The "virgin speculum"

[RoyalCorgi]

An article in the Guardian says that the phrase "virgin speculum" is putting women off having cervical smears. Is this true? I have never heard the phrase and wondered if anyone else had.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/19/virgin-speculum-medicine-outrageous-myths-women-cervical-screenings-british

When I worked in gynae clinics decades ago, when speculae were metal and sterilized on site, there were 3 sizes. Small. medium, large. All sizes were put on the trolley and would be selected as appropriate. Nothing was ever shouted or discussed.
There was a small supply of what were known as virginal speculae kept in the cupboard for use if required.
The only time I remember fetching one was when we had an elderly nun in the clinic with post menopausal bleeding. There was no need for anyone to call out or mention it. Even as a 19 year old student nurse I had the gumption to go and fetch it and discreetly put it on the trolley.
Yes, the term is outdated and it would be better to rename the instrument as a slim speculum or something.

I’ve been having smears for 25 years without issue, but the one I had last week, the nurse had to try all four of the different speculae available before she could find my cervix. There wasn’t a special one somewhere, she just tried the smallest one second, but no mention of it being ‘virginal’ or any other nonsense. Women on these boards have never mentioned this issue, in the many threads I’ve read about reluctance to have smears - objections are usually based on pain, and a preference for HPV testing instead.

I’m glad I had a physical examination and not just an HPV test because the nurse could see how fragile my perimenopausal vulval skin has become, and she’s got me a prescription and a doctor’s appointment next week. None of that would have happened if I hadn’t had a physical exam. Those are the sorts of benefits we should be pointing out to women who are reluctant.

Interesting. I strongly suspect this is a non-issue and I wonder where the author got the idea that it was so significant that it was putting women off having smears.

I would hope that, as endofthelinefinallysays, if this so-called "virginal" speculum is ever used, it would be done discreetly without anyone shouting out the name.

I also think that a lot of women avoid smear tests out of pain or for fear of being triggered having previously experienced sexual assault or other trauma. I wonder why people like Halpern Prince decide focus on something like the "virgin speculum" rather than these more important issues.

Also, and I know that this will not be popular on here as it is the "Feminism board where this is not allowed to be mentioned", but many, many women have had bad experiences, including sexual assault. In many parts of the UK, especially in Scotland, women cannot ask for a female HCP to carry out intimate procedures. I am guessing that puts off many more women than the type of speculum used.

But of course the Guardian would never publish that.

Did seem a bit of an odd article. And she talks about 'calling for the virgin speculum'. I've never had there be someone else there handing over instruments. The most there might be is a chaperone. Also I imagine someone who's never had sex finds all the rummaging around down there even more uncomfortable, on average. It's not a term I think is ideal, but it's not far up the list of gynecology problems.

More worrying was the linked article about women being denied trans vaginal ultrasounds because 'then they wouldn't be virgins' www.vice.com/en/article/v7v8j8/women-virgins-uk-ultrasounds

I've never heard of this! Certainly has never put me off. What wasn't encouraging was having a gaggle of male junior doctors invited to witness my smear at a moments notice with only fleeting attempt to gain consent before they all traipsed in. Horrible. It was mid 90s, I'll never forget it.

Nope I've never heard this term. Even if they said I'm just going to fetch the virginal speculum I'm not sure it would bother me as nobody else would have heard it.

Also I think most women before they go for their first smear are just nervous about the unknown and wouldn't even be aware there are different sizes of speculums. In fact I didn't really realise that and I've had several smears.

I've never heard the term. Also am struggling with the scenario where a nurse will 'call' for the 'virgin speculum' when carrying out a smear test, thereby shaming or frightening the patient. In my 20+ years of having smears it's just been me and the practice nurse in the room with all the necessary equipment close to hand. Isn't that the typical NHS experience in the U.K.? Agree it's an outdated term, but it seems an odd issue to be basing a campaign around.

I’ve heard this term. I went for an exam and the doctor used a speculum. She then pulled it out and said “that’s the virgin one I’ll get another” and used a different size. This would have been 2005/6 or so. I was only a tiny bit offended as I felt she was implying I had a massive vagina.

