How to Perform the Labial Traction Technique

As a nurse or doctor specializing in women's health, you will be asked to perform genital exams to verify whether the girl or woman is healthy. With teenage and adult women who have engaged in sexual activity, a speculum is used to widen the vaginal opening so that a swab can be performed to collect samples. With the labial traction technique, a nurse or doctor will manually separate the labia to obtain a better view and search for tears, scars, discharge or other abnormal characteristics. This technique is performed on younger girls who have had minimal sexual contact, and often is used when a child is a suspected victim of sexual abuse.

Things You'll Need

• Protective gloves

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Instructions

• 1

  Sit the patient on an examination chair with stirrups. Have the patient place her feet in the stirrups if possible. If the patient is too small or the stirrups make her uncomfortable, put her in the prone knee-chest position.

• 2

  Ask the patient to breathe in and out normally as you perform the labial traction technique. Talk her through each step so that she knows what is going on. Use age-appropriate language.

• 3

  Pull the labia back gently, using the left hand for the left side and the right hand for the right side. If the patient is in the correct position, you should have an adequate view of the hymen. If not, and the patient is uncomfortable, the view can be obtained by having her hold her knees against her chest.

• 4

  View the vagina externally and internally for abnormalities such as lesions, inflammation and discharge.