After 200 years, the speculum, the device used in routine gynecological exams to inspect the cervix, is finally getting a much needed redesign. It is recommended to visit your gynecologist at least once a year if you are between the ages of 21 to 29. As well as, getting a pap smear every 3 years to prevent cervical cancer. Approximately, 60 million pelvic exams are done annually on half the population.
The original speculum was designed by American physician James Marion Sims in the 1840s. He was often referred to as the “father of modern gynecology”. His device had two blades made of pewter that separate the walls of the vagina, and are kept hinged open and closed with a screw mechanism. Sims used this invention on treatments for fistula and other complications of birth. He conducted these experiments on slave women without anesthesia which clearly shows that it was designed without patient comfort in consideration. Sadly to say that the current speculum used in current medical examinations are basically the same as the ones used by Sims 200 years ago. The only difference really is the material used now is stainless steel or plastic.
“In 2014, the American College of Physicians went so far as to recommend against pelvic exams, citing the “harms, fear, anxiety, embarrassment, pain, and discomfort” associated with speculum examinations. Those side effects impact gynecologists, too. “The more comfortable a patient is, the faster they can do their job, the more patients they can see,” says Stewart. “There’s actual monetary value to [patient] comfort.”
https://www.wired.com/story/the-speculum-finally-gets-a-modern-redesign/
There have been many attempts at redesigning the speculum, but none prove to be as promising as the ones made by Yona Care.
At Yona Care they believe that, “There is no reason why the responsibility of caring for your vagina should involve such routine discomfort that many people delay, or even forgo, their pelvic exams. This is a fixable problem — one that a kickass group of women has set their sights on solving.
https://yonacare.com/
Yona is an early-stage experience design concept that reimagines the pelvic exam from a patient-centered perspective, beginning with the design of the speculum. Our goal is to transform health care, one vagina at a time.”
What makes their new speculum successful is that they designed it with patient comfort and physician use in mind. Their redesign uses a three prong to increase field of view. They even use new materials like silicone to promote comfort. They even went as far as incorporating a digital experience component through their own app. Their research is inclusive since they include anybody who has a vagina instead of just boxing it into just women. They did intensive surveys and interviews with the LGBTQ+ to learn about their experience. This prototype gives us hope that the improvement of design and technology can make a huge difference to benefit society.
