Colposcopy

What is Colposcopy?

Colposcopy; It is an optical system that we use to magnify the cervix, vagina, and vulva (external genital area) between 20 and 60 times to reveal diseases that we cannot see with our eyes alone

What is Colposcopy is used for?

The most frequent reasons for colposcopy in recent years have been the discovery of high-risk HPV types or the discovery of anomalies in the smear results following the free HPV tests carried out by family physicians. The gold standard examination technique for detecting cervical cancer precursor lesions early is a colposcopy procedure.

Colposcopy is a procedure to identify, if any, abnormal cellular changes and their possible causes. In the following circumstances, it is suggested that you take action;

  • High-risk HPV test positivity (TYPE 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68 )
  • In abnormal smear results (diseases of the cervix before cancer formation and diseases that can turn into cancer if not treated)
  1. ASCUS (Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance)
  2. ASC-H (Abnormal squamous epithelial cells from which a high-grade lesion cannot be excluded)
  3. LGSIL (Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion)
  4. HGSIL (High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion)
  • Suspicious cervix during gynecological examination
  • Bleeding during or after sexual intercourse
  • Repeated insufficient smear test results

kolposkopi

What to do Before Colposcopy?

  • In order to perform colposcopy, the woman should not have menstrual bleeding. Bleeding reduces image quality and makes it difficult to evaluate tissues clearly.
  • No vaginal intercourse for at least two days before colposcopy.
  • It is advised that the patient refrain from vaginal washing, use tampons, and discontinue use of vaginal medications within 24-48 hours of the procedure.

How Long Colposcopy Takes?

The colposcopy procedure takes about 15-20 minutes.

Is Colposcopy Procedure Painful? 

The majority of patients have significant fear and anxiety before having a colposcopy. The wrong information that patients may read online, particularly on websites where women share information, can contribute to their problems worse. In fact, this could make patients extremely anxious and unable to sleep because they would constantly be thinking about the colposcopy procedure. Instead of reading information from these sharing websites, patients should seek advice from their doctors.

Contrary to popular belief, a colposcopic biopsy is not painful. due to the insensitivity of the cervix to pain. The patient is not bothered by and is not in pain during the biopsies from this area.

The best way to get rid of your fears and worries is to ask your doctor all your questions about the colposcopic biopsy procedure and get detailed information.

How to Perform Colposcopy Procedure?

Colposcopy is a procedure done under clinical conditions on the gynecological examination table that takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Steps of Colposcopy Procedure;

  • The patient is taken to the examination table.
  • To make the cervix visible, a device called a speculum is inserted into the vagina.
  • The cervix is made fully visible.
  • Acetic acid or lugol are two special solutions that are applied to the cervix during the colposcopy procedure to look for areas of abnormal cell proliferation or to determine whether precancerous changes have begun. It should start working within two to three minutes.
  • The colposcopy instrument is positioned in front of the patient to allow viewing of the cervix. A thorough examination is performed after the lens and distance are adjusted so that the cervix can be seen clearly.
  • If a suspicious place is observed, biopsies are taken and sent to pathology.

FAQs About Colposcopy

Will There Be Bleeding After Colposcopy?

The colposcopy procedure uses millimetric biopsies, which greatly reduces the risk of bleeding and infection.

How Many Days in Colposcopic Biopsy Results?

Colposcopy in our clinic may reveal suspicious tissue, and if a biopsy is taken, the results of the pathology are available in 3-5 working days.

What to Consider After Colposcopy?

Colposcopy is a simple procedure with minimal risks. So there’s no need for you to be afraid of this process. You might experience spotting bleeding or a dark discharge, flowing for two to three days following a colposcopic biopsy. There is no requirement to follow up if a biopsy was not performed.

  •  The pain you feel after a colposcopy is typically in the form of contractions; menstrual pain will only occur infrequently.
  •  After 5 to 7 days, sexual activity is free following a colposcopic biopsy. You must wait a while if the bleeding persists.
  •  After a colposcopy, the bleeding is blotchy and dark brown. It ends in two to three days, but very rarely it could last longer.
  •  Menstrual cycles are unaffected by colposcopy, and the procedure has no impact on menstrual bleeding.
  •  Following colposcopy, treatment is scheduled in accordance with the pathology report. Results from pathology are finished in 3-5 working days. As soon as the results are available, we notify you to help with treatment planning.

Is İt Safe To Have A Colposcopy During Pregnancy?

It is absolutely doable and will not cause any harm to the baby.

  • One of the common pregnancy tests is the smear, a cervical cancer screening test. This test should be performed if you are pregnant because many women skip the gynecology examination.
  • 3% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer are diagnosed during pregnancy.
  • Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, there might be variations in the results of the smear test. Therefore, the smear test belonging to the pregnant woman must be stated to the pathology doctor.
  • In the event that the results of the smear test call for colposcopy, pregnant women can undergo colposcopy with ease.
  • Colposcopy may reveal a suspicious lesion, in which case a biopsy may be necessary. Any month of pregnancy can use this procedure.
  • Bleeding is the most frequent complication we observe in pregnant patients who underwent colposcopy. This bleeding stops after a while without intervention.

In summary, the following is applicable to patients who require a colposcopy while pregnant:

  1. A colposcopy should be done on a patient whose smear results indicate LGSIL/CIN 1 if the patient is pregnant. It is advised to use postpartum control if the colposcopy is normal.
  2. Colposcopy-guided biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis if the smear raises any indications of HGSIL/CIN2-CIN3 or cervical cancer.
  3. Curettage of the cervical canal, also known as endocervical curettage, is not advised during pregnancy.

Vaginal normal delivery is possible if the diagnosis (CIN1/CIN2/CIN3) is discovered during pregnancy. For these conditions, appropriate treatment is initiated after birth.

Most of our patients, who we advise to undergo colposcopy during pregnancy, do not want to. Colposcopy is safe during pregnancy, so expectant mothers shouldn’t be concerned about it.

Colposcopy Appointment

Many of our patients from İzmir, Aydın, Balıkesir, Kütahya, Antalya, Manisa, Muğla, Uşak, Çanakkale, Denizli and the surrounding provinces get their results in a short time by making an appointment in our clinic in İzmir and having their colposcopy procedure done at the appointment time without waiting in line. Contacting us will help you schedule a colposcopy appointment.