What is a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is a close-up look at your cervix done by a specially-trained health care provider.  During a colposcopy a speculum is inserted into your vagina, just like when a pap test is done.  In addition, your health care provider will use a special tool called a colposcope to get a magnified view of your cervix.  The colposcope does not actually touch you during the procedure.

Why do I have to get a colposcopy?

The most common reason for needing a colposcopy is that a woman had a pap test that showed some abnormal changes with her cervical cells or had positive HPV results with her Pap test.  A colposcopy allows your health care provider to take a look at your cervix and see the area(s) where those changes are taking place.  Your health care provider will generally be able to tell if the degree of change noted on the pap test results is accurate when compared to the colposcopy findings.

Ignoring the problem of an abnormal Pap test result will not make it go away; it is very important to have a colposcopic exam done if recommended by your health care provider.  When cervical cell changes are caught early and examined by colposcopy, those changes are usually followed with additional Pap tests until the changes return to normal.  Only the more significant changes have to be treated to be cured.

Does this mean I have cancer?

No!  The cells on the cervix can have abnormalities for a number of different reasons.  These cells have to go through many stages of change before they become cervical cancer.  A colposcopy allows your health care provider to diagnose the problem early, and if action is needed the abnormal cells can usually be removed with a treatment done at a gynecologist’s office.

Does this mean I will have to have surgery?

No!  About 90% of patients will not have to have surgery to determine the reason for their abnormal pap smears, but some patients will need treatment and more frequent pap tests.  These treatments are typically very minimal, especially when abnormal cell changes are detected early through regular pap testing.

My health care provider said that they may have to do a biopsy depending on what they see during the colposcopy.  What does this mean?

Some abnormalities may be caused by an infection; if that is the case then a biopsy may not be necessary.  However, if your health care provider sees an area of abnormal cell changes during the colposcopy exam, they may want to do a small biopsy.

During a biopsy, a small piece of tissue (about the size of a match head) will be removed from your cervix. Some women experience cramping similar to menstrual cramps during the biopsy.  This tissue sample from the biopsy will be sent away to a lab for further testing to tell the degree of the cell changes.  

For more information on colposcopy or to schedule an appointment, contact Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center at (207) 947-5337..

Every woman, EVERY YEAR
Whether or not you need a Pap smear, every woman needs an annual exam. Getting an annual exam at Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center is an investment in your most important asset: YOU!  By having an annual exam every year, you learn more about how your body works and how to stay healthy.

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