It was a typical afternoon at the San Francisco headquarters of Frog, the renowned design firm best known for helping shape the iconic aesthetic of products like Apple’s original Macintosh computers. Hailey Stewart, one of Frog’s industrial designers, had laid out a diverse array of prototypes across a large table. On one end rested cylinders of foam resembling sleek modern vibrators, complete with handles projecting at various angles alongside rough sketches of levers and screw mechanisms. On the opposite end sat the standard, familiar speculum—the medical device used during routine gynecological examinations to inspect the cervix. Stewart picked one up, wrenched it open, and demonstrated its harsh, mechanical operation. "You’re literally in the stirrups with that sound," she noted, pointing to the loud, sharp click the device makes, adding, "and it’s like, excuse my language, but what the fuck?"
Most of the designers gathered in the room had never actually seen a speculum before. Several of the male staff members admitted they had never truly considered the physical and emotional reality of a routine pelvic examination—the process of undressing, lying flat on an examination table, and placing one’s feet into stirrups while a medical provider pries open the vaginal walls with a cold, metallic instrument. However, Stewart had not gathered her colleagues merely to discuss the standard procedures of women’s annual exams. She and her team were harboring a much broader, more ambitious objective.
For the preceding several months, largely utilizing their own downtime and weekends, Stewart and interaction designer Sahana Kumar had been closely examining the device. They had manually forced it open and closed, analyzed the precise curve of its bills, and read extensively about its long history. Now, Stewart informed her fellow designers at Frog, they had officially committed to taking on a notoriously complex challenge: redesigning the gynecological speculum for the 21st century.
The current mechanical design of the speculum, originally formulated by American physician James Marion Sims, dates all the way back to the 1840s. The historic device utilized two pewter blades to separate the vaginal walls, operating via a hinged screw mechanism. Sims, frequently referred to in medical histories as the "father of modern gynecology," utilized the speculum to pioneer early surgical treatments for fistulas and other severe complications stemming from childbirth. However, his experimental procedures were frequently conducted on enslaved women without the benefit of anesthesia. Consequently, stating that the original speculum was developed without patient comfort as a primary concern is a severe understatement.
More than 150 years later, the modern speculum looks remarkably similar to the tools Sims employed in the 19th century. The most obvious evolution is material rather than structural; instead of pewter, contemporary specula are manufactured using medical-grade stainless steel or rigid plastic.
The advanced age of the speculum is not inherently problematic on its own. The core issue is that the underlying design is fundamentally suboptimal for both patients and physicians. Healthcare providers are frequently forced to stretch the instrument’s bills wide apart in order to achieve a clear line of sight toward the distant cervix, and even then, securing an unobstructed view inside the vaginal canal is not always guaranteed. While certain specialized specula come equipped with built-in lighting systems, the primary visual obstruction usually stems from surrounding tissue falling inward rather than simple darkness within the canal. The resulting physical pressure causes significant discomfort; a comprehensive review of existing medical literature indicates that a portion of the female population actively avoids scheduling routine gynecological visits altogether out of apprehension regarding the procedure.
In 2014, the American College of Physicians took the notable step of formally recommending against routine pelvic exams for certain adult populations, explicitly citing the associated "harms, fear, anxiety, embarrassment, pain, and discomfort" tied directly to speculum-based examinations. These negative side effects naturally impact medical professionals as well. As Stewart points out, patient comfort directly correlates with clinical efficiency. When a patient is relaxed and comfortable, the provider can complete the examination more efficiently, ultimately allowing clinics to serve a higher volume of patients. Therefore, improving patient comfort carries tangible economic and operational value for healthcare practices.
Despite the persistent complaints, attempts to update the device are not entirely unprecedented. Back in 2005, a San Francisco-based enterprise secured a patent for an inflatable alternative known as the FemSpec. Constructed from polyurethane—the identical material utilized in the manufacturing of condoms—the device was designed to be inserted by a physician similarly to a tampon and subsequently inflated like a miniature balloon. Although it generated notable media buzz upon its debut, the product ultimately failed to capture market share. As an investigative report published in The Chicago Times highlighted at the time, the vast majority of patients never had the opportunity to experience the innovative speculum simply because it was so novel that conventional medical practitioners had not integrated it into their standard practices.
