedure and its likely productivity.
Digital or speculum examination is almost never indicated in a young woman
who has not yet had sexual intercourse. The productivity of ‘routine’
examination prior to prescribing the oral contraceptive pill for the first time is
extremely low.8 It is essential that teenagers are aware that prescription of the
oral contraceptive pill in not conditional on undergoing a pelvic examination.
There is no justification for taking cervical smears in teenagers. The British
Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology recommends that calls for
routine cervical cytology should be initiated after a woman’s 20th birthday
and before her 25th birthday.
Many young women approach the first vaginal examination with

preconceptions that must be dispelled prior to proceeding with the
examination. A study of a random sample of Danish teenagers17 found that,
among those who had not had a pelvic examination, 48% thought the
examination would be painful, 29% feared that the doctor would discover
abnormal anatomy, 67% felt they would be embarrassed by exposing their
genitals and 23% expected to be indisposed for the rest of the examination
day. Against this background, it is obvious that the first vaginal examination
must be used as an educational opportunity. Extra time must be devoted to an
explanation of the purpose and nature of the pelvic examination. Such
examinations are ideally carried out in a family planning clinic or adolescent
gynaecology clinic by individuals with experience of taking adolescents
through the first vaginal examination.
Following an explanation of the nature of vaginal examination, the first

vaginal examination should begin with inspection of the external genitalia and
reassurance about anatomical normality. The use of a mirror may be helpful.
A gentle one-finger examination is necessary to establish whether the hymen
is present or not. If speculum examination is being performed for the first
time, it may be useful to demonstrate the speculum to the patient prior to the
examination and to allow her to handle it. A small warmed, lubricated
speculum is used. Some women are able to insert the speculum themselves and
this technique has been found useful in forensic examination of women who
have been raped or sexually abused.
12
In a particularly apprehensive woman, the process of the first pelvic
examination may be spread out over a number of consultations, starting with
information, working through inspection of external genitalia, handling of
specula, to digital and speculum examination with the patient being given the
option to halt, defer or proceed with each step. In a symptomatic young
woman, especially presenting as an emergency, such an approach may not be
practical.
5.3 Patients who experience difficulty with pelvic examination

A woman experiencing difficulty with vaginal examination may present in a
number of ways. She may give a history suggestive of vaginismus or of rape,
sexual abuse or domestic violence, or of a previously traumatic vaginal
examination or psychologically or physically traumatic childbirth.
Alternatively, there may be no evidence of a problem until vaginal
examination is commenced. At examination she may exhibit great anxiety
with hyperventilation, tearfulness or a ‘frozen’ or unusually detached attitude.
Vaginal examination may be made difficult or impossible by inability to relax
or abduct the thighs.
The best way to proceed in these cases will vary but it may be to abandon a
‘difficult’ examination and invite the patient to dress and then discuss the
problem. A key factor is the nature of the presenting complaint. When the
gynaecological presentation has been a request for screening or for
management of a chronic problem such as infertility, investigation and
management of the difficulty with vaginal examination can take priority. If,
however, there is a significant or acute gynaecological complaint then its
investigation and management must proceed, compensating for the
information lacking because of failure to perform pelvic examination. The
presence of a significant or acute gynaecological problem may mandate the use
of pelvic (but not transvaginal) ultrasound or laparoscopy. A complaint of
abnormal vaginal bleeding in a woman in whom speculum examination is
impossible may require examination under anaesthesia. Following
investigation and management of the acute problem, appropriate steps should
be taken to address the underlying difficulty with vaginal examination.
Women who experience difficulty with vaginal examination should be given

every opportunity to facilitate disclosure of any underlying sexual or marital
difficulties or traumas. A calmly articulated statement such as ‘some women
who find internal examinations difficult feel this was caused by something that
happened to them in the past’ may open up a taboo subject for discussion.
None of these discussions should take place until the woman is fully dressed
and alone with the doctor. It must not be assumed that all women who
experience difficulty with pelvic examination have a history of sexual abuse,
domestic violence or sexual difficulties. It is important that they are not
badgered into admitting to a problem when none exists.
A multidisciplinary approach may be necessary, with referral to the

appropriate agencies for women traumatised by sexual abuse or domestic
violence and for those requiring psychosexual counselling. Rehabilitation of a
woman following a previously traumatic pelvic examination requires a
detailed discussion of the circumstances in an attempt to identify which
13
elements of the examination caused distress. Many patients who are unable to
have pelvic examination or who are unduly distressed by it can be helped to
cope with the process. A modified behaviour therapy approach can be used to
overcome anxiety. The woman may make one or more visits to the clinic when
no examination takes place. Later she may be able to undress but not to
proceed with examination. She should be given the opportunity to progress at
her own pace through a hierarchy of increasingly more intrusive components
of the pelvic examination. For instance, she may be encouraged to learn how
to insert her own finger into the vagina prior to allowing the doctor to
perform a digital examination. Handling the vaginal speculum and inserting it
herself may help to reduce anxiety. These cases are rare, time-consuming and
challenging for the professionals involved. Hospital-based gynaecology clinics
may not be the ideal setting for this process and it may be handled more
successfully in a general practice, family planning or community gynaecology
clinic or by doctors trained in psychosexual medicine. Key factors for success
in such cases are patience and continuity of care. The approach to the problem
must be individualised and flexible, with constant emphasis on the woman’s
own autonomy and control over the process.
5.4 Pelvic examination of women with learning difficulties or mental illness

