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

[notmarcie.livejournal.com]

I had stirrups once, back in about 1996 when I thought I would be responsible and have a vagina MOT when I started being sexually active.

Since then I've had various nether region examinations for various reasons and they haven't been used since. And every single one of them has used the term frogs legs. None of my GPs examination couches have them either fixed or the little swinging out ones. neither did my last GP either.

[notmarcie.livejournal.com]

Oh, for a comfortableness factor, definitely no stirrups. I felt a lot more exposed with my feet in them and more vunerable.
Of course the fact it was my first gynae type thing might have made stirrups feel more uncomfortable, but I felt a lot more exposed. I find non-stirrups makes it feel less off-puttingly clinical.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, you're the only UK person who's had them, it seems!