I was very surprised by the article. What puts me off is unsympathetic doctors/nurses and the fact that it hurts. And the article was at pains to tell me it doesn't hurt, at least for most women, with the implication that it shouldn't for me. Personally I'm much more hurt by pain than words.

Never heard of it. Also never had a nurse call out for anything as the room usually has everything required in the cupboards. I think a nurse had look for more blue roll once, but there were several rolls in the cupboard in the room.

Tbf, I never knew there were different sized speculums either. The nurse has never mentioned they needed a different one, just got on with it while chatting about the weather and if I was comfortable. Maybe I've got very lucky over 30 plus years.

Agree with never heard of it - and I always ask for the smallest one. I don't have a clue what size they use and I don't care!

Even though I’ve had a child vaginally, I still need the tiny speculum. I just warn the nurse. One once commented it was unusual in a women who’d had children (not in an offensive way, she’s lovely and we were chatting) but no-one has ever called it the ‘virgin’ speculum to me.

@lordloveadog Im the same It feels like razor blades up there Last time i had it done was nine years ago and the minimization of womens pain is likely to make women like me dig our heels in even more I didnt realise mammograms were painful as well till i read a thread on here. Why are womens procedures so painful

I had an examination when living in the US where the nurse sent the student to find a paediatric speculum to use on me. I thought that was odd as a 21 year old, but not offensive. Next smear was done in the U.K. and as far as I know was just done with a standard speculum.

On the plus side, this gives me something to discuss with the nurse at my next smear to help distract me!

I work in a GP surgery and just the other day I noted that what used to be called “virgin” speculums are now called “extra small”. Must be quite a recent change.

Interesting thread. Never heard of a virgin speculum. But a pelvic examination cannot remove virginity any more than a tampon can, whatever regressive communities think. Rape does not remove it either, according to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, i.e. loss of virginity must be by consent.

The very smallest size is called a Virgin speculum but perhaps has been renamed now. Why can't they just be called by their size in mm I wonder

Why not just number them - sizes 1-4 (or however many). Then you avoid both the ‘virgin’ thing and also any potential offence at the other end of the size scale. It’s not exactly rocket science, is it.

I’ve never had a ‘fetch the virgin speculum’ moment, but I did have a female gp get rather snappy with me when I found the speculum she was using too painful to tolerate, and subsequently a whole pack of student doctors having a good old look when I was referred on to a gynaecologist. So that was fun. My smears have always been fine though, a bit uncomfortable but the nurses that do them are always very skilled and also very kind.

I am having a coil fitted next month and that I am not looking forward to at all. Hey ho.

Of course you’re allowed to request a female hcp… you’re just not entitled to demand to inspect their health records or genitals if they don’t conform to your idea of what a woman is supposed to look like.

You can refuse to be seen by any hcp if you feel uncomfortable with them. You don’t even have to give a reason.

We don’t need or want to ‘inspect their genitals’ @SomePosters . Some women just don’t want males inspecting their genitals and should absolutely be allowed to specify that.

Female is the operative word. Not a transwoman (i.e. a man), who should not be doing a smear etc for a woman who has asked for a female. That woman may have very good reasons for not wanting to be seen by a man: sexual trauma, male violence or simply cultural reasons. Most nurses are women - and I mean natal women (that I should have to say this is appalling!!) - anyway and most of us can spot a transwoman quite easily (as opposed to a gender non-conforming woman).

Evolution has ensured that women can recognise a man from a distance and within about 2 seconds, even if he is wearing a dress, wig, lipstick and high heels. No medical history or genital inspection is ever necessary.
My point is that even those of us who are comfortable with a regular male hcp would be likely to be disturbed by a man in the attire described above. Pretending otherwise is disrespectful to women.

A woman was denied treatment in a Brighton hospital because she wrote and explained that she was a survivor of sexual assault and wanted a female person to do her mammogram,. Her letter was published and used as an example of bigotry.
A woman patient was raped by another patient on a NHS ward and was gaslighted for 2 years because it was a "female ward". Until the CCTV was discovered.
A woman was denied her operation in a private hospital because she asked for female staff to care for her wherever possible.
All these things are recorded on the other feminist board because people on this one don't want to hear about them.
So yes, you can ask. But you might well be denied care and publicly humiliated as a result.
Any embarrassment over a speculum is a minor issue IMO compared to everything else that is going on.