Vaginal Exams / Internal Exams - How Do You Feel About Them?

[PumpkinZulu]

I find them pretty unnecessary generally, especially during pregnancy. There's a time and a place but generally they're just another unnecessary intervention. I was never offered any during either of my pregnancies which I'm grateful for, because I really don't think the state of a woman's cervix before she's actually in labour is very important. During DD1's labour, I was asked if they could check me upon transferring to hospital. I was pretty scared and also didn't have the willpower at that stage to say no, but I also wanted to know things were happening. I was 7cm.

For DD2 I requested it. I was feeling a lot of pressure and pushing urges, but the pain in my back was overriding those feelings and I couldn't bear down properly. First I checked and felt my waters bulging, then asked my midwife to check. I was 9cm (although she didn't tell me at the time).

[Traveller]

I ticked "I am uncomfortable with them and try and keep them to a minimum/refuse some" but in fact I am quite comfortable with them if they are medically necessary. I have always had a trusted, named midwife so if she suggested one I would agree. I wouldn't want them done repeatedly in labour but this was not how my midwives operated so I didn't have to refuse, although I would have been comfortable refusing iyswim.

[Sagres]

There wasn't really an option that fit me. I would say in theory I would keep them to a minimum, but I've never been is a position where I've been asked for many (I think 2 first time and 1 or 2 second time.....well those are the ones in addition to the induction actions which involved a VE ITMS) so that is a hypothetical position. I don't looooove them but I like to know what is going on because information and knowledge is an important part of decision making. First time I would have benefitted from more VEs and knowing the state of play earlier as I would have made some different - more appropriate - decisions. Second time they weren't necessary but not an issue either, we all knew how things were tracking from other signs. I didn't have one after 5cms and there was no mistaking what was going on after that point!

[~me~]

Couldn't find an option to really fit me. I would have as many as my GP suggested if it was Pap Smear related.
Had none at all during pregnancy and maybe 1 during labour for each labour to check dialiation. Actually I tell a lie, I had a stretch and sweep for my third, it was the most uncomfortable feeling ever, I was desperate to try anything to go into labour naturally. It did nothing. I am fortunate that my OB's didn't think them necessary during pregnancy.

I need to know a valid (in my mind) reason for having one. My most recent was to check on my Mirena, so that and Pap smear is really the only valid reason for me.

[Pholi]

I would like an option in between the first two - I don't mind them, but I wouldn't have them as often as the doctor suggests, if they were suggesting it as often as some people have said they have. For pap smears, etc, I have no problem with them. In pregnancy, I think they are mostly unnecessary, and thankfully I had an obs who agreed, and I had none. During labour I had maybe 6 internals to check dilation, but I was happy to have them because I did have a very long, slow labour (30 hours) and it helped me to make decisions about getting the epidural and when I had epidural top-ups and how big they were. However, if the doctor/mw had been suggesting them every hour, I would have been refusing 2 out of 3 of them.