A colposcope is a medical device used by gynecologists to inspect cervical and vaginal tissue for abnormalities. It is used when other medical tests cannot diagnose a condition. The procedure is usually painless and takes less than 20 minutes. If an abnormality is found, a biopsy may be taken for further analysis and treatment plans discussed.
A colposcope is a medical device used by gynecologists and other doctors to closely inspect cervical and vaginal tissue. A woman may need to have a colposcopy if her doctor thinks she may have cervical or vaginal cancer, dysplasia, severe inflammation, or another medical condition that cannot be diagnosed with other medical tests. The colposcope itself resembles a large microscope with a specialized extension that is placed in front of the vagina to magnify and illuminate the cervical walls. Gynecologists are able to look through colposcopes to accurately check for abnormal conditions.
The device consists of a single or dual eyepiece that a doctor can peer into to view the cervix. A luminous dial and a magnifying dial allow you to adjust the illumination intensity, magnification and focus. The lens that is placed in front of the vagina emits a beam of light that can be aimed at different areas along the cervical wall.
A colposcopy is done when a woman reports pain or discomfort in her cervix, or when her Pap smear results reveal abnormalities. A gynecologist can carefully inspect the cervical surface tissue with a colposcope to make a correct diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV), dysplasia, cancer, or another condition. The procedure is usually painless and is done on an outpatient basis. Experienced doctors typically perform colposcopies in less than 20 minutes.
At the beginning of a procedure, a woman is asked to lie on her back on a table or specialized reclining chair with her feet pinned. A metal device is inserted into the vagina to hold it open during the colposcopy. The doctor then places the colposcope lens at the opening of the vagina to illuminate and magnify the area. By looking through an eyepiece, the ob-gyn can closely examine the tissues to look for discoloration, inflammation, or abnormal cell growth. If more thorough inspections are needed, the cervix may be swabbed with an acid solution to remove excess mucus.
When an abnormality is discovered with a colposcope, doctors carefully scrape a sample of tissue from the surface of the cervix for further analysis. After a biopsy confirms a diagnosis, the ob-gyn and the patient can discuss the most appropriate follow-up treatment plans. Inflammation caused by bacterial or HPV infections can be relieved with oral antibiotics, although precancerous dysplasia or developed cervical cancer may require invasive treatment to remove or destroy the abnormal cells.
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