OBJECTIVES Although the ubiquitous Graves speculum (open-sided or closed) is versatile and familiar, its shortest length is often too long for comfortable manipulation of the newer, pliable, flexible hysteroscopes. The Greenberg speculum is a modification of a Graves speculum with an open side to allow for the removal of instruments while they are still in the vagina. Whereas a standard mediums...

This brief study investigates the extent and origin of the apparent dependency of air delivery speculum size on the effectiveness of air used as a stimulus in the bi-thermal caloric test, using water as a reference stimulus. Eleven normal volunteers served as subjects. Six caloric stimulus delivery conditions included air with two speculum sizes, speculum only and with a rubber tube extension, ...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether modifying a plastic speculum with a flexible sheath would improve visualization and decrease pain during vaginal examination. METHODS We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of 136 women undergoing vaginal speculum examination at an outpatient obstetrics and gynecology faculty practice. Patients underwent examination via a standardized technique w...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the efficacy of lubricating gel compared with using water for pain during vaginal speculum insertion. METHODS This study was a randomized trial of nonpregnant women aged 18-50 years who required a vaginal speculum examination between February and July 2011. Patients blinded to study assignment underwent vaginal speculum examination using a standardized technique with a m...

Relevance to family physicians Vaginal speculum examination is routinely performed by most family physicians, most commonly to obtain a Pap smear or to test for sexually transmitted infections, mainly Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The most common reason cited by women for not having routine speculum examination is pain during the examination.1 Whether or not lubrication will ...

OBJECTIVE To measure the difference in intraocular pressure with use of two different types of eye speculums. METHODS The study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, from November 2011 to May 2012. Through probability convenience sampling, hundred patients were selected and divided into two equal groups. Complete history and ocular examination was...

 A targeted posterior fornix sample can be obtained.  A fourth sample – the endocervical sample – can be collected. The exact forensic value of this sample is not yet known.  The vagina and cervix can be checked for injuries. This is particularly important when there is bleeding or ongoing pain but can be positive even in the absence of symptoms. Even when the baseline suspicion is low, a no...

STUDY DESIGN Data collected from a postutilization questionnaire were used to evaluate the usability of the OfficeSPEC disposable vaginal speculum, specifically the effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability, in clinical, hospital, and austere environments. RESULTS Usability data analysis showed the OfficeSPEC speculum had an effectiveness rating of 4.6/5, efficiency rating of 4.5/5, and ac...