Lubrication of the vaginal introitus and speculum does not affect Papanicolaou smears
- 1 November 2002
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health
- Vol. 100 (5) , 887-888
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02168-3
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that lubrication of the vaginal introitus and external speculum does not adversely affect Papanicolaou interpretation. METHOD: One hundred eighty-two patients presenting for Papanicolaou smears as part of their visit were randomly assigned to have either only warm water or a water soluble lubricant to assist speculum insertion. Cytotechnicians and pathologists were blind to the cohort from which smears were obtained. RESULTS: Two unsatisfactory smears were found among 93 patients with the lubricant and two were found among 89 using only warm water. No significant difference was found using the t test for continuous variables and χ2 for categoric variables. CONCLUSION: Use of a water soluble lubricant on the vaginal introitus and external speculum facilitates examination with no adverse effect on Papanicolaou smear interpretation.Keywords
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