Colposcopy

What is Colposcopy?

It is A follow-up to abnormal Pap test results

Colposcopy: A follow-up to abnormal Pap test results

Colposcopy is a procedure used to determine whether abnormal cervical cells are cancerous.
After your pelvic exam and Pap test, your doctor informs you of some troubling news: You have had abnormal cells identified on your Pap smear. The presence of abnormal cells could mean that you have a precancerous condition of the cervix or, possibly, cervical cancer.

What's next? Your doctor may recommend colposcopy — a procedure to closely examine your cervix — to identify the source of the abnormal cells. Alleviate some of your anxiety about this procedure by understanding what it involves, how you can prepare and what you can expect afterward.

Who is colposcopy for?

Colposcopy: A follow-up to abnormal Pap test results

Colposcopy is the direct examination of your genital area, including the cervix, vagina and vaginal opening (vulva), using a special lighted microscope called a colposcope. A trained specialist (colposcopist) performs this procedure. The colposcope magnifies the surface of your cervix and vagina by 10 to 40 times the normal size. This aids the colposcopist in identifying areas of abnormal cell growth that can't be seen by the naked eye.

If the colposcopist detects abnormal cells during the exam, he or she may collect a sampling of the tissue (biopsy) to send to a lab for analysis.

Your doctor might recommend a colposcopy to find out the cause of your abnormal Pap test results or to evaluate a visible abnormality. You might also have a colposcopy if your doctor wants to examine the outcome of previous treatment for an abnormal Pap test result.

Source:
* riverside.com