Getting abnormal results on a Pap smear or routine pelvic exam causes uncertainty at best and fear at worst. With a colposcopy from the team at Comprehensive Women’s OB/GYN, you can be certain about what’s going on with your reproductive health and start treatment early if it’s necessary. Learn more about how colposcopies are used as diagnostic procedures by scheduling your appointment over the phone or online today.
A colposcopy is an in-office procedure that your physician at Comprehensive Women’s OB/GYN uses to carefully examine your cervix. Your cervix is located at the top of your vaginal canal and leads into your uterus.
A colposcopy goes above and beyond the parameters of a standard pelvic exam. It involves a specialized instrument called a colposcope that looks like a microscope. Your provider looks into the two eyepieces of the colposcope while directing the light attached to it into your vaginal canal. If anything looks abnormal, they take a biopsy of the unusual tissue in your cervix and send it to the lab for testing.
Colposcopies are necessary for several situations. The team at Comprehensive Women’s OB/GYN may ask that you get one after they find abnormal results of a Pap smear or pelvic exam. During your colposcopy, your provider is looking for signs of:
If your physician requested that you get a colposcopy, don’t be afraid: Catching these conditions in their early stages with a colposcopy gives you the best chance at a successful treatment. In some cases, they can catch precancerous cells before cancer develops.
The colposcopy itself doesn’t hurt. However, to open your vaginal canal for viewing, your physician opens it using a speculum, which puts pressure on the walls of your vagina to expand them. Some women find this to be uncomfortable or painful, but it doesn’t hurt for everyone.
Before your physician views your cervix with the colposcope, they may wash your cervix with a vinegar solution. This might cause some stinging or burning, but the sensation is short-lived.
Your physician gives you a complete set of instructions to follow while preparing for a colposcopy. The team at Comprehensive Women’s OB/GYN recommends that you:
If you have any questions about what to expect and how to prepare yourself, you should discuss them with your physician before your colposcopy.
To learn more about the colposcopy procedure, call Comprehensive Women’s OB/GYN, or book your appointment online today.