Other conceptual redesigns have centered on more incremental improvements. A student project developed at the Pratt Institute, known as the Lotus speculum, maintained the general shape of the traditional bills while introducing a slight curve intended to make insertion more ergonomic. Furthermore, the design incorporated a rotating handle designed to open the bills vertically, alongside a concealed internal lever mechanism intended to prevent accidental pinching. Although the prototype generated considerable interest after appearing in a student design showcase, it never transitioned into a commercially available medical product.
In Oregon, an organization named Ceek Women’s Health has initiated clinical trials focusing on a new family of devices. Their approach includes a protective sleeve, a speculum featuring narrower bills, and a variant designed specifically for patient self-insertion. Their overarching strategy relies on offering a diverse toolkit tailored to various patient demographics rather than attempting to enforce a single, one-size-fits-all instrument. Fathi Khosrow, the co-founder and CEO of Ceek, emphasizes that the medical community lacks adequate solutions for specific patient populations—including women with excess tissue, individuals who have experienced multiple vaginal deliveries, patients with a high body mass index, survivors of trauma or sexual assault, and postmenopausal women experiencing vaginal atrophy. By equipping physicians with a comprehensive suite of specialized tools, providers can better address individual patient needs.
Perhaps the most radical departure from traditional hardware comes from Duke University, where academic researchers are currently testing a technology that could bypass the speculum entirely. Mercy Asiedu, a doctoral candidate specializing in biomedical engineering at Duke, developed a tampon-sized device equipped with a high-resolution 2-megapixel camera positioned at the tip. Asiedu explains that while the traditional speculum was engineered to allow a physician to view the cervix from an external vantage point, modern imaging technology makes it entirely feasible to capture clear visuals from within the body.
Asiedu evaluated her prototype during a pilot study involving 15 volunteer participants, with the formal findings published in the academic journal PLOS One. Every single participant reported that the significantly smaller device delivered a vastly superior experience compared to a standard speculum examination. While the Duke study focused primarily on patient satisfaction, Asiedu acknowledges that practicing clinicians may offer different critiques. Her design prioritized patient comfort, privacy, and personal empowerment over traditional clinical workflows. She notes that while a traditional speculum is simply inserted and expanded to whatever width is necessary to achieve visibility, her camera-based device requires gentle internal navigation, functioning somewhat like a handheld joystick.
When Stewart and her multidisciplinary team at Frog began their own redesign process, they were acutely aware of the formidable challenges ahead, compounded by the fact that Stewart herself had minimal prior familiarity with the device. Before diving into technical research or sketching initial concepts, Stewart and Kumar documented every frustrating element they personally associated with gynecological exams. Their list included the alarming sound of the ratchet mechanism resembling a household can opener, the freezing temperature of the metal, and the painful internal sensation of being stretched like a rubber band. Once they successfully acquired physical samples of both plastic and metal specula, they realized that the device’s aesthetics were equally in need of an overhaul, noting that the instruments closely resembled medieval torture devices.
Stewart initially focused on eliminating the characteristic ratcheting noise. Alongside Fran Wang, a mechanical engineer at Frog, she explored unconventional opening mechanisms. No theoretical concept was dismissed as too bizarre during the brainstorming phase. They considered whether they could utilize saline solution to inflate the device internally much like a pufferfish, or alternatively use pressurized air to expand it like an air mattress. They drew design inspiration from the natural world, such as the flared hood of a cobra, alongside industrial machining components like milling chucks and everyday items including bicycle pumps. They closely analyzed how mechanical tripods clamp open and shut and how ski bindings clip into place, searching for viable alternatives to the century-old screw mechanism.
Next, the team evaluated alternative material compositions. Rather than relying exclusively on hard plastics or cold metals, they decided to encase the entire structural assembly in autoclavable medical-grade silicone—a material that avoids feeling freezing cold against the body, can be effectively sterilized between uses, and provides a smoother, more comfortable insertion process. Wang points out that traditional metal specula often feature sharp or rigid edges that pose risks to delicate tissue, and enveloping the framework in silicone prevents potential injury while simultaneously improving the visual appearance of the tool.
