Abstract: A vaginal speculum for retaining loose vaginal tissue in a lateral direction includes a pair of blades that are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The blades in the closed position are adapted for insertion into a vagina and in the open position are adapted for dilating the vagina for providing access to a cervix. The speculum also includes a flexible membrane structure, such as a pair of membranes that extend between the blades, The membranes are adapted to retain the lateral walls of the vagina in spaced relation from a midline of the vagina when the blades are in the open position. The membranes are configured to remain in a generally collapsed configuration when the blades are in the closed position to avoid interfering with insertion or withdrawal of the speculum.