Stirrup Covers

Curious if you've ever had a well woman exam where the stirrups didn't have covers on them? My first few exams didn't but since then there has always been some kind of covering.

From the few that I have been in attendance they didn't have covers on. Thinking about it from hygienic view itw easier to wipe and clean a metal stirrup then have some fabric covering over it that every patient that day will have their heels in. They use covers for crutch style stirrups or surgical setting.

My wife once got a pap smear from a dermotologist--he was the only doctor “in network” for our idiotic health plan and he was allowed to do it--so he did not have anything on the metal stirups of a very old exam table. it was all very west world

I’ve had these exams with and without covers on the stirrups. I prefer stirrups without covers.

Having accompanied former girlfriends and my wife to dozens of appointments, I can say It varies by provider. I’ve seen fuzzy, colorful covers, old socks, pharmaceutical advertising, and plain old black metal, anodized aluminum stirrups. Her current male gynecologist has no cloth covers on his stirrups and when you walk in the exam room they are already deployed in wide formation, like ominous beacons.

Great description Doc. I love the plain metal stirrups. they are so unfriendly looking

I never seen covers on the stirrups. Maybe they used during treatments or labors, but I hasn't know about.

There are single used sheet cover on the table where your genitals are exposed.

I have never seen that here in Germany

Thinking about it from hygienic view itw easier to wipe and clean a metal stirrup then have some fabric covering over it that every patient that day will have their heels in.

Never thought about it from a hygiene point of view, but you’re right! Feet can be/are nasty!!!

Never thought about it from a hygiene point of view, buy you’re right! Feet can be/are nasty!!!

Tell that to the TSA at the airport.

I think it is indeed a habit of practice used in Anglo-Saxon countries. In France, there is no cover for stirrups available in medical equipment catalogs.

In addition, the purpose of using stirrups is to allow the patient to insert her heels into the stirrups. On the photos from across the Atlantic, we often see, perhaps because of the protections the feet only placed on the end of this accessory.

Likewise, when the thigh rest option is preferred as an alternative, they are neither covered with a disposable cover nor with a washable cover. The materials used are perfectly washable and disinfectable with common products.

Curious if you've ever had a well woman exam where the stirrups didn't have covers on them? My first few exams didn't but since then there has always been some kind of covering.

Covers seem all the rage but i'd leave socks on if the stirrups have cloth covering as who knows how many bare feet and in what condition have been on them. Sure they autoclave your metal speculum between every use but dont change the covers on stirrups.

My Ob/Gyn Group don't use those cutesy stirrup covers. We are just told to mount up and take it like a big girl. My mother and her mother used to keep their shoes on when they had to get in the stirrups. Pre pantyhose grandmother said. One of the companies advertised their exam tables had FIT-ALL stirrups that would accommodate all women's shoe styles. My husband is very well trained in things female and the idea of girls up on the table in the stirrups drives him crazy. All but when the girl is me. Oh yes and the doctors are MALE. Then he is so worried about how much I will be embarrassed and uncomfortable having to be told to get in them. He is of course jealous and i know it. I have been examined by only male doctors.

Covers seem all the rage but i'd leave socks on if the stirrups have cloth covering as who knows how many bare feet and in what condition have been on them. Sure they autoclave your metal speculum between every use but dont change the covers on stirrups.

I‘d leave my socks on no matter what… the idea of walking barefoot on the floor of a doctor’s office (or anywhere public) makes me a little queasy and super grossed out.

A few different drs I've been too had the covers but I always have socks. The only doctor that has seen my feet is the orthopedic that put my ankle and leg back together. I mean he's seen the inside already might as well let him see the outside, I only go barefoot in my house and yard.

Didn't even know covers were a thing. (Also never heard it referred to a “well woman exam” before coming here but that's another story.)

Ok, I will try to make this short. Years ago, in about 1985, I was in an antique shop. In the back was an old exam table for sale. I was told it was from the 50's and being that it was all wood I believed it. The stirrups were all metal and when you adjusted them they would make this clicking noise. I can only imagine a female patient laying on the table and hearing that noise as the doctor or nurse adjusted the stirrups. Anyway, there were some covers on the end of the stirrups were the heel of the foot would be placed. The lady who owned the shop said, oh we just put those covers on the stirrups. She was into her 70's and said, they did not have covers till the drug companies started to give them out to the doctor's offices say they could advertise there drugs.

Yes, I did buy the table for $100. And used it on several occasions and the look on the patients faces was very interesting. The table was the old construction of tongue and groove so had to be careful not to use the table to much for more than it was made for.

I’ve heard that depends on the organization and office if they are covered or not.