The designers also experimented with utilizing three distinct prongs instead of two, allowing the device to expand into a balanced triangular configuration. They explored shrinking the overall footprint to the approximate scale of a tampon and drew structural cues from the consumer vibrator industry. To optimize ergonomics for medical providers, they tested handle angles ranging from 90 to 120 degrees to identify the most comfortable posture for clinicians. Following these iterations, they 3D-printed physical prototypes and placed them directly into the hands of practicing OB/GYNs and healthcare providers for real-world feedback.
According to Stewart, the medical professionals responded most enthusiastically to the prototype featuring a three-bill triangular opening mechanism. This geometry provided clinicians with an equivalent field of view without requiring the bills to be forced open as widely, thereby significantly reducing physical stretching for the patient. OB/GYNs also favored a handle angled at 110 degrees, which established sufficient physical clearance between the provider’s hand and the patient’s body, eliminating the awkward final adjustment maneuvers often required on standard examination tables. The integration of a silicone exterior coating was similarly well received. A simple button mechanism allows providers to lock and unlock the speculum using only one hand, keeping the other hand free, while a push-lever system successfully eliminates the need for cumbersome screws. Most importantly, the entire operational mechanism is completely silent.
However, consultations with OB/GYNs made one overarching reality abundantly clear: redesigning the physical hardware alone would not guarantee success. Stewart reflected on why she personally felt significantly more comfortable undergoing a cosmetic procedure like a bikini wax than attending an annual gynecological examination, concluding that the disparity largely stemmed from the clinical environment itself. One setting felt sterile, cold, and intimidating, whereas the other felt more relaxing and personalized, despite involving comparable physical discomfort. If they truly wanted to reinvent the speculum, they realized they would have to redesign the entire patient experience surrounding it.
Several months into the endeavor, the initiative has evolved into a comprehensive reimagining of the modern pelvic exam. The project now encompasses the newly engineered speculum, which remains under active development with continuous input from collaborating OB/GYNs, alongside a structured set of guidelines for clinical providers. These recommendations include simple yet impactful practices, such as providing patients with a designated place to hang their clothing and thoroughly explaining each sequential step of the physical exam. Kumar emphasizes that while the process can never be rendered entirely painless, proper emotional preparation helps patients feel mentally grounded and respected throughout the visit.
The broader concept also features a digital app mockup designed to let patients complete administrative paperwork, submit inquiries, or listen to guided meditation exercises prior to their appointment. To further enhance comfort, Kumar designed an accompanying care kit containing items like a stress ball and specialized socks to wear in the stirrups. Visual designer Rachel Hobart joined the Frog team to help establish a cohesive brand identity for the initiative, which has been officially named Yona.
At present, the Yona project remains an early-stage design concept. Stewart and Wang continue to refine and test new iterations of the speculum hardware, while Kumar and Hobart polish the digital application and experiential components. The team collaborates regularly with their advisory board of physicians to evaluate technical feasibility and align the product with clinical realities. Simultaneously, they are actively seeking aligned corporate partners—such as tech-enabled healthcare providers like One Medical—capable of helping transition Yona from a theoretical concept into a commercially viable reality.
The most complex hurdle facing the team remains the challenge of securing widespread adoption among medical practitioners. The designers are fully aware of historical precedents where promising prototypes ultimately failed because physicians resisted investing in new equipment, whether due to financial costs associated with purchasing unfamiliar devices or the mental friction of learning new operational workflows. Gynecologists have relied on the standard speculum design for well over a century, and it has technically served its purpose. A skeptical medical community might easily question the necessity of change. As Stewart notes, an innovative and user-friendly device holds little value if practicing clinicians refuse to learn how to operate it, ensuring patients never encounter it in a clinical setting.
Nevertheless, Wang remains optimistic, noting that widespread adoption is primarily a matter of introducing the product to the medical community and demonstrating its tangible benefits for both providers and patients. While she acknowledges that the traditional speculum functions adequately for the majority of practitioners, she maintains that adequacy falls short of excellence. When healthcare providers are given a clear choice between an inferior tool and a demonstrably superior alternative, Wang believes they will naturally opt for the better instrument once given the opportunity to experience it firsthand.
