Vaginal Self Examination
The revolutionary self-help technique of vaginal self-examination has opened up a whole world of self-knowledge for women. Vaginal self-examination with a plastic speculum enables women to see their cervix, which is the donut shaped neck or entrance to the uterus in the back of the vagina. A speculum is a tool used to separate the vaginal walls to see the cervix and cervical called the os. The menstrual blood to flows out of the uterus into the vagina through the os, and the os dilates open to enable a baby's head to come out of the uterus during labor.
Some of the benefits of vaginal self-examination:
Some of the benefits of vaginal self-examination:
- Regular vaginal self-examination throughout the menstrual cycle can help women to recognize specific changes in their cervix and cervical secretions that indicate ovulation.
- Through vaginal self-examination women can note changes in the color, consistency and odor of their vaginal secretions that can indicate vaginal yeast.
- Women have even been able to observe early signs of pregnancy by doing vaginal self-examination, such as the cervix turning purplish or bluish reflecting an increase in blood flow to the uterus to support the developing pregnancy.
- Women with IUDs can view the IUD string hanging out of their cervical os during vaginal self-examination. If the string is missing it could mean the IUD has become misplaced or was expelled.
- Women have even spotted their own cervical polyps by doing vaginal self-examination. Polyps are cervical growths, which sometimes cause spotting but often no symptoms. Cervical polyps are usually not cancerous, but finding them through regular self-examination means you can bring it to the attention of your GYN health practitioner sooner than were you to wait until your next annual exam.
How to do Vaginal Self-Examination
Vaginal self-examination is done by inserting a plastic speculum into the vagina, squeezing the handles open and then looking at the cervix with a light and mirror. This is how it is done:
First, wash your hands and speculum with warm soapy water and rinse well. The bills of the speculum can be moistened with warm water for lubrication to make the speculum easier to insert. Hold the speculum bills closed between the thumb and fingers. The speculum handles are kept right side up or slightly to the side for ease of insertion. The speculum bills are then gently inserted with into the vaginal like a tampon- inward and at a slight angle towards the middle of the back. If there is any discomfort stop and reposition the speculum bills at a different angle that is more comfortable. The speculum bills are inserted all the way into the vagina until the handles come up close to the pubic bone.
Next, squeeze and hold the handles together while pulling the top handle up and pushing the bottom outside handle down. The handles will click to stay open. This separates the speculum bills pushing the vaginal walls apart.
Finally, Hold a mirror with one hand in front of the opening of the speculum and with the other hand shine a flashlight into the mirror. The light will be reflected back to the cervix. In the very back of the vagina the cervix will appear like a pink donut about the size of a quarter or 50 cent piece with a hole or slit in the center. If the cervix is not visible it may be just out of view or to the side. Simply release the handles by pushing the top handle down and pulling the outside bottom handle up to unclick and close the speculum. Half way remove the speculum and then reinsert it at a different angle to try to get the cervix in view. If the cervix is still not in view it can help to remove the speculum and insert your fingers to feel where the cervix is, then reinsert the speculum towards where you felt your cervix.
Vaginal Self-Examination & Menstrual Cycle Charting
The cervix and the cervical secretions change dramatically during the menstrual cycle. Many women keep a log or a cycle chart noting changes in the appearance of their cervix, the color of their cervix, the texture and consistency and smell of cervical os secretions, etc. during their menstrual cycle. This type of charting can help women identify changes that indicate ovulation, which is invaluable in helping women to become pregnant or to avoid pregnancy.
Vaginal self-examination is done by inserting a plastic speculum into the vagina, squeezing the handles open and then looking at the cervix with a light and mirror. This is how it is done:
First, wash your hands and speculum with warm soapy water and rinse well. The bills of the speculum can be moistened with warm water for lubrication to make the speculum easier to insert. Hold the speculum bills closed between the thumb and fingers. The speculum handles are kept right side up or slightly to the side for ease of insertion. The speculum bills are then gently inserted with into the vaginal like a tampon- inward and at a slight angle towards the middle of the back. If there is any discomfort stop and reposition the speculum bills at a different angle that is more comfortable. The speculum bills are inserted all the way into the vagina until the handles come up close to the pubic bone.
Next, squeeze and hold the handles together while pulling the top handle up and pushing the bottom outside handle down. The handles will click to stay open. This separates the speculum bills pushing the vaginal walls apart.
Finally, Hold a mirror with one hand in front of the opening of the speculum and with the other hand shine a flashlight into the mirror. The light will be reflected back to the cervix. In the very back of the vagina the cervix will appear like a pink donut about the size of a quarter or 50 cent piece with a hole or slit in the center. If the cervix is not visible it may be just out of view or to the side. Simply release the handles by pushing the top handle down and pulling the outside bottom handle up to unclick and close the speculum. Half way remove the speculum and then reinsert it at a different angle to try to get the cervix in view. If the cervix is still not in view it can help to remove the speculum and insert your fingers to feel where the cervix is, then reinsert the speculum towards where you felt your cervix.
Vaginal Self-Examination & Menstrual Cycle Charting
The cervix and the cervical secretions change dramatically during the menstrual cycle. Many women keep a log or a cycle chart noting changes in the appearance of their cervix, the color of their cervix, the texture and consistency and smell of cervical os secretions, etc. during their menstrual cycle. This type of charting can help women identify changes that indicate ovulation, which is invaluable in helping women to become pregnant or to avoid pregnancy.