Background: Receiving a per vaginal examination (PV) can be a negative experience for the woman. There is no published study on this topic concerning a PV during labor and women also experience labor pain. Thus, it is important to study about experiences of women receiving a vaginal examination during labor.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed. Questions regarding the experiences of receiving the first

vaginal examination during labor were asked of 81 laboring primiparas in the labor unit in Hatyai Hospital in 2007. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis.

Results: The results showed that receiving PV during labor made women experience pain (n = 41, 50.6%) at a "moderate" level, followed by a "mild" pain (n = 29, 35.8 %). The majority of women experienced "little" discomfort (n = 43, 53.1 %), and no irritation (n = 72, 88.9 %). Some experienced a "little" embarrassment (n = 33, 40.7%). Half experienced "little" fear of PV (n = 41, 50.6%) and some did not fear of PV (n = 29, 35.8%). More than half did not fear of infection from PV (n = 53, 65.4%).

Conclusions: Receiving vaginal examination during labor caused majority of the women feelings of pain and discomfort at moderate level. Majority of women did not experience of irritate and embarrassment. Half of the women feared of PV at little level and more than half did not fear of infection from receiving PV.