Topical anesthetic (lidocaine-prilocaine) cream application before speculum examination in postmenopausal women.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA 5%) cream application to genital mucosa for reducing pain or discomfort associated with speculum examination in postmenopausal women.

Design: A randomized controlled study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Setting: A university hospital.