Say goodbye to pain and anxiety and hello to a world of comfort… for your vagina!
For decades, women’s health tools—particularly the speculum—have remained virtually unchanged, despite frequent complaints about discomfort, coldness, and intimidation.
In this month’s Let’s Chat, Dr. Diana Bitner welcomes Dr. Tracy Bennett, Chief Medical Officer at Ceek Women’s Health, the company behind the Nella Speculum, named a TIME Magazine Invention of the Year. With more than 20 years of experience in women’s health medical devices, Dr. Bennett is here to talk about how her work is transforming the experience of pelvic exams, making them more comfortable, respectful, and accessible for all women, including patients at true.
In this episode, we’ll explore:
- Why the traditional speculum needed a redesign
- How the Nella Comfort Kits are tailored to different life stages and bodies
- What providers can do to create a more respectful, trauma-informed experience
- How true. Women’s Health is bringing this innovation into our practice and exam room!
Our conversation highlights why this innovation matters not just for the exam room experience, but for trust, access, and overall outcomes in women’s preventative care.
More About Dr. Tracy Bennett
Dr. Tracy Bennett is an OB-GYN and the Chief Medical Officer at Ceek Women’s Health. She has decades of clinical experience and a deep passion for patient-centered care. In her current role, Dr. Bennett has helped lead the redesign of the traditional speculum, bringing together physician insight, patient feedback, and engineering innovation. Her work reflects a broader mission to modernize women’s health tools in both form and function.
What is the Speculum?
The speculum is a diagnostic instrument used during pelvic exams and Pap smears. Originally developed in the 1840s, it has seen little to no significant design changes in over 180 years. Traditionally made of metal or rigid plastic, the tool is often described as cold, loud, intimidating, and uncomfortable by patients. The original design was created without female input and prioritized clinical access over patient experience. Despite its widespread use, most patients feel anxiety, pain, or embarrassment related to speculum exams and many avoid preventive care because of it.
What Is New About the Redesign?
Ceek’s new speculum is built with women’s experience in mind and centered on dignity, comfort, and innovation. Key changes include:
- Softer, quieter material: Made of medical-grade polymer, reducing noise and discomfort.
- Warm-to-touch feel: Designed to eliminate the cold sensation associated with metal tools.
- Slimmer design: Better accommodates a wider range of anatomy, minimizing pressure.
- Ergonomic engineering: Allows for smoother insertion and better visibility without sacrificing patient comfort.
- Aesthetic improvements: The redesign looks less “industrial,” helping reduce fear and anxiety during the exam.
Dr. Bitner and Dr. Bennett both emphasize that this isn’t just about a tool; it’s about rebuilding trust in the healthcare experience. By making patients more comfortable, we increase the likelihood that they’ll stay on top of vital screenings and preventive care.
Choose Your Player: Nella Comfort Kits
Not only is this new speculum designed for women, it’s designed for every kind of woman. The Nella Comfort Kits are available in four unique models to meet the specific needs of women, no matter their life stage. At true., we currently offer four types:
- Classic Kit: A universal, comfort-focused option for most patients.
- Curves Kit: Designed for those with higher BMIs or anatomical variation.
- Menopause Kit: Ideal for patients experiencing vaginal dryness or atrophy.
- Maternity Kit: Created for prenatal and postpartum care with added gentleness.
Each kit includes the award-winning Nella Speculum, a pair of soft, no-slip socks (keeps cozier in those stirrups), a stress ball (squeeze worries away), a vaginal wipe (to freshen up after your exam), and a CALM Lavender rollerball—all sealed and ready for your appointment. Kits are available on-site for $125 and can be requested before your visit or directly in the exam room.
Why It Matters: Emotional Impact
Many women delay or avoid gynecological exams due to trauma, anxiety, or prior negative experiences with the speculum. The redesigned tool has already made a difference in patient willingness to return for follow-ups. Some even say, “I didn’t know this could feel okay.”
Moreover, improving comfort during exams can build trust, reduce shame, and empower women to take charge of their health. Changing the speculum may seem small, but its impact on long-term care and access is potentially massive.
Future Outlook: What’s Next for Women’s Health Tools?
This is just the beginning! There’s a growing movement to revisit outdated tools and reimagine them with compassion, inclusivity, and innovation. Patient voices are central to that effort, encouraging clinicians and designers alike to stay curious and collaborative.
At true., we’re always finding new ways to improve the patient experience and meet the needs of the women we serve. We encourage all women to speak up, advocate, and refuse to settle for less when it comes to their health.
Five Takeaway Tips
- Medical tools impact patient experience and design matters! The tools used in women’s health aren’t just functional; they communicate how much we value the patient experience. A redesign like this one is about more than comfort. It’s about affirming the humanity of the person in the exam room.
- Nella’s redesign prioritizes comfort and dignity in gynecologic care. Women have been voicing their discomfort with the speculum for decades. The push for innovation didn’t come from a lab—it came from patients who were finally heard. This proves the power of patient advocacy.
- There are speculum options available for different body types and life stages. When tools are painful or dehumanizing, people avoid care. Redesigning something as basic as a speculum can remove major emotional and physical barriers to preventive exams, ultimately improving health outcomes.
- Providers play a crucial role in improving patient experience. Just because something “works” doesn’t mean it’s the best option. The default use of outdated tools reflects a deeper issue of inertia in women’s healthcare, and that’s starting to change thanks to providers prioritizing patient-centered care.
- true. is leading the way in patient-centered women’s care! We’re proud to be the first location in Michigan to offer the Nella Comfort Kits! Rethinking even one tool in the exam room sets the stage for larger transformations. As Dr. Bennett says, it’s not just about the speculum—it’s about starting a new era of care designed with women in mind.
Five Questions to Ask Your Provider
- What is my phase of ovarian function? Start the conversation. Ask whether your provider uses a redesigned, patient-centered speculum—and if not, why? Your comfort matters.
- Is there a more comfortable speculum option you can use during my exam? This question gently challenges the status quo and invites your provider to reflect on whether they’re keeping up with innovation in women’s health.
- Do you offer tools or approaches designed for women in different life stages, like midlife or menopause? Dr. Bennett emphasizes that clinicians should have strategies in place to help patients feel safe, seen, and in control during intimate exams.
- What steps do you take to ensure gynecologic care is trauma-informed and respectful? It’s important to know you can pause, slow down, or stop an exam if you’re uncomfortable. This question reaffirms that consent and comfort are central to the process.
- If exams are uncomfortable or painful for me, what are my options for support or alternatives? Can I request a Nella Comfort Kit for my next exam? Asking this encourages providers to listen more actively to patient input and reflect on whether they’re incorporating it into their practice.