What is a colposcopy?

Colposcopy is a way of looking at the cervix through a special magnifying device called a colposcope. It shines a light onto the vagina and cervix.During colposcopy, your doctor uses a lighted magnifying device that looks like a pair of binoculars (colposcope). The colposcope allows your doctor to see problems that would be missed by the naked eye.

The Procedure

Colposcopy is done like a Pap test in our office. Colposcopy may involve taking pictures of your vagina and cervix. The procedure is best done when a woman is not having her period. For at least 24 hours before the test, it is a good idea not to:

Douche Use tampons Use vaginal medications Have sex

You will lie on your back with your feet placed in stirrups for support. A speculum will be used to spread apart the vaginal walls so that the inside of the vagina and the cervix can be seen. The colposcope is placed just outside the entrance of your vagina. Your doctor may put vinegar (acetic acid) and sometimes iodine (Lugol's solution) on the vagina and cervix with a cotton swab or cotton balls to see problem areas more clearly. If a problem is seen during colposcopy, a small sample of tissue (biopsy) may be taken from the cervix or from inside the opening of the cervix (endocervical canal). The sample is looked at under a microscope.

Why is it done?

A colposcopy is done to:

• Look at the cervix for problem areas when a Pap smear is abnormal. If an area of abnormal tissue is found, a cervical biopsy or biopsy from the inside opening of the cervix (endocervical canal)is usually done.
• Check a sore or other problem (such as genital warts) found on or around the vagina and cervix.
• Follow up on abnormal areas seen on a previous colposcopy. It can also be done to see if the treatment of a problem worked.
• Look at the cervix for problem areas in an HPV test shows a high-risk type of HPV is present.
• If there is pain or bleeding.

Results

If a biopsy was taken, it will be sent to the pathologist for further analysis (you will receive a separate bill from them). The physician or their nurse will contact you with results or have you come back to discuss them. Depending on the results, you may need to be checked more often or may need further testing and treatment.