What is the difference between a regular speculum exam and a sterile speculum exam?

Ilovehome: What is the difference between a regular speculum exam and a sterile speculum exam?
Please serious answers only. Is a sterile speculum exam the only exam allowed during pregnancy? Or can a doctor use both?
Thanks for the responses! I was just wondering because I had a speculum exam yesterday where they used a speculum from the heated drawer (I am 37 weeks pregnant). All of the previous exams have been from speculums that were not heated and in sealed plastic bags.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Invisible Pink ~ RN
It should always be a sterile speculum when pregnant –

For that matter I’ve never heard of a speculum NOT being sterile pregnant or not

Answer by SarahM
All speculums are sterile, whether they come prepackaged or are metal. Every office has a special machine that sterilizes all instruments that are reused on patients. Hope that helps! 🙂

Answer by Nicole 84
I’m not sure what a regular speculum exam is. I assume that they are always using sterilized equipment whether a person is pregnant or not. But regardless my exams and the equipment they use are the same during pregnancy and not during pregnancy.

Answer by Jill
All speculum exams are sterile.