Vaginal examination. Techniques for conducting

Pregnancy is the most vivid and long-awaited event in the life of every woman. At this time I want to enjoy every minute spent with a future child. New sensations of presence in the abdomen of someone, the first stirring of the baby - it's all not forgotten, but remembered for life. But waiting for a small miracle can cloud the mummy's poor state of health, therefore, in order to prevent bad consequences, it is necessary to conduct a systematic examination of the pregnant woman, vaginal examination, which will help monitor the child's condition and development.

Regardless of the causes of malaise during pregnancy, there is a special procedure for examining women who enter the hospital with complaints of bleeding, abdominal pain, general malaise and other nuances. In this article we will study in detail all the stages of conducting surveys and find out what they are for.

Palpation of the uterus

Palpation is necessary to determine the status of the uterus, for example, to find out whether it is in a tonus. Such a vaginal examination is simply indispensable in determining the height of the standing and the shape of the uterine fundus. The patient is placed on his back, the doctor is facing the woman and begins the examination. To the process of palpation was less painful, a woman needs to relax.

The doctor must wear latex gloves for hygiene. Gently pushing open the labia, the doctor inserts two fingers into the vagina. The first lifts up high, the fourth and fifth presses against the palm, thereby placing emphasis on the crotch. By this action the specialist receives information about:

• The condition of the internal muscles of the pelvis;
• The walls of the vagina;
• Its arches;
• Length, shape of the vagina;
• Closing / opening of the external throat.

In what cases it is necessary to inspect

Vaginal examination should be carried out if it is found:

• bleeding;
• Fetal arrest at birth;
• Vagueness of fetal presentation;
• Danger of umbilical cord prolapse during the passage of water;
• Long time of expulsion of the fetus;
• The need for an operation;
• eclampsia;
• Painful contractions;
• Signs of premature detachment;
• Intermittent fetal heartbeat.

What the doctor does before the study

• Prepares all necessary equipment and materials for the procedure.
• If you have a cytological investigation, the specialist will first tell you what it is and what results can be obtained from it.
• Before the procedure, the doctor may ask to empty the bladder.
• Next, you will have to undress completely below the belt and be placed on a gynecological chair.

How is the examination conducted

The technique of vaginal research has its own stages. The midwife puts on a sterile mask on her face, treats her hands with a special antibacterial solution and puts on latex gloves. After that, she begins preparing for an examination of the patient's genitals. To do this, wash the inner thighs and the genitals with a 2% solution of lysol and dry the entire treated surface with paper napkins.

Next, the midwife lubricates the iodine tincture (5%) with the female's genitals, then removes the gloves, launches the hands with an alcohol solution and, when they are completely dry, she lubricates the right arm with iodine. Further the gynecologist with the left hand spreads the labia, and two fingers of the right inserts deep inside the vagina, without touching the skin of the perineum. The procedure, to put it mildly, is not pleasant, but it is very important, because thanks to it you can get valuable information about the state of health of the mother and child.

What gives such an inspection

Vaginal examination of the cervix allows the doctor to determine:

• The internal state of the vagina (there are no septa, dilated veins, scars and tumors);
• Is the size of both halves of the pelvis the same, are there any protuberances on the walls or other changes that will prevent the fetus from leaving?
• The internal condition of the uterus, namely its size, the presence of ruptures and scars, the detection of a cancerous tumor, the degree of neck opening;
• The condition of the bladder;
• The condition of the fetal head (size, bone density, mobility).

It would be desirable to notice, that such vaginal examination is made exclusively only in the end of pregnancy. With severe bleeding from such an examination should be discarded, since it can increase the loss of blood and lead to the need for surgical intervention. In the absence of certain indications for the urgent resolution of childbirth, it is better to observe bed rest, to perform prescribed treatment aimed at reducing bleeding.

How is a two-handed study of the uterus

Bimanual vaginal examination goes a little differently than the previous one. After palpation of the inner part of the uterus, the doctor passes to the two-handed method of investigation. With his left hand (fingers) he slowly presses the abdominal part towards the small pelvis towards the right arm, which is inside the vagina. Touching the fingers of both hands, the doctor palpates the inside of the uterus and determines its location, shape, and size and consistency. After this, he begins to directly examine the tubes of the uterus and ovaries. For this, the doctor of the fingers of both hands moves from one corner of the uterus to the lateral parts of the pelvis. To identify the capacity and configuration of the pelvis, the specialist examines the inside of the bones, side walls, and symphysis.

Ultrasound of the pregnant woman

Today, ultrasound is the safest and most effective method for researching a baby. This procedure is carried out several times, but it all depends on the course of pregnancy. This vaginal examination allows you to determine not only the sex of the child, but also its physical development (whether there are malformations of the brain, skull or anterior abdominal wall).

There are some indicators on which an unscheduled ultrasound can be prescribed:

• Pregnancy appeared with IVF;
• The date of the last menstruation is unknown;
• The patient had spotting;
• There was a spontaneous miscarriage;
• There were painful sensations in the lower abdomen;
• Once there was an ectopic pregnancy.

Examination of the cervix in the mirrors

The obstetrician introduces the closed mirror shutters into the vagina, holding the handle slightly to the side. When the tool is half-entered, the specialist will turn it so that the handle rolls over. Then he gently opens the doors of his mirror to examine the cervix. Be ready for unpleasant sensations, as this can not be avoided. You can ease your "pains" a bit, if you relax and let the doctor do everything quickly.

The expert will carefully move the mirror to examine the entire condition of the vagina. When examining the cervix, the doctor pays attention to its shape (it should be round), color and smoothness. Small cysts of yellow color, hyperemia near the external throat and clear discharge are considered the norm, but if you have found any violations, then treatment will be required here.

What gives us inspection through mirrors

Such a vaginal examination of a pregnant woman can reveal many pathologies, for example:

• Symptoms of vaginitis (when a woman from the genitals leave cheesy discharge, which is also called thrush);
• Ulcers;
• Erosion;
• Genital herpes;
• Bleeding of the uterus;
• Cervicitis;
• cervical cancer.

Agree that such a vaginal examination is necessary, since with the help of it it is possible to identify the disease from the initial stage and eliminate it without any special health problems. Among other things, you can look at your future baby and even find out his gender.

Let's sum up the results

So, if you suddenly found yourself spotting during pregnancy or felt pain in the abdomen, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor for medical help. He will conduct all the necessary research and identify the problem that you are concerned about.

Independently to try to help yourself it is not necessary, as it can lead to unpleasant consequences and even loss of the child. Even if your grandmothers give you good advice, do not listen to anyone, but go straight to the hospital. After all, only an experienced doctor will be able to diagnose. Always listen to his advice, and then everything will be fine with you and your child.