The basic principles of respect, privacy, explanation and consent that apply to
the conduct of intimate examinations in general apply equally to the conduct
of intimate examinations in women who have temporary or permanent
learning disabilities or mental illness. A familiar individual such as a family
member or carer may sometimes be the best chaperone in this situation. Many
women in these groups are competent to consent to gynaecological
examination, especially if a common vocabulary can be established between
the doctor and patient. While these women may not be able to understand the
concepts of cervical screening, a doctor may include these patients in the
National Cervical Screening Programme if that is seen to be in the best
interests of the patient and she is able to consent to and tolerate speculum
examination. Where consent cannot be obtained due to severe disability or
illness or unconsciousness, it is good practice to consult with those close to the
patient, although legally nobody can give consent to treatment on behalf of
another adult.18 In the absence of informed consent for any of the procedures
listed as intimate examinations, the doctor must act in the patient’s best
interests, giving careful consideration to whether the proposed examination is
screening or diagnostic in intent. Resistance to pelvic examination should be
interpreted as refusal. If the procedure has to be abandoned, alternative
measures should be taken as necessary for the patient’s health.
5.5 Intimate examinations of the anaesthetised patient

Informed consent must be obtained for any intimate examinations that are
undertaken under anaesthesia. It is good practice for all personnel in the
operating theatre to treat the patient with the same gentleness and respect that
they would apply were she awake, avoiding personal comments and
protecting the patient’s modesty wherever possible. Women who are asked to
walk to the operating theatre for surgery should be provided with dressing
gowns. Women should be given the option of removing their own underwear
prior to anaesthesia. If a woman chooses to wear disposable underwear to
theatre, this should be removed by a female staff member.
14
5.6 Consent for the insertion of rectal suppositories under anaesthesia
Many medications, in particular analgesics, anti-emetics and anticonvulsants
are administered by rectal suppository. Many patients in the UK are unfamiliar
with this route of drug administration. A survey of 100 adult patients
attending hospital for daycase surgery showed that over 50% of them did not
wish to have medications administered rectally and almost all of them thought
that the matter should be discussed with them beforehand. Some patients
expressed very strong objections to rectal drug administration.19 In 1994, a
consultant anaesthetist administered a diclofenac suppository for post-
operative pain to a woman undergoing dental extraction under general
anaesthesia. He did not seek the patient’s consent preoperatively but told her
afterwards what had been done. Charged before the Professional Conduct
Committee of the General Medical Council with failure to obtain consent and
assault, the anaesthetist was found guilty of serious professional misconduct
and admonished.20 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents are commonly
administered to women undergoing gynaecological procedures with or
without general anaesthesia. Clearly, consent should be obtained from women
beforehand by the doctor responsible. Some anaesthetists offer the woman the
option of inserting the suppository herself shortly before the procedure. This
practice may be more acceptable to many women.
5.7 Examination of an adult victim of an alleged sexual offence

The examination of a woman following an alleged sexual offence should
usually be carried out by a doctor who has received specific training in the
appropriate conduct of such an examination and in the collection of forensic
evidence. However, circumstances may arise where a gynaecologist may be
called upon to fulfil this duty, particularly when the victim is brought to a
gynaecology department because of injury or where a request from the victim
for examination by a female doctor cannot otherwise be honoured. A detailed
account of the appropriate conduct of this examination is available elsewhere.21
Calls to such cases should be dealt with speedily, as undue delay may add to the
distress of the victim and lead to a loss of potentially valuable forensic evidence.
These patients should be handled sympathetically and should never be made to
feel that their complaint has been doubted. A specially trained woman police
officer will be made available to befriend and support the victim, chaperone
and assist the examining doctor and ensure appropriate procedures are
followed with respect to the preservation of the chain of evidence.
Consent for the examination and collection of forensic evidence must be

obtained by the doctor and must never be assumed. The process of and
reasons for the whole examination must be explained to the woman who
should be informed that there is no obligation to consent. She must be made
aware of the fact that the information from the examination will be passed on
to the police, the courts and thereby, possibly, to the defendant. Written
consent for examination is preferable under these circumstances.
Every effort should be made to establish a rapport with the woman before the
examination commences and to make the examination the first step in a
healing process rather than a continuation of the assault. Obviously, the
examining doctor should display exceptional gentleness. Equally important
15
are measures aimed at restoring the woman’s violated sense of autonomy. The
woman should be allowed to control the pace of the examination and given a
choice about examination positions. Most gynaecologists would dispute the
necessity for the examination in lithotomy position advised by Howitt and
Rogers.21 The woman should be assured of her right to stop the examination
at any time. Respect for her modesty is essential. At no time should she be
subjected to total nudity.
Following the completion of the examination, arrangements are made for any
medical treatment necessary. Postcoital contraception with verbal and written
information is offered if indicated and screening for sexually transmitted
disease organised. Referral to an appropriate agency for psychological
counselling and support is arranged.
6. Examinations in pregnancy
6.1 Vaginal examination in pregnancy
There is no scientific evidence to support the use of ‘routine’ vaginal
examination at the first antenatal visit. Clinical pelvimetry is not a valid means
of predicting outcome of labour.22 Speculum examination may be necessary if
cervical cytological screening or screening for bacterial vaginosis is indicated.
‘Routine’ vaginal examination later in pregnancy is practised widely in some
European countries. There is no evidence that it reduces the risk of preterm
labour or has any effect on pregnancy outcome.23 Three-quarters of the
women interviewed as part of the randomised trial of routine vaginal
examination in pregnancy rated the vaginal examinations as the most
unpleasant aspect of their pregnancy care. Digital or speculum examination
may be indicated in the evaluation of early pregnancy bleeding, the assessment
of possible cervical incompetence, the assessment of the cervix prior to
induction of labour or premature rupture of the membranes.
There is no scientific evidence to support the use of rectal examination as a

