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In the U.S., women undergoing gynecologic examinations lie in the dorsal lithotomy position with their feet in stirrups, whereas in the U.K. and Australia, stirrups are not used. In this U.S. study, 197 asymptomatic, nonpregnant women undergoing routine pelvic exams at a military family medicine clinic were randomized to examination with or without stirrups. All other aspects of the examination were standardized for the two groups.
After the exam, each woman rated her experience on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Women in the no-stirrup group rated their physical discomfort as 43% less than those in the stirrup group (mean score, 17.2 vs. 30.4) and their sense of vulnerability as 44% less (mean score, 13.1 vs. 23.6). Sense of loss of control d…