PEDIATRICS Vol. 81 No. 5 May 1988, pp. 745
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Relaxation and Examination for Sexual Abuse

MARCIA HERMAN-GIDDENS PA, MPH1 and THOMAS E. FROTHINGHAM MD1

1 Duke University Medical Center, Box 3937, Durham, NC 27710

In Reply.—

We appreciate the comments by Drs Hansen and Palmer with regard to the patient's state of relaxation during the genital examination. Although we did not use the word "relaxation" in our discussion, we thought we covered this issue by stressing the cooperation of the child, pointing out that one cannot do an adequate examination on a resisting child and that several seconds are required with a cooperative patient, after the labia are spread and being held properly, for the hymenal or vaginal tissues to optimally separate.