means of assessing the cervix in pregnancy or labour and, as most women find
it more distressing than vaginal examination, it cannot be recommended.24
All the courtesies, explanations and need for privacy described for
gynaecological examinations apply equally to the pregnant woman. As
pregnancy advances, digital or speculum examination may become
increasingly uncomfortable due to engagement of the head or the need to
reach a posterior cervix.
A small proportion of women will find vaginal examination extremely

difficult. This may be due to vaginismus relating to a previous traumatic
vaginal examination, to previous sexual abuse or for reasons that are not
known to either the woman or her doctor. In some cases, vaginal examination
can be successfully accomplished following discussion and an agreement that
it will be abandoned if it becomes intolerable. In cases where it remains
impossible, alternative strategies need to be adopted. If the examination is
required with a view to induction of labour the cogency of the indication for
delivery should be reviewed. If there is an incontrovertible indication for
16
delivery, it may be necessary to proceed with epidural analgesia prior to
performing vaginal examination, recognising that this may commit all
involved to early delivery. Women who manifest a significant difficulty with
vaginal examination during pregnancy should be invited to return after
delivery for review by a gynaecologist, family planning specialist or general
practitioner who has an interest in this problem.
6.2 Vaginal examination in hospital

A curtained-off bed in an antenatal ward or shared labour ward affords
insufficient privacy for vaginal examination, especially if other patients or their
partners are within earshot. A suitable examination room should be provided on
all antenatal wards and labour wards and, with the exception of emergencies,
women should be transferred to a private area for pelvic examination.
6.3 Manual removal of a retained placenta

Women who undergo manual removal of a retained placenta under epidural or
spinal anaesthesia occasionally report a sense of personal violation because of
the uniquely penetrative nature of the procedure. Adequate explanation,
gentleness and support from attending midwives during the procedure will
usually prevent this from being a traumatic procedure. However, fully
informed consent may not be possible in the presence of postpartum
haemorrhage. The obstetrician performing the procedure or a midwife familiar
with the woman and her labour should visit the woman prior to discharge
from hospital to ascertain that there is no residual confusion, anger or trauma.
6.4 Abdominal examination in pregnancy

Palpation of the pregnant abdomen and obstetric ultrasound examination
require exposure of the abdomen from the costal margin to the pubic hairline.
Patients should be invited to expose the abdomen without assistance from the
obstetrician. She should be covered with a sheet or blanket, up to the level of
the upper border of the pubic symphysis, to avoid unnecessary exposure.
As with the gynaecological examination, comments of a personal nature

should be avoided while the patient is undressed. The Working Party does not
consider it necessary for a chaperone to be present during abdominal
palpation or ultrasound examination of the pregnant abdomen.
7. Breast examination in obstetrics and gynaecology

7.1 Breast examination in gynaecology
Breast examination may be performed in the gynaecology or family planning
clinic, either as a screening procedure or as a diagnostic examination in a woman
with relevant symptoms. The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists regards breast examination, inspection and palpation as an
integral part of complete obstetric and gynaecological examinations. Among
obstetricians and gynaecologists in the UK, practice varies. Many women expect
breast examination to be included in a gynaecological examination. Obviously,
breast examination is essential when the woman reports the presence of a
relevant symptom. However, there is no evidence that mortality from breast
cancer can be reduced by any screening procedure in women below 50 years of
age.25 In women over 50 years, breast screening is effective but clinical
17
examination has been evaluated only in conjunction with mammography and
not alone. Clinical breast examination does not decrease breast cancer mortality
beyond the reduction achieved by mammography alone.26
7.2 Breast examination in pregnancy

There is no evidence to support routine breast examination in the
asymptomatic pregnant woman. Antenatal interventions for the management
of inverted and non-protractile nipples are of no value.27 Indications for breast
examination increase in the puerperium, where engorgement, mastitis and
breast abscesses become more prevalent.
Verbal consent should be obtained prior to breast examination. As with

vaginal examination, the purpose of the examination should be explained to
the patient. All the courtesies already described for pelvic examination apply.
A chaperone should be provided and personal comments should be avoided
during the examination.
8. Training undergraduate and postgraduate students

8.1 Standards
In order to ensure that women presenting with gynaecological problems or
requesting screening or contraception have access to the highest standard of
care, undergraduate medical students and postgraduate trainees in general
practice, family planning and obstetrics and gynaecology must be taught how
to perform pelvic examination. This training includes all aspects of good
practice already mentioned – explaining to the patient what is going to
happen, obtaining consent, performing the examination in a skilled and gentle
manner, detecting and interpreting abnormal findings and communicating
these findings to the woman afterwards. The first step towards maintaining
these standards is teaching by example. However, practical experience is also
essential. Teaching pelvic examination is obviously difficult. Women are
understandably reluctant to be examined by inexperienced individuals. The
embarrassment and inexpertise of many students conveys itself to the patients.
Any woman agreeing to be examined by a medical student has to have the
examination repeated by the supervising gynaecologist. Women are
particularly likely to refuse examination by male students.28
A survey of medical students in the UK and USA in 1984–85 revealed that

