Smear Test - should the speculum be sterile?

richardw

Not sure how much cleaner sterilising is.

richardw

Glamazon wrote: »

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

Hotels', restaurants', schools' knives and forks are not sterilised but cleaned.

Glamazon

richardw wrote: »

Hotels', restaurants', schools' knives and forks are not sterilised but cleaned.

Yea I kind of thought that after I posted

md63

Eh...yes...this is going to be a great thread for late teens early twenties to be looking at.

ailuro2

I have always had a metal one, as far as I can remember - one time I remember she had to make sure it was cooled as it had just been sterilised.
They do use plain hot water to warm it a bit (I always think it's because a freezing one would make their 'customers' tense up!)

As for putting younger ladies off getting a smear - well, we/they all managed to overcome the embarassment of someone seeing our 'bits' the first time we had sex, so it's not such a big step to look at the roof and let someone you'll probably never see again take a little sample from your downstairs.
It's good practice for if you've any intention (or not!:p) of falling pregnant - everyone looks at your bits then....sometimes about 6 people at a time will be looking right at it....:rotfl:


(we call it a 'nanny' in our house - sort of a combo of Ali G's punani and the crude word for it - or the second F word as my DD calls it!!

beks

richardw wrote: »

Only suggested clean, so not that stupid.

When they warm it in warm water, what do they dry it on?

BTW 'Please be nice to moneysavers'

hmmmm. I don't think I was referring to you in my post at all Richardw. I apologise if you think I wasn't being 'nice' but can't see how you formed that opinion. I was responding to the OP. MSE has only ever been great for me so why wouldnt I be 'nice', sorry but not sure I quite understand your point

Bitsy_Beans

hermanmunster wrote: »

some are disposable - some are sterile and packed.

the ones which are sterile and packed are either packed individually or in a set which is wrapped up.

trust me - nw one used for each person :rolleyes:

Usually warmed up with warm tap water (no different from being in a bath after all...) - much nicer warmed.....

Except at one smear she warmed it up a little too much :eek:
I nearly jumped off the table.....

BeenieCat

geminilady wrote: »

Sorry if i'm butting in but just wondered why you have never had one? they are essential for finding early signs of cervical cancer.Just had a thought maybe you are male:o

My age i think. I am 24, and when i was 19 i was expecting to be called in the next year at 20 but they changed it to 25

But i had a baby when 17 so i always assumed i should still be getting them, the nurses who fitted my coils etc always were surprised that i'd never had one, but usually just said "oh you'll get a letter when it's time".

So i dunno

spendingmad

Hi All

Thanks for all your replys - not overly worried about it but glad it has raised lots of discussion!

I also hope it does not put others off having the test done. It was my first time yesterday and was not an unpleasant experience. Not half as bad as expected. (I have had two kids so having people look at my foof is not a new thing!)

The original question was only raised after I started thinking about when I left the surgery. Hence why I didn't question the nurse about it whilst there. It is generally a good practice so i am fairly confident procedures where followed but will ring the practice manager on Monday to question.

Thanks again. x

belfastgirl23

I would think it was sterilised and then dipped in warm water for your comfort if the nurse went on to dip another sterilised piece of equipment in the water then it wouldn't matter would it? If the water was even still warm by then of course.