Study Finds Gap in Pelvic Exam Practices

Study suggests gap in pelvic exam practices and identifies barriers in assessing women with urinary symptoms.

By
Andrea Surnit
April 29, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To assess the differences in pelvic examination practices between male and female physicians specifically for female patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Approach:

Key Findings:

Only 8.7% of male physicians routinely performed pelvic examinations compared to 85.7% of female physicians, highlighting a significant disparity.
Digital rectal examination rates were similar between male and female physicians for male patients (89.1% vs 92.9%).
Barriers identified included limited access to chaperones, time constraints, and concerns about patient discomfort, which may affect examination practices.

Interpretation:

The study highlights significant disparities in pelvic examination practices between male and female physicians, influenced by various barriers and fears that could impact patient care.

Limitations:

Low response rate may affect the reliability of findings and limit the generalizability of the results.
Self-reported practices could introduce bias, potentially skewing the data.
Sample limited to Australia and New Zealand may restrict the applicability of findings to other regions.

Conclusion:

Addressing barriers to pelvic examinations is crucial for optimal care of female patients with LUTS, as these barriers may directly impact patient outcomes. Focused training and increased expectations may improve examination practices.