46% of medical students in the UK obtained their first experience of pelvic
examination by examining an anaesthetised patient, while 70% of students in
the USA performed their first pelvic examination on a volunteer.29 The use of
non-patient volunteers, either paid or unpaid, is commonplace in the USA,
Australia and the Netherlands. These women may be designated as
gynaecological teaching assistants and often work in teams of two, with one
woman instructing and the second woman undergoing the pelvic examination.
They are not highly paid and appear to be motivated by altruistic feminism.
Examination under anaesthesia may have some value as a means of instructing

medical students in the examination of the normal pelvis or as an opportunity
to examine women with a specific finding such as a pelvic mass or utero-
vaginal prolapse. It is, of course, of no value in teaching the combination of
18
communication and expert examination that characterise sensitive pelvic
examination. Written consent should be obtained from patients for a single
medical student to assist at the operation and perform an examination under
anaesthesia.
The Working Party recommends the following approach to the teaching of

pelvic examination to undergraduate medical students. The student is taught
how to don gloves and handle a vaginal speculum in a classroom setting and
practises this until fumbling has been eliminated. A certain amount of technical
expertise can also be obtained by using a mannequin in a clinical skills
laboratory. The student then observes the teaching gynaecologist performing a
pelvic examination in an awake patient in an outpatient clinic. Permission for
this should be sought by the consultant. Finally, the student performs pelvic
and speculum examination in an awake patient under supervision.
8.2 Consent
It is properly accepted that explicit consent of patients is required for the
presence of medical students:
● ‘sitting in’ during gynaecological and obstetric consultations
● in operating theatres as observers and assistants
● in performing clinical pelvic examinations of both conscious and
anaesthetised patients.
Currently, practice varies between medical schools with respect to how

consent is obtained and by whom. There may be some educational advantages
to medical students seeking and obtaining consent personally. Such a practice
may inculcate a lifelong respect for the autonomy of patients. However, an
insistence that consent is obtained by a doctor indicates recognition of the
importance of such consent and makes the doctor responsible for good
practice. In cases where pelvic examination under anaesthesia is regarded as
being of educational value, written consent must be obtained from the woman
before she comes to the operating theatre.
8.3 Assessment of undergraduates

Traditionally, all medical undergraduates were called upon to perform a
speculum examination as part of the final professional MB examination in
obstetrics and gynaecology. Although a small number of academic
departments adhere to this practice, it is rapidly disappearing, due partly to
the practical difficulties of mounting this exercise but mainly to an acceptance
that such assessments are better made during the course of clinical instruction.
The ordeal of the exercise, perhaps mostly for the candidate, certainly for the
patient and not least for the assessors could hardly be justified by the value of
such assessments. The presence of at least five individuals, i.e. the patient,
candidate, chaperone and at least two assessors, often seemed to turn such
‘intimate’ examinations into a public performance.
More telling, however, is the possibility that some candidates found such
assessments the most daunting prospect of their entire training and would
approach it with fear. Once over, there may have been a feeling of relief that
they would never have to face such an ordeal again. The negative attitudes that
19
this might sometimes engender towards a crucially important clinical
procedure were potentially counter-productive.
The need to produce doctors with a mature and confident attitude towards
this most sensitive area of clinical practice has already been highlighted. If
clinicians are embarrassed or lacking such confidence they may tend to shun
procedures that are essential to the optimal care of their patients or add to
their patients’ own anxiety. It is therefore a central objective of medical
education to instil in trainees appropriate attitudes and confidence in their
performance of these fundamental and crucial skills.
8.4 Postgraduate training and assessment

The ability to perform courteous and competent pelvic examinations is essential
for all training in obstetrics and gynaecology. In the past, summative assessment
of this skill has formed part of the Membership examination. It is essential that
the performance of vaginal examination is properly taught and assessed during
structured training and that appropriate technique, behaviour and expertise are
not assumed. The induction programme for new house officers should include a
session on appropriate conduct of gynaecological examinations. Trainees must
be observed performing pelvic examination and should be prepared to accept
constructive criticism of their technique and communication skills.
9. Still and video photography

9.1 Background
Still and video photography of operations, procedures, consultations and
physical findings are sometimes required for educational purposes, to illustrate
lectures and textbooks or to enable a patient to benefit from the opinion of
another doctor who is not present. The General Medical Council has issued
guidelines, which are reproduced in Appendix B.
The Working Party gave specific consideration to photography of the breasts

and genitalia and filming of women undergoing pelvic examinations or giving
birth. Good practice involves obtaining fully informed consent, protecting the
woman’s privacy and modesty and ensuring that the video and photographic
images have no sexual connotations. Lack of prior consent does not preclude
the recording of some unexpected finding during surgery in an anaesthetised
patient. In these cases, the situation should be explained to the patient
afterwards and the film should be erased if she withholds consent.
9.2 Consent
Seeking consent for medical photography, which should be in writing, requires
giving full and accurate information to the woman on the following points:
● the purpose of the photography
● where the images will be stored and for how long
● how these records will be protected
● how many copies will exist and where they will be stored
● who will see these photographs/video recordings
● whether her face will be shown in the photograph/video
● what steps have been taken to protect her anonymity.
20
The woman should be offered the opportunity to see the prints of any still
photographs and the final edited version of any film or television programme
complete with soundtrack before giving final consent to their use. She should
be made aware of her right to withdraw consent at any stage.
10. Communication, consent and choice

10.1 Communication
The Working Party noted that communication, consent and choice emerged as
recurrent themes in their discussions on good practice with respect to
gynaecological examinations. Communication about the purpose of a
proposed examination or investigation is essential to obtaining informed
consent. Where the patient is about to undergo an unfamiliar procedure or
investigation, verbal descriptions may need to be backed up by easily
understood written or diagrammatic material. During such examinations and
investigations, communication is a two-way process, with the examining
doctor offering reassurance and courtesy while remaining alert to both verbal
and non-verbal signs of distress from the patient. Following an examination
or investigation, the findings must be communicated to the patient. In view of
the reported incidence of young women who have anxieties or
misunderstandings about the normality of their anatomy, the first vaginal
examination should be used as an educational opportunity.
10.2 Consent
We have stressed the need for consent for all the procedures discussed. For
pelvic or speculum examination, verbal consent is sufficient, as this is backed
up by implied consent when the woman undresses to prepare for examination.
In order to give informed consent for more complex procedures and
investigations such as colposcopy, patients may require access to written,
verbal and diagrammatic material. Consideration should be given to
introducing written consent for some procedures, such as loop excision of the
transformation zone, where current practice requires verbal consent only.
Many women whose IQ is in the mild to moderately handicapped range are

