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Concerns about discomfort associated with vaginal speculum examinations deter some women from seeking gynecologic care, including cervical cytology screening; however, some gel lubricants have been reported to compromise the quality of Pap smear results when liquid-based cytology is performed. Investigators randomized 120 women (age range, 18–50; 80% white) who underwent speculum examinations (primarily for routine gynecologic care) at one practice to undergo exams in which 0.3 mL of carbomer-free gel lubricant or 3.0 mL of tap water was applied to a plastic speculum before insertion. Women were blinded to study group allocation and were asked to indicate their pain level on a 10-cm visual analog scale immediately after the speculum was ope…