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The touch exam in pregnancy aims to assess the evolution of pregnancy and to check if there is a risk of premature birth, when performed from the 34th week of pregnancy, or to check the dilation of the cervix during labor.
The examination is done by placing two fingers of the obstetrician in the vaginal canal to assess the cervix, which can cause discomfort in some women, although other women report that they do not feel pain or discomfort during the procedure.
Despite being used for the purpose of assessing the cervix during labor, some gynecologists and obstetricians indicate that the exam is not necessary, and the changes can be identified in another way.
How is the touch exam in pregnancy
The touch exam in pregnancy is done with the pregnant woman lying on her back, with her legs apart and her knees bent. This examination must be performed by a gynecologist and / or obstetrician who inserts two fingers, usually the index and middle fingers, into the vaginal canal in order to touch the bottom of the cervix.
The touch exam is always done with sterile gloves so that there is no risk of infection and does not cause pain. Some pregnant women claim that the test hurts, however it should only cause slight discomfort, due to the pressure of the fingers on the cervix.
Does the touch exam bleed?
The touch exam in pregnancy can cause a little bleeding, which is normal and should not worry the pregnant woman. However, if the woman sees a large blood loss after a touch exam, she should see her doctor immediately to make sure everything is fine.
What is it for
Although its performance is discussed, the touch exam in pregnancy is done with the aim of identifying changes in the cervix that can lead to complications, mainly related to premature birth. Thus, through the examination the doctor can check whether the cervix is open or closed, shortened or elongated, thick or thin and whether it is in the correct position, for example.
At the end of pregnancy, the touch exam is usually performed to check for dilation and thickness of the cervix, descent and position of the fetus head and rupture of the pouch. However, it can also be done in early pregnancy to assist in the diagnosis of pregnancy or to assess the length of the pregnant woman's cervix.
The touch exam, by itself, does not detect pregnancy at an early stage, and it is necessary to use other methods for the diagnosis of pregnancy, such as palpation, ultrasound and Beta-HCG blood test, in addition to the evaluation by the doctor of the signs and symptoms presented by the women that may be indicative of pregnancy. Learn how to identify pregnancy symptoms.
The touch exam in pregnancy is contraindicated when the pregnant woman has a large loss of blood through the intimate region.