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Classically, gynecologists are trained to avoid lubrication of the vaginal speculum in the belief that lubrication might adversely affect Pap smear results. In these 2 studies, investigators tested this axiomatic practice.
Harer and colleagues randomly assigned 182 patients presenting for Pap smears to speculum insertion with lubrication using either warm water or 2 to 3 cc of a water-soluble lubricant. Cytopathologists were not informed of which slides were from which group of participants. Four unsatisfactory smears were found: 2 from patients in the lubricant group and 2 from patients in the warm-water group. No significant difference in Pap smear results was found.
In a similar study with similar objectives, Amies and colleagues randomize…