Tenaculum Placement
Place the tenaculum on the anterior aspect of the cervix to straighten the axis of the uterus and to stabilize the cervix. Rarely, when the uterus is particularly anteverted, placement on the posterior cervix is more helpful.
Once the tenaculum is in contact with the cervix, tips one to two centimeters apart, squeeze the teeth together slowly to embed them in the cervical tissue. Squeezing slowly is less painful for the patient.
It may be helpful to ask the patient to take a deep breath just as you squeeze the teeth together (as a distraction).
Test your application gently to make sure that it is not so superficial that you pull through the cervical epithelium, when you apply traction.
