The speculum is an instrument made of metal or plastic. Your health care provider will place the speculum into your vagina. If you like, you can ask your health care provider for a mirror so that you can see what your cervix looks like. After checking your vagina and cervix, your health care provider may take a thin wooden stick and a special tiny brush and gently wipe away some of the cells from your cervix. This is a Pap test, which detects early changes of the cervix before they become cancer.
Most girls have normal pap tests.
If you are having vaginal discharge, your health care provider will take another sample to check for yeast and other causes of discharge. If you are having sex, your health care provider will take another sample from the cervix to check for sexually transmitted diseases. When all of these samples have been taken, your health care provider will close the speculum and gently take it out. Your health care provider will insert one or two gloved fingers into your vagina. With the other hand, your doctor will gently apply pressure to the lower part of your belly.