A medical exam can be a great time to learn more about your health, but some people might be nervous about getting a proper exam at home, a new study suggests.
Read MoreThe American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a study that suggested that the risk of getting a false-negative test is twice as high for people who don’t get an MRI before going to a gynecological clinic.
“If you don’t have a good, consistent, accurate test, it could potentially be a huge health risk,” said Dr. Jessica Cramer, an OB/GYN at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to a news release from the Academy.
“In the worst case scenario, it may result in a false positive and be an unnecessary procedure,” she added.
The study also found that about 20 percent of people in the United States do not get an exam within the first week of their diagnosis.
That could be a significant concern for people living in areas that have high rates of poverty, lack of insurance coverage, or lack of access to a doctor.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has recommended that doctors get a physical exam as part of their routine care.