What happens during a colposcopy?
A colposcopy may be done by your primary care provider or by a gynecologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the female reproductive system. The test is usually done in the provider's office. If abnormal tissue is found, you may also get a biopsy.
During a colposcopy:
You will remove your clothing and put on a hospital gown.
You will lie on your back on an exam table with your feet in stirrups.
Your provider will insert a tool called a speculum into your vagina. It is used to spread open your vaginal walls.
Your provider will gently swab your cervix and vagina with a vinegar or iodine solution. This makes abnormal tissues easier to see.
Your provider will place the colposcope near your vagina. But the device will not touch your body.
Your provider will look through the colposcope, which provides a magnified view of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. If any areas of tissue look abnormal, your provider may perform a cervical, vaginal, or vulvar biopsy.
During a biopsy:
A vaginal biopsy can be painful, so your provider may first give you a medicine to numb the area.
Once the area is numb, your provider will use a small tool to remove a sample of tissue for testing. Sometimes many samples are taken.
Your provider may also do a procedure called an endocervical curettage (ECC) to take a sample from the inside of the opening of the cervix. This area can't be seen during a colposcopy. An ECC is done with a special tool called a curette. You may feel a slight pinch or cramp as the tissue is removed.
Your provider may apply a topical medicine to the biopsy site to treat any bleeding you may have.
After a biopsy, you should not douche, use tampons, or have sex for a week after your procedure, or for as long as your health care provider advises.
