Lubrication of the vaginal introitus and speculum does not affect Papanicolaou smears.

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that lubrication of the vaginal introitus and external speculum does not adversely affect Papanicolaou interpretation. 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. 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 chi(2) for categoric variables. Use of a water soluble lubricant on the vaginal introitus and external speculum facilitates examination with no adverse effect on Papanicolaou smear interpretation.