Colposcopy

A colposcopy is a medical procedure that examines your cervix, vulva, and vagina. It’s usually performed when a Pap smear result is atypical and some abnormal cells are found. These cells are usually harmless but may develop into cancer, and a colposcopy is used to visually confirm the presence or absence of abnormal growths.

Why a Colposcopy?

There are several reasons why our medical professionals will want to do a colposcopy. The main reason is that a cervical screening result came back as abnormal and further verification is needed. This can be because a Pap smear result was abnormal or the doctor who carried out the cervical screen noticed that the cervix wasn’t as healthy as it should be.

Other reasons to do a colposcopy include to find the cause of unusual vaginal bleeding or to diagnose the presence of genital warts. It is also sometimes used to examine the vulva or vagina for the presence of precancerous changes. Our specialists at Orange Blossom Women’s Group in Trinity will only recommend a colposcopy if it’s determined to be necessary.

The Procedure

While the idea of a colposcopy can be intimidating, the procedure itself is relatively simple. If you schedule a visit at Orange Blossom Women’s Group center in Trinity, one of our professionals will first make sure to put you at ease before beginning the procedure. You will be placed on an exam table, and our doctor will use a specialized tool to separate the walls of the vagina so that the cervix can be clearly seen. A dye is used to highlight any abnormal patches. If any are found, our doctor may take a small sample for further analysis.

What Results Can You Expect?

In most instances, our doctor will be able to tell you immediately if there were any abnormal cells detected or not. If our doctor decided to take a sample, you might have to wait for the lab results of the biopsy to arrive. The results of the biopsy will then either indicate if any abnormal cells are present and our doctor will advise treatment accordingly. If no abnormal cells are found, then the recommendation is usually to continue cervical screening as normal, on a yearly basis. If some abnormal cells are found, our doctor will advise on what treatments will be needed to remove them. You can always contact us to discuss either the colposcopy procedure or your results and we will do our best to assist you and find a solution that best meets your needs.