What are the Treatments for Abnormal results of Pelvic Exam?

Answer 1

It depends on what precisely the abnormality is. I assume you are talking about the female pelvis? People often don't realise that things can go wrong with the male pelvis too. So lets see what abnormal results I can think of straight away.

If the abnormality is a fracture, then orthopaedic treatments will be given depending on the type and the situation of the fractures. This may involve bedrest in traction, or surgically putting steel pins, plates or nails in.

If the abnormality is due to other trauma, such as a ruptured bladder, then appropriate intervention by a surgeon will be indicated.

If the abnormality is due to disease such as tuberculosis of the pelvis, then a period of bedrest in a specialist hospital with strong antibiotics is called for.

Sometimes the abnormality could be due to a congenital defect - one the patient was born with. This can include abnormalities of the bones which may interfere with natural childbirth. Or it may be that the woman has a double or bicornuate uterus or an incompetent cervix. Or a hole known as a fistula between various pelvic organs. These may or may not require surgical intervention, but of course it depends on how serious the abnormality is. Patients with congenital defects in the pelvic region might need medical help to achieve a pregnancy.

Then there are the normal discharges a healthy woman has and may fear is a horrible disease.

Then there are infections, some of which may be sexually transmitted, which require proper diagnosis and antibiotic treatment. In these days of genital piercings, if the piercings go septic, the patient should get antibiotic treatment urgently.

Then there are the "conditions" that are not infections or congenital abnormalities but which can cause great inconvenience and discomfort to the woman, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovaries or ovarian cysts. I should mention that appendicitis is often diagnosed by a pelvic exam.

Pelvic inflammatory disease, infection of the tubes (salpingitis), ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, septic abortion, complications of pregnancy such as the embryo growing outside of the uterus or abruption of placenta, abnormally heavy bleeding, fibroids, missed abortion, normal pregnancy and all sorts of other gynae conditions need appropriate investigation and treatment by a gynaecologist.

If a cancer is found, treatment will depend on what type of cancer it is and how far it has advanced. Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy or palliative care.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Each time I think I've mentioned everything, more points pop into my mind. There are many abnormalities that could show up on a pelvic examination, and what treatment will be decided upon will depend on underlying problem that is found upon examination.