Types of Vaginal Speculums Used on Medical Examinations

Types of Vaginal Speculums Used on Medical Examinations

Speculum Held by HandMade from either plastic or metal, speculum is normally used in holding open walls of orifices, such as the vagina or the nasal cavity for medical examination.

Doctors can also use speculums in minor surgical procedures to access the inner vaginal canal or to remove foreign objects from the nasal cavity. With that Said, there are various types of speculums available today. Below are the types to help you understand these tools and their uses.

Pederson Speculum

This is a vaginal speculum mostly used for pelvic examinations. It is specifically for use on people who have narrow vaginal canals, which result from scar tissues or traumatic injuries. Medical practitioners can also use them on women who have never had sexual intercourse as well as senior women.

The use of the speculum alleviates the discomfort of a pelvic exam and also makes it easy for the doctor to see the internal structures of the vagina. This speculum is available in both metal and plastic materials.

Graves Speculum

This type is available in various sizes ranging from small, medium and large. The bills in this speculum are a little wider than those of a Pederson speculum.

It is advisable to use them on women who have an active sex life as their vaginal canals are often wider, hence necessitating better support during cervix and pelvic examination.

Paediatric Speculum

This type is the shortest among the three. It is best used on patients who have never had sexual intercourse as they have extremely small vaginal canals. Hardly ever used during vaginal examinations, however, it can be traumatic for both the parent and the child.

Pelvic examinations are mostly done when a woman is pregnant when the doctor suspects an infection when there is pelvic or lower back pain or during the yearly physical exams.

If you have a for a pelvic examination scheduled, ensure that you do not douche, have sex and use a tampon, vaginal cream or birth control jelly, foam or cream for at least 48 hours.

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