Colposcopy is a painless gynecological procedure used to examine the vagina and cervix with a special lighted microscope, called a colposcope. A camera may be attached to the colposcope to take pictures or videos. This is done to detect and examine abnormalities so that the doctor can properly diagnose and treat anything that seems suspicious.
What tests are done?
Three tests are performed during the colposcopy procedure. The first two are to make sure the doctor can properly see the abnormality. The final step is what the doctor takes to perform more tests. Here are the details of each step of the procedure:
- Acetic acid wash: Using a cotton swab with a vinegar solution (acetic acid) removes mucus from the vagina, making it easier to see any abnormalities. Sometimes an iodine stain is also performed.
- Use of color filters: the use of blue or green filtered light makes abnormal capillaries more noticeable to the doctor.
- Cervical tissue biopsy: Tissue samples are taken from abnormal areas and sent to a pathologist for analysis. Treatment is determined based on the severity of the abnormalities.
How should the patient prepare?
Being properly prepared for any procedure is the key to effective results, and this is particularly true for a colposcopy. There are a few steps to take to make sure your result is clear to the doctor and to the next phase of testing.
- Schedule your procedure for when you don't have your period.
- Do not have sexual intercourse for 24 hours before the procedure.
- Empty your bladder just before the colposcopy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, have drug allergies, have had bleeding problems, are taking blood thinners, or have been treated for a vaginal infection. With any procedure, make sure your doctor is aware of any possibility of pregnancy.
- Take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen half an hour beforehand to reduce discomfort from the colposcopy or biopsy.
El Dr. Alfonso Ángel Quesada, gynecologist and obstetrician at Ginefem, solves one of the frequently asked questions among patients who have to perform a colposcopy.
