Vag exams with sterile gloves or regular gloves?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

What are the ACOG or AWHONN guidelines on vag exams and sterile gloves? Is there ever a time when it is appropriate to do an exam with the regular non sterile exam gloves?

Specializes in LDRP.

sterile for ruptured patients, or r/o rupture. definitely not ruptured? then non-sterile. they use non-sterile in OB office for checks. or, in emergency, non sterile b/c its quicker.

the lady parts is so not sterile, so barring rupture, shouldnt be a prob with non sterile, i'd think

Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

I have never seen, nor had, a HCP use sterile gloves on a routine lady partsl exam unless I was pregnant.

I didn't see sterile gloves being used for lady partsl exams at the hospital at all unless the woman was pregnant.

Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

My daughter is 39 wks pregnant and was seen by her midwife. I was there and noticed that she pulled a nonsterile glove from a box and checked her. I asked her why and she said if she wasn't ruptured, nonsterile is okay. I can see both sides, BUT! I did't feel comfortable with her using nonsterile. My daughter has had 2 infections and bled twice when checked (friable) in past 2 months.

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