The touch screening during pregnancy aims to assess pregnancy progress and check for a risk of preterm birth, when done after week 34 of pregnancy, or check for cervical dilation. uterus during labor.
The exam is performed by placing two fingers of the obstetrician in the vaginal canal to assess the cervix, which may cause discomfort in some women, although other women report no pain. or discomfort during the procedure.
- Although it is used for the purpose of evaluating the cervix during labor.
- Some gynecologists and obstetricians indicate that the examination is not necessary and that the changes can be identified in another way.
The touch screening during pregnancy is done with the pregnant woman lying on her back with her legs separated and her knees bent. This test should be performed by a gynecologist and/or obstetrician who inserts two fingers, usually index and middle fingers, into the vaginal canal to touch the lower part of the cervix.
The tactile examination is always performed with sterile gloves so that there is no risk of infection and does not cause pain. Some pregnant women claim that the test hurts, but it should only cause mild discomfort due to the pressure of the fingers on the cervix.
The tactile exam during pregnancy can cause some bleeding, which is normal and should not be of concern to the pregnant woman. However, if the woman notices significant blood loss after a tactile exam, she should see her doctor immediately to make sure everything is okay.
Although its performance is discussed, a tactile examination is performed during pregnancy to identify changes in the cervix that can lead to complications, mainly related to preterm birth, in this way, through the test, the doctor can check whether the cervix is open or closed, shortened or elongated, thick or thin and if it is in the correct position For example.
At the end of pregnancy, a tactile exam is usually done to check the dilation and thickness of the cervix, the descent and position of the fetal head and the rupture of the bag. However, it can also be done early in pregnancy to assist in the diagnosis of pregnancy or to evaluate the length of the pregnant woman’s cervix.
Touch screening alone does not detect pregnancy at an early stage and other methods for pregnancy diagnosis, such as palpation, ultrasound, and Beta-HCG blood testing, need to be used. , in addition to the doctor’s assessment of the signs and symptoms presented by the woman that may indicate pregnancy. Learn how to identify pregnancy symptoms.
Tactile examination during pregnancy is contraindicated when the pregnant woman has significant blood loss in the intimate area.