Colposcopy Specialist

What is colposcopy?

Colposcopy is an in-office gynecological procedure that allows your provider at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, to evaluate your cervix more closely. 

During the procedure, your provider uses a colposcope, a lighted magnifying device placed outside your vagina, allowing them to examine the tissue closely and look for signs of abnormalities. 

The colposcope can significantly enlarge the view of the tissue.

Why do I need a colposcopy?

Most women need a colposcopy following an abnormal Pap smear. The Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. An abnormal test requires further evaluation to confirm or rule out cervical cancer. 

The Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, team may recommend a colposcopy if you have other gynecological conditions such as genital warts, an inflamed cervix, or cervical polyps.

They may also perform the test to help diagnose the cause of your abnormal bleeding or pelvic pain. 

What happens during a colposcopy?

Your provider at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, performs your colposcopy at the office, but you need to schedule the test when you’re not menstruating. 

Like your pelvic exam, you sit or lie back on the exam table with your knees bent and legs spread. Your OB/GYN inserts a speculum in your vagina to improve the visibility of your cervix. Then, they place the colposcope outside the vagina to examine the tissue.

Your provider applies a specialized solution to the tissue to highlight tissue abnormalities. You may feel some burning after the application of the solution. If the team finds irregularities, they biopsy the tissue and send it to the lab for evaluation.

What happens after colposcopy?

What happens after your colposcopy depends on whether you need a biopsy or not. You can resume your usual activities if you have a colposcopy without a biopsy, though you may have mild spotting.

If you had a biopsy during your colposcopy, you may have abdominal pain and cramping for a day or two and discharge that lasts a few days. The team calls you as soon as they have the results of your biopsy.

Find out more about the colposcopy at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, by calling the office or scheduling a consultation online today.