During treatment for any precancerous tissue or cancer, you may have additional colposcopies to see how well a treatment is working and to look for additional abnormal changes over time. Share your thoughts on this blog post on Cancer. Net's Facebook and Twitter. The Cancer. Net Podcasts Tags About Us. Colposcopy: How to Prepare and What to Know. June 13, How is a colposcopy different than a pap test? What happens during a colposcopy? What happens if my doctor sees an abnormal area during the colposcopy?
What should I do before a colposcopy? Will I have any side effects from the colposcopy? What happens when the biopsy results come back? Tags: cervical cancer vaginal cancer vulvar cancer tips screening. MedlinePlus: Colposcopy. Net Podcasts. RSS Feed. Net Terms and Conditions. Your doctor may apply a solution of vinegar or another type of solution to the area. This may cause a burning or tingling sensation. The solution helps highlight any areas of suspicious cells.
If your doctor finds a suspicious area, a small sample of tissue may be collected for laboratory testing. To collect the tissue, your doctor uses a sharp biopsy instrument to remove a small piece of tissue. If there are multiple suspicious areas, your doctor may take multiple biopsy samples. If your doctor didn't take a biopsy sample during your colposcopy, you won't have any restrictions on your activity once your exam is complete. You may experience some spotting or very light bleeding from your vagina in the next day or two.
Use a pad to catch any blood or discharge. Avoid tampons, douching and vaginal intercourse for a week after your biopsy, or for as long as your doctor instructs you to.
Before you leave your colposcopy appointment, ask your doctor when you can expect the results. Also ask for a phone number you may call in the event you don't hear back from your doctor within a specified time. The results of your colposcopy will determine whether you'll need any further testing and treatment.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Colposcopy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Colposcopy A trained specialist colposcopist positions the colposcope to examine your cervix, vagina and vulva for the presence of suspicious areas of tissue that might indicate cancer.
Female reproductive system Open pop-up dialog box Close. Female reproductive system The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina vaginal canal make up the female reproductive system. Vulva Open pop-up dialog box Close. LLETZ takes minutes and is usually carried out as an outpatient procedure, which means you won't need to stay in hospital overnight. A local anaesthetic is usually injected into the cervix to numb the area. However, you may experience some mild pain, similar to period pain.
If a larger area of the cervix needs to be treated, the procedure will take longer and you may need a general anaesthetic. You may have light bleeding for several weeks after the procedure. There's some evidence to suggest that women treated with the LLETZ procedure have an increased risk of premature birth in future pregnancies.
However, in most cases, the benefits of treatment will greatly outweigh this small risk. Your doctor can advise further about this, if necessary. It's not possible to carry out a cone biopsy at the same time as a colposcopy. A cone biopsy is a minor operation that may require an overnight stay in hospital. It's not carried out as often as LLETZ and only tends to be used if a large area of tissue needs to be removed.
A cone biopsy is carried out under general anaesthetic. A cone-shaped piece of tissue is removed from your cervix using a scalpel. The tissue will then be sent to a laboratory for closer examination. Following a cone biopsy, a dressing pack may be placed in your vagina to help stop any bleeding. It's normal to bleed for up to 4 weeks after having a cone biopsy. You may also have some period-like pain, although any discomfort should only last for a couple of hours.
Your GP or staff at the clinic will be able to answer any queries or discuss any concerns you may have about your colposcopy or treatment. Abnormal cells can also be treated in a number of other ways.
Your doctor can give you advice about the procedures outlined below:. The test will be carried out to check for the presence of abnormal cells and the human papilloma virus HPV. If some mildy abnormal cells are found but the virus is no longer present, it's highly likely that the condition has been cleared from your cervix.
If HPV isn't found, you won't need to be screened for another 3 years. However, if HPV is found, or if more significant cell changes moderate or severe are detected again, you should be referred for another colposcopy. Removing abnormal cervical cells is an effective way of preventing cervical cancer. However, there are some risks associated with the treatment.
There's also a slightly higher risk of having a baby prematurely if you get pregnant after having cells removed from your cervix. Not all women with abnormal cervical cells will need treatment to remove them. However, all women with serious cell abnormalities will be offered treatment to have them removed.
