Smear Test - should the speculum be sterile?

beks

tandraig wrote: »

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

I think Teenie D was meaning she/he was going to post the same as you AND Glamazon and that RichardWs was a ridiculous question!

tandraig

jeez - you get warmed up speculums - I dont! they are unwrapped and whipped up! bit of a schock yes.
hmmmmmmmm will take thermos of hot water next time and ask for them to be dipped in. wonder how that would be recieved by practice nurse.

beks

tandraig wrote: »

jeez - you get warmed up speculums - I dont! they are unwrapped and whipped up! bit of a schock yes.
hmmmmmmmm will take thermos of hot water next time and ask for them to be dipped in. wonder how that would be recieved by practice nurse.

:eek::eek::eek:
Definitely do it!!! Can't believe they don't! Owch! I would definitely be asking!!!

beks

Buttonmoons wrote: »

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.

hmmmm!! Hate to say it but that can and does happen! :eek:

Frith

I never thought about this.... Certainly I have never seen a speculum that was pre-wrapped (not that I have had the misfortune to see many!)

HOWEVER.... when I went for my last smear test, the Dr was waving a speculum around and talking about smears then looked at me (still fully clothed) and said, "Oh, I'm going to need THE OTHER speculum", disappeared and came back with another one!

I've always wondered what she meant by that! Do I look as though I'll need an industrial strength model or something?!

BeenieCat

Glamazon wrote: »

how long did they need to be in autoclave before they were sterilised?

I dunno, my memory sucks But i think it was about 30-45 mins

I feel left out, i've never had a smear

Teenie_D

tandraig wrote: »

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

oops sorry tandraig , I should have quoted richardw would have caused less confusion.

beks

ACEY wrote: »

I never thought about this.... Certainly I have never seen a speculum that was pre-wrapped (not that I have had the misfortune to see many!)

HOWEVER.... when I went for my last smear test, the Dr was waving a speculum around and talking about smears then looked at me (still fully clothed) and said, "Oh, I'm going to need THE OTHER speculum", disappeared and came back with another one!

I've always wondered what she meant by that! Do I look as though I'll need an industrial strength model or something?!

LOL!!! For some people (very small, tall, virgins, overweight) the medium size doesn't work. One size does not fit all if you know what I mean ... there is virgin, small, medium, extra long, large, extra large and just brought in some for obese patients. That is the benefit of single use, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The norm is medium but does not always work (and sometimes we only find that out once we have inserted it!).

Frith

Oh! Well, I'm 5 foot 7 and average weight. But have had 2 children, if that makes any difference. Perhaps she was brandishing an extra small one (or an extra large!)

BeenieCat

So if you're obese you have a tunnel? :eek: I thought it'd be the other way around with the padding :eek: