Self Examination of Vagina and Cervix with Speculum

I was wondering if any of our ladies had ever carried out a vaginal self examination without the help of a partner or play doc? There are a number of websites that encourage this and recommend a plastic speculum, a mirror, and a flashlight. I wonder just how easy it is for a woman to locate and see her own cervix...It's not always that easy for the doc to find I can tell you.. The cervix can be rather elusive at times!

Dr Philip - The UK Play Doctor.

Well Dr Philip you'll be aware I promulgate the wisdom of self examining the vulva (as well as the more familiar breast checks) and I know that many of my patients follow the tuition I have given them.

I'm not sure though of the efficacy of trying to examine the vaginal canal and cervix by oneself. I guess a womans eyes will always be somewhat remote from the mirror (though I always suggest a gents magnifying shaving mirror).

You're absolutely right though about the difficulty sometimes of locating the cervix, especially when the uterus is retroverted and I doubt if most women would be able to interpret the view of the side walls of the vaginal canal as being healthy or not. If a problem was evident at mirror distance it would likely be evident to the woman long before that.

But hey, as I say in my discussion piece about Self Examination of the Vulva - http://www.zity.biz/index.php?action=forum;topic=29244.0 if you find a problem it's better than not finding it. And if you don't find a problem it's hellish enjoyable trying!

Yes, I have. I own a speculum which I use both with my partner and alone. I have to use a hand mirror once I've inserted it to be able to see anything, but I very much enjoy examining myself with it.

I've tried a few times with a hand mirror and speculum. Didn't have much luck. I tried a few different angles and reflecting the flashlight off the mirror a few different ways. I think I saw my cervix once but I couldn't get a very clear view. It's certainly not very easy to find and see.

Goodness I started this thread nearly 9 years ago, doesn't time fly. It didn't get very far at the time so perhaps not many of our lady members had their own speculum back then. Have any of our lady members today tried visual self examination of their cervix with a speculum and mirror?

Anyway here is a video in which a Danish TV presenter kindly demonstrates how to do it...The examination scene is 11 minutes in but the video seems to starts at that point anyway...

https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/sex-med-maja/sex-med-maja-2/sex-med-maja-1-3#!/11:11

Yes I have used a mirror to see inside but I think I like it better when my husband holds a mirror for me when he gives me a play exam. I have got a steel graves speculum and a steel collins too so I can see the sides of my vagina with the graves or the top and bottom with the collins.

I did once but I couldn’t relax enough in the position I was in to see, in order to open the speculum all the way. I got a small glimpse of inside though.

For your better comfort the helping hand is always needed... ;-)

Yes, I have a number of times.

I have a Collins speculum and have used it on occasions to look at myself inside and then look at, touch and explore my vulva and labia , interesting also to see the changes that happen at different times of month with my menstrual cycle and ovulation as well as when I’m aroused ...now it is a bit difficult to find and visualize my cervix on my own but I have done it. Good lighting and a magnifying mirror help tremendously.. while it is erotic to open myself up I feel it would be even more so with a play doctor performing the exam and him telling/explaining all the details of it and then showing me with a mirror what’s going on inside 😃

I would love to try but I never know with speculum to buy though.

Any recommendations?

If you had sex, then you can use medium Graves. If you have given birth, then you can use a large Graves.

As recommended by medfedcouple

If you had sex, then you can use medium Graves. If you have given birth, then you can use a large Graves.

You my want to consider using a Collins instead of a Graves as its much easier to use . It opens horizontally instead of vertically and so would be easier to manoeuvre and open once inside of your vagina , if you are doing it yourself .

RN

@yespleasenurse

I would love to try but I never know with speculum to buy though.

Any recommendations?

The woman in the video, the scene in question is on 1.episode at the 11 minute mark, is just using a basic plastic speculum. It looks like a Cusco type medium-long size to me, but possibly just a medium. But just buy a simple medium size plastic speculum and experiment with that for starters, you don't need anything fancy or expensive. And just copy what the woman does on the video, see how she sits on the chair with her legs apart and how she inserts the speculum sideways and then turns the handles facing upward before opening it. But remember to unfasten the screw before pulling it out or you might well pinch yourself inside. Looks easy doesn't it and she is doing it on camera.

I would love to try but I never know with speculum to buy though.

Any recommendations?

A small or medium Welch Allyn (or any of the look-alikes) will do you just fine. The small is a white handle with a pederson straight blade style, and the medium is a green handle with a graves style (slightly flared nose). Very easy to use and most US doctors use them. They are all over eBay.