Colposcopy
If your OBGYN needs to examine your cervix in more detail to check for any signs of infection or disease, colposcopy is one of the least invasive ways for them to get a clear view. The highly qualified team of experts at West Kendall OBGYN, serving the Kendall and West Kendall areas of Miami and Doral, FL, has specialist expertise in carrying out colposcopy procedures with the minimum of discomfort and inconvenience. Call West Kendall OBGYN today to find out more, or book an appointment online.
Colposcopy Q&A
What is a Colposcopy?
Colposcopy is a medical procedure that allows your OBGYN to view your cervix in more detail than is possible during a routine physical exam.
The colposcope is an instrument equipped with a light and a magnifier that passes up your vagina to give a clear view of the cervix and enable the identification of any abnormalities. Your provider at West Kendall OBGYN can perform a colposcopy as a simple and convenient in-office procedure.
When Would I Need a Colposcopy?
Your provider at West Kendall OBGYN might advise that you undergo colposcopy if the results of your Pap smear show there are changes in the cells on your cervix. A regular Pap smear is a vital test that picks up any indications of cervical cancer so you can receive treatment before the disease takes hold. After testing a cell sample taken from your cervix, any abnormality needs investigating further, although, in the majority of cases, the changes seen in cervical cell samples aren’t due to cancer.
Other reasons why you might need to undergo colposcopy include:
Inflamed cervix (cervicitis)
Genital warts on the cervix
Benign growths and polyps
Unexplained pelvic pain
Mid-cycle bleeding
During the colposcopy procedure, your gynecologist can also take a biopsy, which is a small sample of tissue, if they see anything that needs further analysis.
What Happens During a Colposcopy?
Your provider at West Kendall OBGYN carries out your colposcopy mid-cycle when it’s easiest to see your cervix clearly. Having a colposcopy is very much like having your Pap smear, where you lay on an examination table with your legs raised, and knees dropped to the sides, and your gynecologist inserts a speculum into your vagina to open the vaginal walls.
Then, rather than taking a quick cell sample as they would for your Pap smear, your gynecologist places the colposcope where it shines its light on your cervix to give a clear view. If necessary, they can apply a highlighting liquid to your cervix to pick up abnormal cells. If there’s any indication of abnormality, they take a biopsy or use endocervical curettage (ECC) to collect cells from your cervical canal.
After your colposcopy, you can carry on with your day, although if you have a biopsy, you may feel a little discomfort. Some women find they have slight discharge or bleeding after colposcopy, but this should clear up in a few days.
If you need to undergo a colposcopy, your provider at West Kendall OBGYN takes every care to ensure the procedure is as comfortable as possible and that you get the results swiftly. If you have any concerns about your gynecological health, call the clinic today, or book an appointment online.