How often do you have a recto-vaginal exam?

I have one every 6 Month during my gynecology checkups, it is no big deal, yes it is not the most comfortable thing but it takes 30 seconds and that´´s it

I've never had one performed at an actual visit, but I'm looking forward to trying it in a play exam.

Is there a consensus today on whether these are still performed? I’ve heard varying things, some that they start over 35 or 40 but was curious what the actual practice is.

It really seems to depend on the practitioner. Some always do it, some never do it unless some complaint or symptom calls for it. Some only perform one on women over a certain age, while some perform one on virtually every woman.

I am just guessing here, but I would think the odds of a woman getting a rectovaginal exam are probably higher if a routine pelvic exam is performed by a gynecologist versus a general practitioner. For example a family doctor performing an annual physical.

My wife has had a rectovaginal exam as a part of almost every routine pelvic exam since her late 20’s. (She is 43 now). For context she has never been pregnant. She has had pelvic exams performed by a few different practitioners over that timeframe. It has been explained to her that her uterus is retroverted, and a rectovaginal exam helps the examiner assess the posterior side of her uterus.

Some of my wife’s friends have never had a rectovaginal exam, and some have had a few. (They do talk about such embarrassing topics after a few glasses of wine). Only two of her friends have one with almost every routine pelvic exam. It all seems so arbitrary, like there is no consensus as to whether it should be routinely done or not as a part of a standard pelvic exam.