competent to consent to gynaecological examination, especially if a common
vocabulary can be established between the doctor and patient. Where consent
cannot be obtained due to severe mental impairment or unconsciousness, it is
good practice to consult with those close to the patient, although, legally,
nobody can give consent to treatment on behalf of another adult.18 In the
absence of informed consent, the doctor must act in the patient’s best interests.
Resistance to pelvic examination should be interpreted as refusal.
Consent for examination and collection of forensic evidence from a woman

who is the victim of an alleged sexual assault must never be assumed. Written
consent for examination is preferable under these circumstances.
10.3 Choice
The Working Party identified a number of areas where it is possible to offer
choice to patients undergoing gynaecological examinations or investigations.
For many women, the availability of some choice about the conduct of the
examination may reduce their sense of vulnerability and so it is particularly
21
important to offer choice to women who experience difficulty with vaginal
examination and to those who have been assaulted. Women should be able to
choose between left-lateral dorsal, recumbent and semi-recumbent positions
for speculum and bimanual examination. Women who are finding
examination distressing should feel free to discontinue it.
11. Implications for practice, training and research

11.1 Implications for practice
Most of the recommendations for good practice made by the Working Party
describe what is already happening on a day-to-day basis in gynaecological
and obstetric units. Some of the suggested modifications to practice will add a
minute or two to a consultation or call for a gynaecologist to think a little
harder before performing an examination. Improvements in privacy in clinics
and on hospital wards may have some financial implications. The Working
Party is concerned lest the requirement for chaperones should prevent any
woman having a gynaecological examination where it is indicated. In
hospitals, most male doctors are already provided with a chaperone. The
recommendation that a chaperone should be available regardless of the
doctor’s gender has some obvious implications with respect to staffing and
costs. Family planning and community gynaecology clinics that are run on a
low budget or charitable basis are often staffed by female doctors who work
without chaperones. Unpaid chaperones such as friends or relatives may be
asked to act as chaperones in these settings, although we have established that
a professional chaperone is preferable.
11.2 Implications for training

There are inherent tensions between the need to train tomorrow’s doctors to
be sensitive, skilled and competent at performing pelvic examination and the
rights of women to refuse to be examined by medical students. Progress in this
area is unlikely without a collaborative approach involving the Association of
Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Patients Association and the
RCOG Consumers’ Forum.
11.3 Implications for research

The Working Party noted the poor sensitivity and specificity of bimanual
pelvic examination. A randomised trial of conventional bimanual examination
versus transvaginal ultrasound in combination with conventional bimanual
examination would inform the future conduct of gynaecological outpatient
clinics. The Working Party also identified the need for further research into
consumer views of all aspects of intimate examinations.
22
References
1. Penn MA, Bourguet CC. Patients’ attitudes regarding chaperones during physical
examinations. J Fam Pract 1992;35:639–43.
2. Phillips S, Friedman SB, Seidenberg M, Heald FP. Teenagers’ preferences regarding the
presence of family members, peers, and chaperones during examination of genitalia.
Pediatrics 1981;68:665–9.
3. Buchta RM. Use of chaperones during pelvic examinations of female adolescents. Results of
a survey. Am J Dis Child 1987;141:666–7.
4. Sanders JM Jr, DuRant RH, Chastain DO. Pediatricians’ use of chaperones when performing
gynecologic examinations on adolescent females. J Adolesc Health 1989;10:110–14.
5. Speelman A, Savage J, Verburgh M. Use of chaperones by general practitioners. BMJ
1993;307:986–7.
6. Kirby A. A breakdown in communications. Independent on Sunday, Real Life, 30th March
1997; p.5.
7. Grover SR, Quinn MA. Is there any value in bimanual pelvic examination as a screening test?
Med J Aust 1995;162:408–10.
8. Huber DH, Huber SC. Screening oral contraceptive candidates and inconsequential pelvic
examinations. Stud Fam Plann 1975;6:49–51.
9. Luesley D. Standards and Quality in Colposcopy. National Health Service Cervical Screening
Programme Publication No. 2. London: NHS; 1996. p.15.
10. Williams JG, Park LI, Kline J. Reducing distress associated with pelvic examinations: a
stimulus control intervention. Women Health 1992;18:41–53.
11. Adams CH, Smith NJ, Wilbur DC, Grady KE. The relationship of obesity to the frequency
of pelvic examinations: do physician and patient attitudes make a difference? Women Health
1993;20:45–57.
12. Amias AG. Pelvic examination: a survey of British practice. Br J Obstet Gynaecol
1987;94:975–8.
13. Seymore C, DuRant RH, Jay MS, Freeman D, Somez L, Sharp C, et al. Influence of position
during examination, and sex of examiner on patient anxiety during pelvic examination. J
Pediatr 1986;108:312–17.
14. Campion MJ, Brown JR, McCance DJ, Atia W, Edwards R, Cuzick J, et al. Psychosexual
trauma of an abnormal cervical smear. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1988;95:175–81.
15. Timor-Tritsch IE, Bar-Yam Y, Elgali S, Rottem S. The technique of transvaginal sonography
with the use of a 65-MHz probe. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1988;158:1019–24.
16. College of Radiographers. Guidance for obstetric and gynaecology ultrasound departments
1995. Luton: White Crescent Press; 1995. p.4.
17. Larsen SB, Kragstrup J. Experiences of the first pelvic examination in a random sample of
Danish teenagers. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1995;74:137–41.
18. Sommerville A. Consent and refusal. In: Medical Ethics Today: Its Practice and Philosophy.
London: British Medical Association; 1993. p.1–35.
19. Vyvyan HA, Hanafiah Z. Patients’ attitudes to rectal drug administration. Anaesthesia
1995;50:983–4.
20. Mitchell J. A fundamental problem of consent. BMJ 1995;310:43–8.
21. Howitt J, Rogers D. Adult sexual offences and related matters. In: McLay WDS, editor.
Clinical Forensic Medicine. London: Greenwich Medical Media; 1996. p.193–218.
22. Hofmeyer J. Suspected cephalopelvic disproportion. In: Effective Care in Pregnancy and
Childbirth. Chalmers I, Enkin M, Keirse MJNC, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press;
1989. p.495.
23. Kaufman K. Weekly vaginal examinations. Cochrane Database Syst Rev [updated 24
February 1995].
24. Murphy K, Grieg V, Garcia J, Grant A. Maternal considerations in the use of pelvic
examinations in labour. Midwifery 1986;2:93–7.
25. Glasziou PP, Woodward AJ, Mahon CM. Mammographic screening trails for women aged
under 50: a quality assessment and meta-analysis. Med J Aust 1995;162:625–9.
26. Kerlikowske K, Grady D, Rubin SM, Sandrock C, Ernster VL. Efficacy of screening
mammography. A meta-analysis. JAMA 1995;273:149–54.
23
27. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Effective Procedures in Maternity Care
Suitable for Audit. London: RCOG Press; 1997.
28. Bibby J, Boyd N, Redman CW, Luesley DM. Consent for vaginal examination by students
on anaesthetised patients [letter]. Lancet 1988;ii:1150.
29. Cohen DL, Wakeford R, Kessel RW, McCullough LB. Teaching vaginal examination [letter].
Lancet 1988;ii:1375.
24
APPENDIX A
Intimate examinations
The GMC receives complaints each year from patients who feel that doctors
have behaved inappropriately during intimate examination. Intimate
examination, that is examinations of the breasts, genitalia or rectum, can be
stressful and embarrassing for patients. When conducting intimate
examinations you should:
● Explain to the patient why an intimate examination is necessary and give

