Vaginal Speculum

Vaginal Speculum

A vaginal speculum is a medical device used in healthcare services for widening the walls of the vagina for easier medical examination. It allows a healthcare provider to observe the cervix and vaginal canal in a better manner. It is the most commonly known speculum in the healthcare sector. A vaginal speculum helps in the diagnosis of infection or any abnormal growth in the vaginal area. Factors such as rising gynecological cancer cases, genetic disorders, growing antimicrobial resistance in microbes and unhygienic menstrual hygiene provide propelling force to the vaginal speculum market. For instance, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S., increasing age poses a high risk of developing gynecological cancers in most women. It has been estimated that each year in the U.S., about 71,500 new cases of gynecological cancers are diagnosed, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Several factors, including a surge in diagnostic centers for women's health, increasing awareness regarding gynecological cancers, rising gynecological cancer screening programs, unhealthy lifestyles, and increased investments from the government, public, and private sectors in oncology departments are driving the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The Vaginal Speculum Market is expected to grow at a steady rate of around 3.2% due to prevalent technological advancements. For instance, in February 2021, CooperSurgical announced the acquisition of AEGEA Medical of California. This will enhance the arena of women’s healthcare and aid in building the company’s growing portfolio of medical products based on women’s health. Several other factors, such as rising genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and unhealthy lifestyles are leading drivers of vaginal specula globally. For instance, according to the BMC Public Health, in July 2023, the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles was 86.4% for diet, 14.5% for alcohol, 6.0% for tobacco, 72.2% for physical activity, 42.3% for screen time, and 63.9% for sleep duration. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 29.5 million people ages 12 and older had an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the year 2020. Apart from this, accelerated diagnostic tests with advanced therapeutics have resulted in faster treatment procedures and better accuracy which is also driving this market of vaginal speculum at a steady rate.

• Based on blade type, the market is segmented into one blade, two blades, and others. The two-blade segment held the maximum share in the global market of vaginal speculum market in 2022. This segment dominated the market because of the feasibility of vaginal examination provided by this blade. It helps in keeping the vaginal walls at a set distance and enlarging the view of the vaginal canal. The ease of use of this blade in minor operations is also a propelling factor for this segment.
• Based on material type, the market is categorized into stainless steel, plastic, and others. The plastic segment is expected to hold a significant share of the market in the forecast period owing to its potential feature of helping in the maintenance of contamination-free diagnostic procedures. Plastic speculums work well with lubricants and are less rigid than metallic speculums. It aids in providing more comfort to the patients. Such factors are propelling the growth of the plastic category amongst material types in the forecast period.
• On the basis of usability, the market is bifurcated into disposable and reusable. The disposable segment held a significant share of the market in 2022 attributed to the rising demand for sterilization-free medical products. Disposables are cost-effective and productive in terms of lessening the staff required for continuous sterilization processes. They eliminate the possibility of contamination during medical examination. As per preference in the market, many medical device companies are launching such disposable vaginal specula. For instance, in June 2023, Ceek Women's Health, a U.S based medical device company launched ‘Nella’, a new single-use vaginal speculum designed for patient comfort. Thus, disposables held a significant share of the market in 2022 amongst usability.
• For a better understanding of the market adoption of vaginal speculum, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in countries such as North America (U.S., Canada, and Rest of North America), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Rest of World. APAC is expected to grow with a high CAGR in the global vaginal speculum market in the forecast period. Several factors such as the development of a wide range of diagnostics for women's health, enhanced accessibility, increasing cases of gynecological cancers, and diversified healthcare costs are driving the market’s growth during the forecast period. For instance, according to the National Institute of Health in 2022, there were approximately 4,820,000 and 2,370,000 new cancer cases in China. Further, the presence of key medical device companies in the region, and the surge in government initiatives and special communities are also having a positive impact on the market’s growth. For instance, in February 2023, China-based sexual wellness brand HANX launched a new campaign known as “Let’s Open Up” to raise awareness about vaginismus. There have been significant improvisations and enhancements in women's health diagnostics in the region. Thus, amongst regions, APAC is expected to witness higher CAGR during the forecast period.
• Some of the major players operating in the market include Teleflex Incorporated; B.Braun SE; The Cooper Companies, Inc.; Integra Life Sciences; STERIS; Baxter; Vernacare; AdvaCare Pharma; Advin Health Care; A.M.G. Medical Inc.