Plastic fantastic

I was very interested in the piece by Mike Fitzpatrick on the downgrading of men,¹ which I basically agreed with.

However, I was surprised that he mentioned the use of metal vaginal speculae in the examination of women. My practice discontinued these a long time ago, after an accidental transfer of infection (Trichomonas) in spite of sterilisation. Since then we have always used plastic ones; these are of course disposable, and I am certain most patients find them more acceptable and much less threatening. They are not expensive.