the patient an opportunity to ask questions.
● Explain what the examination will involve, in a way the patient can
understand, so that the patient has a clear idea of what to expect,
including any potential pain or discomfort (paragraph 13 of our booklet
Seeking Patients’ Consent gives further guidance on presenting
information to patients).
● Obtain the patient’s permission before the examination and be prepared

to discontinue the examination if the patient asks you to. You should
record that permission has been obtained.
● Keep discussion relevant and avoid unnecessary personal comments.
● Offer a chaperone or invite the patient (in advance if possible) to have a

relative or friend present. If the patient does not want a chaperone, you
should record that the offer was made and declined. If a chaperone is
present, you should record that fact and make a note of the chaperone’s
identity. If for justifiable practical reasons you cannot offer a chaperone, you
should explain to the patient and, if possible, offer to delay the examination
to a later date. You should record the discussion and its outcome.
● Give the patient privacy to undress and dress and use drapes to maintain
the patient’s dignity. Do not assist the patient in removing clothing unless
you have clarified with them that your assistance is required.
Anaesthetised patients
You must obtain consent prior to anaesthetisation, usually in writing, for the
intimate examination of anaesthetised patients. If you are supervising students
you should ensure that valid consent has been obtained before they carry out
any intimate examination under anaesthesia.
General Medical Council Standards Committee

December 2001
[www.gmc-uk.org/standards/intimate.htm]
25
APPENDIX B
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL

Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients
Scope of this guidance
This guidance covers all types of audio and visual recordings of patients,
carried out for any purpose. ‘Recording’ in this guidance means originals or
copies of video and audio recordings, photographs and other visual images of
patients. A ‘recording’ does not include pathology slides containing human
tissue (as opposed to an image of such a slide), or CCTV recordings of public
areas in hospitals and surgeries, which are the subject of separate guidance
from the Information Commissioner.1
The guidance sets out some basic principles in part 1 and then reviews the
following topics:
● When permission is not required to make and use a recording (part 2).
● Obtaining permission to make and consent to use recordings as part of
the assessment or treatment of patients (part 3A).
● Obtaining permission to make and consent to use recordings for use
within a medical setting, for example for training or research, including
the use of existing collections (part 3B).
● Specific issues about recordings made for public consumption, such as
filming for television (part 3C).
Part 1: Basic principles
1. When making recordings you must take particular care to respect patients’
autonomy and privacy since individuals may be identifiable, to those who
know them, from minor details that you may overlook. The following
general principles apply to most recordings although there are some
exceptions, which are explained later in this guidance.
● Seek permission to make the recording and get consent for any use
or disclosure.
● Give patients adequate information about the purpose of the
recording when seeking their permission.
● Ensure that patients are under no pressure to give their permission
for the recording to be made.
● Stop the recording if the patient asks you to, or if it is having an
adverse effect on the consultation or treatment.
● Do not participate in any recording made against a patient’s wishes.
● Ensure that the recording does not compromise patients’ privacy
and dignity.
1
CCTV Code of Practice, available from the Office of the Information Commissioner,
26 01625 545 745, or online at: www.dataprotection.gov.uk
● Do not use recordings for purposes outside the scope of the original
consent for use, without obtaining further consent.
● Make appropriate secure arrangements for storage of recordings.
2. Where children who lack the understanding to give their permission are to
be recorded, you must get to record from a parent or guardian. Children
under 16 who have the capacity and understanding to give permission for
a recording may do so. You should make a note of the factors taken into
account in assessing the child’s capacity.
3. When a mental disability or mental or physical illness prevents patients

