Stirrups (not the horse kind)

[slemslempike]

When you go for a smear test (or similar), are there stirrups?

I've usually heard Americans talking about stirrups for such incidents, while I'm under the impression that I've only heard British women refer to them for ante-natal use. When I go, I just have to do that frogs' legs thing (which is awkward if the table is against the wall on one side).

I was watching Jo Brand on Live at the Apollo, and she talked about stirrups as if they would of course be used for a smear. Have I just always had lo-tech medical care? I don't feel like I have had a particularly sheltered outlook, at least four medical professionals have investigated my nethers.

Comments

[whatho.livejournal.com]

Nein. Never come across it. Don't know if it's different in a well-woman clinic or hospital to how it is in a GP's surgery though.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

It does seem mostly to be a US thing. My inadequately researched extrapolations are correct!