Colposcopy

A colposcopy is a procedure in which your physician will look at your vagina and cervix with a lighted magnifying tool in order to find abnormal tissue that would otherwise go unnoticed.

You may need to have a colposcopy if you have abnormal results from a cervical cancer screening, if you have vaginal pain or bleeding, benign growths, or genital warts. If your physician notices any abnormal tissue during this procedure, he or she may perform a biopsy, removing a small piece of tissue that will be sent to a lab to be tested.

If you have been scheduled for a colposcopy, make sure that you avoid using tampons, douching, having sex, or using vaginal medications in the 24 hours before your exam. This procedure should also be scheduled at a time when you are not on your period as the blood may obstruct the physician’s view of your cervix.
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