giving their permission, you must get agreement to recording from a close
relative or carer. In Scotland, you must seek agreement from any person,
appointed under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, having
an interest in the welfare of the patient.
4. People agreeing to recordings on behalf of others must be given the same

rights and information as patients acting on their own behalf.
Part 2: Recordings for which permission is not required
5. You do not need to seek separate permission to make the recordings listed
below. Nor do you need consent to use them for any purpose, provided
that, before use, the recordings are effectively anonymised by the removal
of any identifying marks (writing in the margins of an x-ray, for example):
● images taken from pathology slides
● X-rays
● laparoscopic images
● images of internal organs
● ultrasound images.
6. Such recordings are unlikely to raise issues about autonomy and will not
identify the patient. It may nonetheless be appropriate to explain to the
patient, as part of the process of obtaining consent to the treatment or
assessment procedure, that a recording will be made.
Part 3: Recordings for which permission is required
3A. Recordings made as part of the assessment or treatment of patients
7. You must seek permission to make any recording for the assessment or
treatment of patients, other than those recordings listed in Part 2 above.
You should explain that a recording will be made, and why. You need only
give an oral explanation. You should record in the medical notes that the
patient has given permission.
8. When conducting a hospital post-mortem examination, you must seek

permission from a close relative or carer before making any recording
from which the deceased may be identifiable. If the death is the subject of
27
a medico-legal investigation, the proposed recording should be discussed
with the coroner or Procurator Fiscal (in Scotland) who has authorised
the investigation.
9. Recordings made for clinical purposes form part of the medical record. As
such, when considering disclosure of a recording, you should treat the
recording in the same way as any other part of the medical record. In
general, that means that you should seek consent for the disclosure.
However, if you are sure that the patient will not be identifiable from the
content of the recording, and the recording is effectively anonymised by
the removal of identifying marks, you may use the recording for teaching
purposes without consent.
10. When making a judgement about whether the patient may be identifiable,
you should bear in mind that apparently insignificant features may still be
capable of identifying the patient to others. Since it is difficult to be
absolutely certain that a patient will not be identifiable from a recording,
no recording other than those mentioned in paragraph 5 above should be
published or used in any form to which the public may have access,
without the consent of the patient. The GMC booklet Confidentiality:
Protecting and Providing Information sets out detailed guidance on
disclosure of personal information.
11. In exceptional circumstances, you may judge that it is in the patient’s best
interests to make an identifiable recording of a patient without first
seeking permission, and to disclose the recording to others without their
knowledge. Before proceeding you should discuss the recording with an
experienced colleague. You must be prepared to justify your decision to
the patient and, if necessary, to others. If the recording will involve covert
video surveillance of a patient, it is likely to be within the scope of the
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and you should seek advice
before proceeding. A decision to use covert video surveillance, for
example in cases of suspected induced illness in children, will normally be
based on discussions amongst all the agencies involved, and the
surveillance itself should be undertaken by the police.
3B. Recordings made for the training or assessment of doctors, audit, research
or medico-legal reasons
12. You must obtain permission to make and consent to use any recording
made for reasons other than the patient’s treatment or assessment. The
only exceptions to this are outlined Part 2.
13. Before the recording, you must ensure that patients:

a. Understand the purpose of the recording, who will be allowed to
see it – including names if they are known – the circumstances in
which it will be shown, whether copies will be made, the
arrangements for storage and how long the recording will be kept.
28
b. Understand that withholding permission for the recording to be
made, or withdrawing permission during the recording, will not
affect the quality of care they receive.
c. Are given time to read explanatory material and to consider the

implications of giving their written permission. Forms and
explanatory material should not imply that permission is expected.
They should be written in language that is easily understood. If
necessary, translations should be provided.
14. After the recording, you must ensure that:

a. Patients are asked if they want to vary or withdraw their consent to
the use of the recording.
b. Recordings are used only for the purpose for which patients have
given consent.
c. Patients are given the chance, if they wish, to see the recording in
the form in which it will be shown.
d. Recordings are given the same level of protection as medical
records against improper disclosure.
e. If a patient withdraws or fails to confirm consent for the use of the
recording, the recording is not used and is erased as soon as possible
Existing collections used for teaching purposes
15. Some doctors may have existing collections of recordings which they use
solely for teaching purposes within a medical setting. Both this guidance,
and the previous edition published in 1997, require permission to be
obtained to make any recording which is not part of the patient’s
assessment or treatment, regardless of whether the patient may be
identifiable. However, recordings may have been made for teaching
purposes prior to 1997 without it being recorded whether or not
permission had been obtained. Such collections may have a significant
value for teaching purposes.
16. You may continue to use recordings from which the patient is not
identifiable, and which were made for teaching purposes prior to 1997.
You should, however, seek to replace such recordings at the earliest
opportunity with similar recordings for which permission can be shown to
have been obtained. You may also continue to use effectively anonymised
recordings that were originally made for treatment or assessment
purposes, in line with paragraph 9 above. However, you should not use
any recording, from which a patient may be identifiable, for teaching
purposes if you cannot demonstrate that consent has been obtained for
that use.
Recordings of emergency treatment and of unconscious patients
17. If recordings are to be used only for training or clinical audit, you may
record patients who need emergency treatment but cannot give their
permission for the recording to be made. You do not need a relative’s
29
agreement before starting the recording but must stop it if a relative
objects. Before these recordings are used, however, the patient’s consent
must be obtained or, if the patient has died, a relative must agree to it.
18. When no recording has been planned, but a record of an unexpected

development would make a valuable educational tool, you may record
patients undergoing treatment. If you cannot get permission at the time
because, for example, the patient is anaesthetised, you must ensure the
patient is later told about the recording and gives consent to its use.
19. With recordings made in these circumstances, you must follow patients’
instructions about erasure or storage. The only exception is if you think
you need to disclose the recording because of the advice in the GMC
booklet Confidentiality: Protecting and Providing Information, for
example to protect the patient or others from risk of death or serious harm.
20. Hospital policy on recording the treatment of unconscious patients should

be adequately publicised, for example through notices in waiting areas.
Telephone calls
21. Recordings of telephone conversations fall into a category of their own.

