Smear Test - should the speculum be sterile?

Teenie_D

I was just away to post the same thing Glamazon and tandraig-what a ridiculous question :rolleyes:

Caroline73_2

Can I ask the OP why she didn't question at the time with the nurse?

dontone

Glamazon wrote: »

when it is being put into your foof and is being tested for something.

Things are supposed to be sterile to ensure all the bugs are gone - would you want something put down your winky that had been down other men's winkies and just 'washed'.

How do you know how well it has been washed? Was the water hot enough to get rid of all the bugs?

Also, my knives and forks aren't being put in random people's mouths

First of all I have to say that the line I put in bold made me laugh. I've never heard the word "foof" before.:rotfl:
Second of all the orignial comment that prompted that response sound like a typical "man" comment. They have no understanding of these things at all do they? Bit like my DH who thought that periods lasted a day :eek: I reckon a lot of us ladies would take that as wishful thinking. :rolleyes:

tandraig

Teenie_D wrote: »

I was just away to post the same thing Glamazon and tandraig-what a ridiculous question :rolleyes:

er - which question was ridiculous?
I didnt ask any questions!

Kaz2904

tandraig wrote: »

er - which question was ridiculous?
I didnt ask any questions!

No she means what you responded to! The question about why washing in warm water wasn't ok.

The person who's wondering why she didn't query it at the time, probably because lying with your minnie hanging out kind of clouds your judgement!

BeenieCat

Well, it's not the same thing i know but when i worked in a dental surgery the metal instruments were sterilised in the autoclave and put into the drawer, not wrapped

Glamazon

BeenieCat wrote: »

Well, it's not the same thing i know but when i worked in a dental surgery the metal instruments were sterilised in the autoclave and put into the drawer, not wrapped

how long did they need to be in autoclave before they were sterilised?
I guees this could be one way that the surgery does things

foof - a word we used on pregnancy thread to try & be discreet

fernliebee

I was thinking, maybe the nurse had just unwrapped it before you came in, so she could be really quick for your comfort. It might not be ideal, but I'm sure that she wouldn't have gone on to use the same speculum for the rest of the patients. I cannot believe she would!

beks

There are 2 types of speculums still in use - single use sterile (available in plastic and metal) and metal multi-use which have to be sterilised between patients. I am sure if you checked in the drawer there would have been more in there. Once sterilised are placed in a drawer or somewhere 'clean'. These days mulitused specs are being phased out and bringing in single use only but some, smaller surgeries do still use them. As a nurse I do smears all the time with single use but when I have had smears myself, they have used specs taken out the drawer (sterilised previously). All speculums are warmed up before use, or it would be a bit of a shock. It does not have to be sterile to be inserted. Tampons etc are not sterile but 'clean'. Obviously sterilised between patients though!!!
As others say, check with the surgery if you are concered (difficult now it is the weekend) but I honestly wouldnt worry!! Next time though, check with the nurse first - we dont mind being questionned!!!

Buttonmoons

When I went for my smear 3 weeks ago she used a metal speculum thingy, I actually can't remember where she took it from, but I'm sure it was clean. I just got my results back today and it's fine.

She took it out of a drawer, just remembered. Is it just me or when they crank it open, it sounds rusty? I had visions of things being caught and pinched.