What Is Colposcopy? How Can It Be Performed?
A woman goes through very frightening period when her gynecologist tells her about abnormal result of her Pap smear test.
Perhaps you will think that you may have cervical cancer that has led to abnormal Pap smear results. In fact, cervical cancer cannot always be a factor behind abnormal pap smears as they may also be caused due to inflammation or infection in woman’s vagina.
Pap smear cannot be considered as a diagnostic tool, rather your gynecologist will consider it as a screening tool and will accordingly like to look more closely you’re your cervix so as to know the exact cause of abnormality in your Pap smear results.
Your gynecologist may think of performing an examination known as colposcopy if your Pap smear results suggest dysplasia or cancer. If evidence of HPV is seen in Pap smear result then also you may have to undergo colposcopy.
In addition to this ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undermined significance) or repetition of ASCUS, visible in Pap smear results may also necessitate colposcopy.
You may have to go through colposcopy if your gynecologist detects or suspects any abnormality in your cervix during pelvic examination. The abnormal cervix can also be seen in Pap smear results. In case you were once exposed to prenatal DES your gynecologist may advice colposcopy.
Colposcopy which can be carried out in the office of gynecologist is a simple examination process lasting for 10 to 15 minutes without causing any pain to patient.
For colposcopy your gynecologist may tell you to position yourself on examination table in the same way as you were during Pap smear examination. Common table vinegar or any other acetic acid may be kept on your cervix. This will lead to filling of water into cervical cells without allowing light to pass through them.
Your physician can have a look at your cervix with the help of colposcope. This large electric microscopic tool can be placed nearly 30 cm from the vagina. The cervix can be clearly visible through brightly lit end of colposcope.
While performing colposcopy your gynecologist may concentrate those cervical areas that do not allow the light to pass. The whitish areas in your cervix can suggest abnormality or dysplasia. The colposcope may also indicate vascular abnormality.
In case colposcope makes the whole abnormal area visible your physician may feel the need of taking tissue sample or biopsy from white areas for further laboratory examination.
