what is a coposcopy?

One of the most frightening times in a woman's life is when the gynecologist calls and says her Pap smear results are abnormal. Although you might think an abnormal Pap smear means you have cervical cancer, the fact is that the majority of abnormal Pap smears are not caused by cervical cancer. The more likely cause of abnormal Pap smear results is inflammation or a vaginal infection.

Because the Pap smear is a screening tool and not a diagnostic tool, your gynecologist may want to take a closer look at your cervix to determine the cause of your abnormal Pap smear results. The tool your gynecologist uses to get a closer look at your cervix is called a colposcope. The colposcope is used for the colposcopy examination.

Reasons your doctor may have for ordering this procedure include Pap smear results which:

indicate dysplasia or cancer

show evidence of HPV

show atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or repeated (ASCUS)

Your gynecologist may also order a colposcopy because your cervix appears abnormal during your pelvic exam and Pap smear, or if you have a history of prenatal DES exposure.

During the colposcopy procedure your gynecologist uses the colposcopy to visually exam the cervix.

Colposcopy is a simple and painless procedure that is performed in the gynecologist's office. The procedure takes about ten or fifteen minutes.

The colposcopy procedure is similar to the Pap smear. You are positioned on the examination table as in a Pap smear, however acetic acid (such as common table vinegar) is placed on the cervix. This causes the cervical cells to fill with water so light will not pass through them.

Another difference that you will notice is that your physician uses a colposcope to view your cervix. A colposcope is a large, electric microscope that is positioned approximately 30 cm from the vagina. A bright light on the end of the colposcope makes it possible for the gynecologist to clearly see the cervix.

During the colposcopy, the gynecologist focuses on the areas of the cervix where light does not pass through. Abnormal cervical changes are seen as white areas, the whiter the area, the worse the cervical dysplasia. Abnormal blood vessel changes are also apparent through the colposcope. Abnormal vascular changes can occur in dysplasia. Typically, worse the vascular changes are the worse the dysplasia.

If your physician is able to view the entire abnormal area through the colposcope, a tissue sample or biopsy is taken from the whitest abnormal areas and sent to the lab for further evaluation.

Cryosurgery or a freezing of the abnormal cells may be performed next and, in some cases, can make this a diagnostic/ treatment procedure in one. If your physician, is unable to view the entire abnormal area, as when the abnormal area extends inside the cervix, another procedure such as a Cone biopsy or LEEP procedure is performed.

If you mean colposcopy its where the gynecologist or nurse looks at your cervic through a scope. Don't worry the scope is not inserted. They insert a speculum like for a pap test and then use the scope outside to look in. Its used to investigate abnormal smear/ pap tests. I've had one and its no big deal. Done inside of ten mintues.

Colposcopy or colcoscopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to examine an illuminated, magnified view of the cervix and the tissues of the vagina and vulva.

The doctor looks at your cervix through something that looks like binoculars, he will take a scraping of your cervix to see the abnormal cells. Your pap came back with abnormal growth that is why this is being done.

I'm assuming you meant colposcopy?

If so it is an instrument that magnifies the cells of the cervix and vagina to permit direct observation and study of the living tissue.

Hope I helped! =]

Colposcopy is a procedure to examine your cervix, vagina, and vulva.