Colposcopy

Colposcopy is the next test performed if a Pap test is abnormal. It is a way of looking at the cervix through a magnifying instrument, a special magnifying binoculars called colposcope, to see the changes at high magnification. It lets your doctor detect problems of the cervix that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Colposcopy often is used to diagnose cervical cancer, dysplasia, genital warts on the cervix, cervicitis, and benign growths such as polyps. For colposcopy, a speculum like the one used during a Pap test is placed in the vagina. The colposcope then is moved so that the cervix can be seen. The cervix will be cleansed with a solution that sometimes causes a slight burning. This liquid makes abnormal cells on the cervix easier to see. When abnormalities of the cervix are seen by colposcopy, a biopsy may be done to diagnose the problem. In this procedure, small pieces of cervical tissue are removed for study. A biopsy most often can be done in the doctor’s office or clinic. You may have some mild cramping or feel a pinch. The results of a biopsy may not be ready for several days.