A New Vaginal Speculum and an Inexpensive Kit to Screen and Treat Dysplasia and Cancer of the Cervix

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death in many developing countries. This is attributed to a lack of accessible screening, suboptimal medical equipment, and patient-perceived discomfort. The Bouquet Speculum TM is a novel, 5-petaled vaginal speculum that overcomes the limitations of the existing 2-bladed speculum. The current vaginal speculum, in some cases, does not allow for complete visualization of the cervix because of its design. Even seasoned veterans have difficulty with lateral vaginal wall collapse that may obscure the view of the cervix. Additionally, the radial opening of this new 5-petaled speculum distributes the forces symmetrically as opposed to the vertical forces with the 2-bladed speculum. This results in a more comfortable exam for the patients. In a survey of women who had PAP tests using the Bouquet Speculum TM, they reported, “much quicker exam with less pain.” This novel speculum has been combined into a kit that screens and treats cervical cancer and dysplasia. The Cervical Cancer Cure Kit is inexpensive at $7.50/woman. This is a cost-effective solution to treating cervical cancer in low-to-medium income countries, where the need is the greatest. By partnering with Project C.U.R.E., the kits were distributed internationally, providing screenings to hundreds of women. This novel, 5-petal vaginal speculum and Cervical Cancer Kit may be the solution to obtaining universal cervical cancer screening by providing better visualization of the cervix, ease-of-use for the provider, and greater comfort for the patient.