Anyone using a telephone is subject to licence conditions under the
Telecommunications Act 1984. They require you to make every
reasonable effort to inform callers that their call may be recorded, and
maintain a record of the means by which callers have been informed.
22. Given the sensitive nature of calls to medical advice lines or similar
services, you should pay particular attention to ensuring that callers are
aware that their call may be recorded. You must not make intentionally
secret recordings of calls from particular patients.
3C. Recordings for use in public media (television, radio, internet, print)
23. In general, the considerations set out in 3B above also apply to recordings
for use in public media. There are, however, some issues that are specific
to recordings to which the public will have access.
24. You must not make recordings for use in publicly accessible media
without written permission, whether or not you consider the patient to be
identifiable. ‘Publicly accessible media’ includes medical journals. The
only exceptions to this are outlined in Part 2.
25. Before making any arrangements for external individuals or organisations

to film patients in a health care setting, you must inform your employing
or contracting body and the organisation in which the patients are being
treated if this is different. You should obtain appropriate permission for
the recording. Within the NHS, a contract with the filmmaker will
normally be required.
26. If you are involved in any way with recording patients for television or
other public media, you should satisfy yourself that patients’ permission
30
has been properly obtained, even if you are not responsible for obtaining
that permission or do not have control of the recording process. Both the
BBC and the Independent Television Commission issue guidance for
television programme makers that requires permission to be obtained in a
way that is consistent with this guidance.
27. In addition, you should make sure that patients understand that, once they
have agreed to the recording, they may not be able to withhold their
consent for its subsequent use. If patients wish to restrict the use of
material, they should get agreement in writing from the owners of the
recording, before recording begins.
28. You should be particularly vigilant in recordings of those who are unable
to give permission themselves. You should consider whether patients’
interests and well-being, and in particular their privacy and dignity, are
likely to be compromised by the recording, and whether sufficient account
has been taken of these issues by the programme makers. If you believe
that the recording is unduly intrusive or damaging to patients’ interests,
you should raise the issue with the programme makers. If you remain
concerned, you should do your best to stop the recording, for example by
halting a consultation, and withdraw your co-operation.
Note
This revised Guidance was issued by the General Medical Council in May 2002. It is available
electronically on the GMC’s website at www.gmc-uk.org/standards/AUD_VID.HTM.
31

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What is the purpose of this document?

What is the purpose of this document?

What guidelines does it provide regarding intimate examinations?

What guidelines does it provide regarding intimate examinations?

Gynaecological

Registered Charity No. 213280

Published by the RCOG Press

© Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2002

Further copies of this report can be obtained from:

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7772 6200

The Working Party was reconvened in 2001 at the request of Council to

Working party membership

Professor Andrew Calder MD FRCP FRCOG, Centre for Reproductive

Ms Linda Lamont BA, former Director of the Patients’ Association,

Dr Fay Hutchinson MBE Hon FFFP, Brook Advisory Centres

Mr Peter Milton MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist,

Miss Margaret Thom FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist,

Some patients may, however, experience considerable distress, anger and

Obstetricians and gynaecologists may either be directly responsible for good

Phillips et al.2 assessed the attitudes of teenagers of both sexes to chaperones

The US literature indicates that male paediatricians and specialists in

The advantages of chaperones are self-evident. Chaperones are the ultimate

There are theoretical disadvantages of a chaperone being present during a

After careful consideration, the Working Party recommends that a chaperone

3. Pelvic examination in the gynaecological patient

In the course of a gynaecological consultation, it is usually best if the history

Pelvic examination should not be considered an automatic and inevitable part

In symptomatic women, appropriate digital or speculum examination can be

Patients should be provided with private, warm and comfortable changing

Some patients will welcome a choice between donning a gown or continuing

The woman should be given every opportunity to undress herself with

Every effort must be made to ensure that gynaecological examinations take

Terms of endearment such as ‘pet’, ‘love’ or ‘dear’ should be avoided during

Obviously, inspection of the clitoris is indicated in some cases of vulval cancer,

3.2 Position for pelvic examination

Whatever position is used, the patient must be made comfortable and

3.3 Vaginal specula

Specula appear to some patients to be large, cumbersome and potentially painful

3.4 Performing a vaginal speculum examination

Taking cervical smears is a separate subject and one of some complexity.

Gynaecologists should be trained to perform bimanual examination in both

It is important that abdominal palpation as part of the bimanual examination

In addition to these features, it should be possible for the examiner to form an

At the conclusion of speculum or bimanual examination, the patient should be

3.6 Rectal examination

4. Specific procedures and investigations in gynaecology

4.2 Hysteroscopy and outpatient endometrial biopsy

4.3 Urodynamic investigations

4.4 Endovaginal ultrasound examination

● Informed consent must be sought by the radiographer who is to perform

4.5 Anorectal ultrasound and anorectal manometry

5. Intimate examinations in special circumstances

Every effort should be made to provide translations of all written material on

Understanding of and sensitivity to such cultural considerations should be

5.2 The first vaginal examination

Many young women approach the first vaginal examination with

Following an explanation of the nature of vaginal examination, the first

5.3 Patients who experience difficulty with pelvic examination