This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Family Practice following peer review. The version of record Pauline Williams, Peter Murchie, Maggie E Cruickshank, Christine M Bond, Christopher D Burton, The use, quality and effectiveness of pelvic examination in primary care for the detection of gynaecological cancer: a systematic review, Family Practice, Volume 36, Issue 4, August 2019, Pages 378–386, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmy092.