Unusual method of lubrication?

I accompanied my wife to a cryo procedure she was to have for a positive pap test. She was in the stirrups when the doctor came in. He pulled back the drape and inspected her vulva. Then he picked up a tube of what I think was K-Y or something similar. He lubed his gloved index finger and inserted into her vagina. With his finger in her vagina, he rotated his finger all around while slipping it in and out. After a few seconds of this he removed his finger and inserted a speculum. The rest of the procedure seemed normal. Question: Is it normal to lubricate the vagina instead of the speculum? No other doctor I have seen has ever done it that way.

My experience with my wife, the doctor put the gel on the speculum. But he did rubbed the outher vulva first with wet cotton ( I guess he soaked it first with water or alcohol?, not sure) before inserted the speculum

Please remember that the original poster was referring to cryo-surgery, not a PAP smear. So the issue of contaminating the culture is not relevant.

I do not think it is unusual for him to insert a lubricated finger first.. to more or less guide the speculum in. Whether the lube was on the finger, or the speculum.. or both is not really important.. getting the instrument in the easiest way and least uncomfortably for the patient is.

Just my two cents,

Doc Rob

A good gyno will always lube everything before beginning an exam--there's no such thing as too much lube on tender areas and smearing it on the speculum isn't the same as making sure there's a good coating before insertion. I'm a REAL RN with a Master's in nursing (MSN)now retired so I know of what I speak.

I have to agree with DocRob not very common but really not that strange. making easier the insertion of the speculum, maybe be a personal technique.

It's possible this was actually lidocaine gel. Sometimes also used during a regular exam to help with the speculum insertion. The discomfort is basically from tissue stretching and there is even tearing that occurs sometimes...very minor but regardless it will cause some mild pain and the lidocaine helps with this

Thanks for the responses. I think Doc4u72 might have hit the answer. This procedure was the result of a positive pap test. The gel might have been a numbing agent necessary because of the extreme cold being used to freeze the outer surfaces of the cervix.

Anytime I have had the speculum inserted, I have been well lubricated. My Gyno always lubricates me well before he inserts the speculum. I think my Gyno has my comfort in my best interst.

A speculum can be inserted without a lube, if a pap smear is not being taken then using a lubricatant would make the internal exam a whole lot easier.

I agree... it definitely could've been a numbing agent (such as the lidocaine) used. It may have also been a personal technique. Maybe it was something that the doctor found was more comfortable for the patient?

You can lube either the vagina or specelum no hard or fast rules.