Fil-Am Vets Rondalla
Is a disposable speculum without cover used at the time of examination questionable?
It was sitting on the desk for an hour until the doc. came in to do a pap smear. Looked shiny and clean. It is a good facility and the doc did dispose off the instrument once it was used -indicates a proper safety procedure. But using an instrument in the above condition is scarry. Need your opinion.
Should I deal with the doctor about my concern or do something else? Please consider your answers before posting. . Can a pap smear results reflect existing yeast infection? .
Thanks for your help
Is it a concern if followed by a yeast infection and a UTI .
Or should the whole thing is nothing to worry since the above infections could come due to other factors like the mentioned area is not sterile etc.
I wish the bag was opened just before the exam. It would not cause such an anxiety.
I wish the bag with disposable specs was opened just before the exam. It would not cause such an anxiety.
I wouldn’t worry about the speculum, but you could ask the gynecologist about it the next time you’re there. Not in an accusatory way, but mention that you were uncomfortable with it. If you aren’t comfortable with what they say, you should find a new doctor.
Pap smears test for abnormal cervical cells. To test for a yeast infection, the gynecologist will use cotton swabs to take other samples and test. They probably won’t test for infections unless you specifically complain about something though.
3 Responses to “Is a disposable speculum without cover used at the time of examination questionable?”
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October 9th, 2009
Posted by admin in disposable instrument | 3 Comments »
I wouldn’t worry about the speculum, but you could ask the gynecologist about it the next time you’re there. Not in an accusatory way, but mention that you were uncomfortable with it. If you aren’t comfortable with what they say, you should find a new doctor.
Pap smears test for abnormal cervical cells. To test for a yeast infection, the gynecologist will use cotton swabs to take other samples and test. They probably won’t test for infections unless you specifically complain about something though.
References :
Most doctor’s offices set the procedure up beforehand so that they can get it done faster, and therefore less embarrassing for the patient. Your vagina is not sterile by any means, so there is no need for the speculum to be sterile, just clean. Some doctors reuse speculums (metal ones) that have been sterilized to kill the germs from the previous patient.
Yes, a Pap smear can come back with a comment that states yeast is present.
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I’ve been a nurse for 13 years, assisted in tons of Pap smears.
Anna:
There are two kinds of speculums in use: stainless steel and PVC plastic. The plastic are use one and discard into infectious waste. The stainless steel ones are usually set aside in a container and at some point in the day (likely the end of the day) autoclaved in a pressure cooker that literally bakes the tools and totally kills every living bacteria known. Usually the specs are left in either the plastic post autoclave sterile bag or in the manufacturer’s sterile poly bag: but it’s not unheard of for an exam room to be set up before a patient arrives. Sounds like the later was the case. No the specs need not be kept steile as there is no such thing as a sterile exam room. But we do feel better during an exam to SEE the instrument being OPENED just before use. Again, while the vagina is not a sterile enviroment: we do like to feel no new micro organisms are possibly being introduced by a spec that has been sitting out. If you ever have a question about proceedure: Ask your doc because I can assure you that despite all the exam protocols we like to believe are being followed: often staff in the rush to get the next patient ready to be examined… take short cuts. On your question about taking a Pap smear: best to schedule an exam when your yeast infection is DONE. Also women should not get a Pap done during their menses. The Pap smear is put on a slide and the cells that were the swabbed off the insides of the vagina/cervix are looked at. Yes, along with these cells would be the yeast buds and other matter in the vagina at the time the swab was done. So best to have a swab that has the most accurate: the Present cells for the Pap slide/test. That gives you the best and most accurate Pap results. Best of health to you. Dr Steve
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