Anal Speculum

Specula have been in use for hundreds of years and can be traced back to the physicians of Ancient Greece. Specula were mostly associated with vaginal examinations but they are also used to diagnose problems with the anus and the rectum. The anal speculum is a tubular shaped instrument with a bullet like insert. There are certain parts of the body such as the vagina and the rectum that need to be opened in order for the doctor to see what is wrong.

The anal speculum is a bladed instrument that dilates the vagina or the anus. A speculum was designed to allow the physician to see into the anal cavity and up into the rectum to determine whether there is a problem and what that might be. The bullet shaped part of an anal speculum is covered in water soluble jelly, once the speculum is in the bullet shaped insert is removed and the doctor can open the blades to make the anal opening wide enough for him to see the problem.

There are many conditions where an anal speculum is needed, if a patient has unexplained discomfort in or bleeding from that area there is usually a problem that needs medical investigation. Specula are often made of steel but in modern hospital emergency departments may be made from a heat resistant plastic. Specula come in tubular, one, two and three bladed types depending on what the doctor is investigating.

Anal Speculum Conditions

Conditions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Hemorrhoids or piles – swollen veins that often protrude from the anus or opening to the rectum. Piles are seen as a bit of a joke but it can be an extremely painful condition. Using an anal speculum the doctor can easily reach the veins, the most common treatment is to place a rubber band around the pile so that it eventually shrivels and drops off, avoiding excessive bleeding or dangerous blood clots..

• Anal fissure – a tear or split in the anal area that may or may not include part of the rectum. The most problematic thing about anal fissures is keeping them clean. A course of antibiotics is usually prescribed and sometimes a stitch may be needed, in some cases the anal fissure may be a symptom of another, underlying condition

• Biopsy – If a patient has a swelling or lump in the area that has not been diagnosed as piles, a doctor will usually take a small piece of tissue from the affected area, the biopsy, and have it analysed to see whether or not it is malignant or cancerous. This can help in the diagnosis of bowel cancer and in other conditions such as Crohn;s disease, which is an immune system disorder affecting the lower intestine and the bowel.

• Polyps – a polyp is often a non-malignant lump that will still need testing and is often removed as it can cause unnatural bleeding.

Be Careful When Using an Anal Speculum