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If you have been referred to our care for a procedure called “colposcopy,” most likely it is because you have had an abnormal Pap smear or because your health care provider is concerned about lesions in your genital area. We realize you probably have many questions, and we allow plenty of time to answer them during your first appointment. The following will give you an overview of what to expect in our office.

Colposcopy involves looking at the cervix, vagina and external genital areas through a special magnifying instrument during a pelvic examination. If abnormal areas are seen, they will be biopsied by taking a tiny sample of tissue. This will be sent to a pathology specialist for microscopic evaluation, which helps us determine how to best treat your problem. Biopsies may cause some brief cramping, which can be minimized if you take 800 mg of ibuprofen (four Advil, Motrin IB, Nuprin or generic ibuprofen tablets) one hour before your appointment. Call us if you have any questions about taking this medication. It is available at a drug or grocery store without a prescription. If you feel that you are very sensitive to pain from uterine cramping, we can provide you with a stronger prescription pain medication prior to your appointment to take in addition to the ibuprofen. Please call our office if you need this. Following the colposcopy, if biopsies are done, you will have a vaginal discharge for 5 to 7 days while the cervix is healing.

The major risks of colposcopy and biopsy include the following:

1. Bleeding - since biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue, there may be some bleeding. Normally applying a medicine to the cervix controls this. Rarely, a stitch may be required to stop bleeding. (Rarely, bleeding may start after you leave the office, requiring that you return for further treatment.)

2. Infection - normally the cervix is fairly resistant to infection following biopsy. Occasionally, infection does occur and may show up as unusual pain, discharge, bleeding, fever or bad odor. Treatment may involve antibiotic treatment.

3. Missing disease - the main purpose of using the colposcope is to help find the worst or most diseased area for biopsy. Occasionally, this worst area is not seen well and significant disease may be missed. In this situation, further biopsies and treatment may be needed. It is very important that you follow up with all recommended treatment and testing. It is also important to realize that colposcopy with biopsy is not a “treatment” procedure. It only helps us find disease if it is there. Further treatment may be recommended after the biopsy results are known.

4. Pregnancy - please tell us whether or not you might be pregnant at the time of the colposcopy. A routine urine pregnancy will be done before the colposcopy is performed. Special precautions can be taken at that time to avoid complications with the pregnancy. Sometimes, specialist referral may be needed.

You will be seen again two weeks after colposcopy for follow-up and treatment if indicated (observation, cryotherapy or LEEP). It is important that you let us know if you change your phone number or address so we can keep in touch.

If you have any further questions or concerns about the colposcopy procedure, please call our office and ask to speak with a member of our clinical staff team.