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READ MORE: Women Can Skip Unnecessary Pelvic Exams, Says Doctor's Organization

The influential medical group concluded that the risks posed by pelvic exams outweigh the benefits for healthy women. They contend that the exam leads to false positives, resulting in physical and psychological harm.

READ MORE: Skip The Stirrups: Doctors Rethink Yearly Pelvic Exams

The guidelines, published in the Annals Of Internal Medicine, goes on to state that the exam “rarely detects important disease and does not reduce mortality” and, in fact, "exposes women to unnecessary and avoidable harms with no benefit." The recommendation does not apply to women who are pregnant or visiting the doctor with medical complaints.

However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists still recommends the procedure for all women over the age of 21.

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