You'll be advised to have the abnormal cells removed anyway, just in case. Home Tests and treatments Non-surgical procedures Colposcopy. Colposcopy See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. Introduction 2. Why it's used 3. How it's carried out 4. Results 5. Treating abnormal cells in the cervix. Introduction A colposcopy is a procedure to find out whether there are abnormal cells on or in a woman's cervix or vagina. When a colposcopy is needed You may need a colposcopy after having a routine cervical screening test.
Other reasons for having a colposcopy may include: some of the cells in your cervical screening sample are abnormal but not necessarily cancerous you are infected with human papillomavirus HPV , which is the main cause of the abnormal cell changes and might lead to cancer you've had several screening tests, but it wasn't possible to give you a result the nurse or doctor who carried out your screening test thought your cervix didn't look as healthy as it should A colposcopy can also be used to investigate things such as unexplained vaginal bleeding for example, after sex or an inflamed cervix.
What happens during a colposcopy? Colposcopy results The colposcopist will usually be able to tell straight away if there are abnormal cells in your cervix.
Colposcopy treatment Mild abnormalities don't always need to be treated. Try not to worry If you're referred for a colposcopy after an abnormal cervical screening test, you shouldn't assume you have cervical cancer. Why it's used A colposcopy is sometimes carried out after a routine cervical screening test. Further investigation using a colposcopy Although abnormal cervical screening results rarely indicate cancer, it's important to investigate all moderate and severe abnormal cell changes, so that any problems can be treated as soon as possible.
Other reasons for a colposcopy A colposcopy may also sometimes be used to investigate: unexplained vaginal bleeding — for example, after sex an abnormal appearance of the cervix after an examination an inflamed cervix cervicitis benign non-cancerous growths — such as polyps and cysts genital warts found on the cervix. How it's carried out A colposcopy is a safe and quick procedure.
A colposcopy is a safe procedure to have during pregnancy. Before your colposcopy You'll be referred for a colposcopy if your cervical screening test reveals cervical cell changes, or symptoms such as unexplained pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding need to be investigated.
During your colposcopy The colposcopist will explain the procedure, to help put you at ease. In some cases, treatment may be recommended straight away, rather than a biopsy being done. After your colposcopy You should be able to continue with your daily activities after your appointment, including driving. Follow-up appointment Following a colposcopy, you should be invited to a follow-up appointment to check that the cells in your cervix have returned to normal.
Results After a colposcopy, your colposcopist will usually be able to tell you what they have found straight away. Biopsy results If you've had a biopsy during your colposcopy, the tissue sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing. Treating abnormal cells in the cervix You may need treatment if the results of your colposcopy show that there are abnormal cells in your cervix. Timing of treatment It's often possible to have treatment at the same time as your colposcopy.
Large loop excision of the transformation zone In the UK, large loop excision of the transformation zone LLETZ is the most common treatment for abnormal cervical cells. After having LLETZ, you should avoid: using tampons for 4 weeks use sanitary pads instead having sex for 4 weeks exercising, including swimming, for at least 2 weeks, or while there's still any bleeding or discharge These all increase your risk of developing an infection after the procedure. Cone biopsy It's not possible to carry out a cone biopsy at the same time as a colposcopy.
After treatment Following a cone biopsy, you'll probably be advised to avoid: using tampons for 4 weeks use sanitary pads instead having sex for 4 weeks exercising, including swimming, for at least 2 weeks, or while there's still any bleeding or discharge Your GP or staff at the clinic will be able to answer any queries or discuss any concerns you may have about your colposcopy or treatment.
Other treatments Abnormal cells can also be treated in a number of other ways. Your doctor can give you advice about the procedures outlined below: Cryotherapy — where the abnormal cells are frozen and destroyed.
Laser treatment — a laser is used to pinpoint and destroy abnormal cells on your cervix. Cold coagulation — a heat source is applied to the cervix to burn away the abnormal cells. Total hysterectomy surgical removal of the womb — this will only be considered if abnormal cells on your cervix have been found more than once or if they're severely abnormal. Cervical screening and HPV testing following treatment for abnormal cells 6 months after your treatment for abnormal cervical cells, you should have a cervical screening test.
Risks of removing abnormal cervical cells Removing abnormal cervical cells is an effective way of preventing cervical cancer. There's a risk of developing an infection after having cells removed. See your GP if you have: heavy or persistent bleeding a smelly vaginal discharge persistent tummy pain There's also a slightly higher risk of having a baby prematurely if you get pregnant after having cells removed from your cervix.
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