Cervical Screening Awareness Week: A Guide to Cervical Self-Exams
It's Cervical Screening Awareness Week, a time to highlight one of the most powerful tools we have in preventing cervical cancer: routine cervical screenings.
But for many, attending a cervical screening appointment at a clinic can be challenging, uncomfortable, or even traumatic. That’s why I want to raise awareness about self-speculum examinations, a method of examining your own cervix in the privacy and safety of your own space.
This guide is adapted from the brilliant work of The Beautiful Cervix Project, who have created empowering resources to help people better understand their bodies. You can access their full self-exam guide on their website.
Why Someone Might Want to Do a Cervical Self-Exam
There are many valid reasons why someone might prefer to perform a cervical self-exam, including:
Having a retroverted uterus, which can make clinical exams more difficult
Living with vaginismus, where muscle tightness makes insertion painful
Being trans or intersex, which may make cervical screenings feel unsafe or dysphoric
Surviving sexual trauma, and wanting full control over your body and boundaries
Having had negative experiences with healthcare professionals
Or simply preferring privacy and wanting to feel more in control
Even in clinical settings, you can request to insert the speculum yourself and have a professional or partner take the swab for you. You may even want to do the swab yourself too if you’ve got the hang of it.
Supplies You’ll Need
To perform a self-speculum exam, gather the following:
A plastic speculum - these are widely available online and come in different sizes (small, medium, large) so you can choose what’s most comfortable for your body. There are lots of new designs out there, including colorful, ergonomically shaped, or even reusable options, but a simple, cheap plastic one works just fine as they're all fundamentally the same in function.
A mirror (handheld or one you can prop in front of you)
A torch or flashlight
Lubricant (preferably water-based, but water works too)
Clean hands and a quiet, private space
Manual Cervical Check (Using Fingers)
You can also check your cervix manually:
Getting Comfortable with the Speculum
Before inserting, get familiar with how your speculum works. practice opening and closing it. Some models have a locking mechanism, so make sure you know how to release it.
Comfortable Positions to Try:
Lying at a 45° angle with knees apart and your back supported so that your abdominal muscles are relaxed
“Frog-leg” position (feet together, knees out)
Lying flat with legs propped on a couch or chair
Squatting or standing with one leg elevated
Step-by-Step: Performing the Self-Exam
Clean your speculum with warm soapy water and rinse well.
Apply lubricant to the speculum and/or vulva.
Find the vaginal opening with your mirror and separate the labia.
Hold the speculum by the handle in your dominant hand. If you are right-handed the handle should be facing right. Insert the speculum gently, angled toward your lower back. Once inserted, turn the handle facing up towards the ceiling.
Open the bills slowly, using the handle mechanism.
Adjust the angle if you don’t see your cervix right away. Try tilting, wiggling your body, or even coughing to shift the position.
What You’ll See
Once your cervix comes into view, it will likely appear as a small, pink, round shape—like a donut with a tiny hole (the os) in the center. If you have given birth vaginally the cervix will look more like a smiley face shape. You may also notice discharge or changes depending on your cycle.
If you can’t see it right away:
Gently and slowly slide the speculum out with the bills still open to avoid any pinching
Close the speculum and try again, possibly in a different position
Use your fingers to feel where it is first
Try again another day as your cervix position changes throughout your cycle
Ask a trusted partner or friend to help hold the light or mirror if you feel comfortable.
Aftercare and Notes
Always wash your tools before and after use.
Take your time—this is about empowerment, not performance.
You can track what you see over time to notice changes or patterns.
If you notice anything unusual, follow up with a healthcare provider.
By learning how to perform a self-speculum exam, you’re claiming more autonomy over your body and health. Whether you choose this method for comfort, safety, curiosity, or empowerment you’re not alone, and your choice is valid.
Image source: The Beautiful Cervix Project
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#CervicalCancer #CervicalCancerPreventionWeek #CervicalScreening #CervicalExam #Doula #LondonDoula #QueerDoula #DoulasOfColour
