What are stirrups?

Question

I have to have my first smear test next week, what are stirrups?

I have heard you have to have your legs strapped up into them while you are examined??

Answer 1

yes thats kind of right but they dont strap them in you just rest your legs in them (at about the level of your knees) nothing to worry about!x

Answer 2

I've never had my legs put in stirrups for a smear test, they usualy tell you to bend your knees and yet your legs flop out. Stirrups are just things you rest your feet in to keep your legs apart but you aren't strapped into them, it's purely voluntary.
Try not to worry about it it's a simple procedure.
Good luck

Answer 3

The name comes from stirrups on a horse saddle.
No you are not strapped up, you lay on your back and rest your lower legs and heels (which fit in the stirrups) on them to take the weight and relax the muscles of your groin so the doctor can examine between your legs.
here is one description
http://www.estronaut.com/a/first_gynecological_exam.htm
and this one includes a drawing of the position
http://www.mhc.uiuc.edu/Handouts/gynecological_exam/gynecological_exam.html

Answer 4

Stirrups are used to hold your legs in a comfortable and certain position so as to aid the doc/nurse in taking a smear from your cervix. I can imagine from a womans point of view that it can be embarrasing/degrading but it's a necessary excercise to screen agains cervical cancer. The whole process should only take a couple of minutes.

Try not to worry too much about it.

Answer 5

There are different types, the sort where you have your legs 'strapped up' are normally used in hospitals, not normally for smears - see picture below
http://www.skytron.us/legsupp_acc3.htm

The other types are like footrests which pull out from the end of the tebla - see http://stirrups-speculum-exam.com/img/stirrups_speculum_exam_4.gif

Answer 6

LOL They don't STRAP you UP in them!

They are like pedals on a bike where the heel of your foot sits in. Your legs then spread open for the doctor to do his thing!

Answer 7

I havea additionally study that between the justifications the Roman Empire collapsed exchange into because of the fact the Romans did no longer invent the harness as horse have been only tethered by employing ropes or reins to the cart/chariot etc and alter into interestingly tiring on the animal.

Answer 8

stirrups are what you put your feet in when riding a horse so they would be similar to those for the smear test...am a guy ..not bad huh.i worked it out for myself

Answer 9

stirrups are metal plates where you can place your feet while the doctor inserts a speculum in you, it doesnt mean that your legs are strapped into them.

Answer 10

they are like leg rests you put your legs in them to hold open so the doc can look at you