What does a colposcopy check for?
A colposcopy is most often used to find abnormal cells in the cervix, vagina, or vulva. It may also be used to: Check for genital warts, which may be a sign of an HPV (human papillomavirus) infection. Having HPV may put you at higher risk for developing cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancer.
How painful is a coloscopy?
A colposcopy is nearly pain-free. You might feel pressure when the speculum goes in. It might also sting or burn a little when they wash your cervix with the vinegar-like solution. If you get a biopsy, you might have some discomfort.
How do you get HPV positive?
HPV spreads through sexual contact and is very common in young people — frequently, the test results will be positive. However, HPV infections often clear on their own within a year or two. Cervical changes that lead to cancer usually take several years — often 10 years or more — to develop.
Does HPV mean my husband cheated?
Having HPV does not mean that a person or their partner is having sex outside the current relationship. There is no treatment to eliminate HPV itself. HPV is usually dealt with by your body’s immune system.
Is HPV considered an STD?
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes).
Is a colposcopy necessary for HPV?
If you don’t have a high-risk type of HPV, no further testing is recommended. But if you have a high-risk type of HPV: Colposcopy is recommended to see how severe the cell changes are. It doesn’t mean that minor cell changes will progress to cancer, because HPV infections can go away on their own.
Why would I need a colposcopy?
A colposcopy can be used to diagnose: abnormal cervical cells, or precancer or cancer of the cervix, vagina, or vulva. genital warts. inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
What happens after my colposcopy biopsy exam?
After a colposcopy, you may have dark vaginal discharge for up to three days, and some bleeding for up to a week. Your vagina may be sore, and you may experience mild cramping for 1 to 2 days. If no biopsy was taken, you may resume normal activity right away. If you had a biopsy, avoid the use of tampons, douches,…
Where can I get a colposcopy?
Colposcopy is usually done by a gynecologist, a family medicine physician, or a nurse practitioner who has been trained to do the test. If a biopsy is done, the sample will be looked at by a pathologist. Colposcopy can be done in your doctor’s office.
How is colposcopy performed?
Colposcopy is performed in a doctor’s office and usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes. It is done in the same manner a pelvic exam or Pap smear is performed. The patient will lie on the exam table with feet resting in the stirrups. A speculum is inserted into the vagina to open it up for better visibility.