The Dreaded Speculum Exam.

The Speculum Exam SHOULDN'T HURT!

If you're the kind of gal who avoids going to the gyno because you're afraid of the torture device known as a speculum, you're not alone. But did you know that it SHOULDN'T HURT to have a speculum placed??

It's a common misconception that the speculum exam is supposed to hurt. Gynecologists are expertly trained to place a speculum, with as little discomfort as possible. Now I'm not saying you should ENJOY this part of the exam, but it really shouldn't HURT.

These things shouldn't hurt either:

If you're afraid of the speculum exam, it's possible that you're also avoiding other things going inside your vagina. I'm not suggesting to try placing all of these in the vagina, and certainly not all at the same time...that might lead to an ER visit. None-the-less, it really shouldn't hurt to place any of the following in to your vagina:

1. A penis
2. Your fingers
3. A tampon
4. Any type of normally sized sexual toy (now work with me here, if it's marked XL...just don't go there)
5. The speculum.