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Why more woman are going for cervical cancer screening

By ANGELA OKETCH February 10th, 2016 2 min read

More women are now going for cervical cancer screening due to the change of device used.

A spot check by Nairobi News revealed that the doctors have now moved from using a longer metal speculum to a smaller and friendly plastic speculum.

The older testing device has now been replaced with a new device that most women find more comfortable.

“This is the second time I’ve gone for cervical screening. When I entered the room, the first question I asked was whether they were using the old device,” Ms Jael Lieta told Nairobi News during the free cancer screening to mark World Cancer Day.

She said the first screening was very painful and she vowed never to go for cervical screening again.

“The use of plastic speculum is the best. It is very gentle as compared to the other one,” said Ms Lieta.

She said the experience she had with the metal speculum was traumatizing.

“It was like it was biting into the opening of my vagina,” she said.

BAD EXPERIENCE

After the second screening, Ms Lieta managed to convince three of her colleagues, who had also had a bad first experience with metal speculum to go for screening.

Ms Agnes Otieno, 52, said the plastic speculum was one of the friendliest screening methods she has ever used.

“I have had dozens of cervical screening with the metal speculum but I must admit that the pain was too much. I experienced a lot of pain more so when the nurses were tilting the metal for a wider opening. The plastic one is very gentle,” she said.

“I was making my last visit because I was always upset with the exercise. I felt my right was being violated. But with adaption of the plastic speculum, I will be doing it every year,” she said.

Ms Angela Atieno echoes the sentiments of the two.

“My last screening was painful and embarrassing. I found the metal speculum very painful and uncomfortable. If I had not known the benefit of the annual test, I would have stopped,” she said.

She said tilting of the longer and cold metal speculum and opening of the blades into her business was the most uncomfortable experience.

LESS PAIN

“With the plastic speculum the opening is gentle with less pain,” Said Ms Atieno.

The three are just a few representation of women who have shared the same experience.

Ms Jane Banda, a nurse in charge of Kisumu Hospice, said most of the patients they attend to prefer plastic speculum to the metal one.

“Several women have very delicate and fragile cervix that bleeds very fast when touched hence causing discomfort that varies in women, “she said.

She said some women go for testing having in mind that the exercise is painful.

“It is always advisable to relax and breathe as the speculum slides into your business to avoid feeling pain. But if you feel uncomfortable during the exercise, inform the service provider,” she advised.

In 2006, 2,354 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, 65 per cent of whom died of the disease.

The test is necessary and it is recommended yearly for women who are sexually active.