What is a Colposcopy Procedure?

What is a Colposcopy Procedure?

A colposcopy procedure is an examination method doctors use to get a closer look at a woman’s cervix. It involves using a special microscope that allows doctors to look at the cervix and see far more than the naked eye is capable of seeing. The procedure itself is very similar to a pap smear.

The woman lies on the table with her legs in stirrups as she would during a pap smear. Only this time, a solution is placed on the cervix so that light does not shine through it, allowing the doctor to take a closer look at the surface of the cervix. Then, the colposcope is brought down between the woman’s legs with the light shining on the cervix.

Doctors are looking at the white areas that may show up on the cervix. If these areas are seen on the surface of the cervix, then the doctor may be prompted to take a biopsy, which they usually do at the time of the procedure.

Why is a Colposcopy Procedure Needed?

When a woman has a pap smear, as uncomfortable as it is, it is not an in-depth look at the health of her cervix. The pap smear only offers an indication that there may or may not be something wrong. The colposcopy procedure is done when a pap smear comes back as abnormal. Don’t panic, because this can mean a variety of things. Some of the things doctors are looking for when performing this procedure are listed below.

• HPV
• exposure to prenatal DES
• cancer

Without a doubt, to see the word “cancer” in relation to something a doctor may be searching for on or in your body is enough to cause alarm, but in most cases, precancerous cells being found in a cervix can easily be taken care of in an outpatient procedure that only takes about 10 minutes and has no effect on your ability to ever give birth.

References: women’s health.org