How painful is a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is relatively painless. You may feel slight pressure when the speculum enters your vagina. You may feel a slight burning or stinging when the solution comes into contact with your cervix. If you need a biopsy, you may feel a sharp pinch or a sensation like a period cramp when the tissue sample is excised.

Is colposcopy biopsy very painful?

Does a cervical biopsy hurt? You may experience some pain during and after your cervical biopsy. Pain will vary based on the type of procedure that you undergo. During a colposcopy, for example, the doctor applies a vinegar or iodine solution to your cervix, and this may cause burning or stinging.

How long does colposcopy pain last?

After the colposcopy

If you had a biopsy sample taken during your colposcopy, you may experience: Vaginal or vulvar pain that lasts one or two days.

Does colposcopy treatment hurt?

A colposcopy is a quick and safe procedure. It usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, but you should allow about an half an hour for the whole visit. Most women find the procedure uncomfortable and some experience pain. Tell the colposcopist if you feel pain and they will try to make it more comfortable for you.

How long does it take to recover from a colposcopy?

Following the procedure, a person should feel fine as soon as it is over. Light spotting or cramping may occur, but people can continue with their daily activities and do not need to avoid vaginal sex. However, if the doctor performed a biopsy, it can take 1–2 days to recover.

My colposcopy experience - Rhiannon's story

Should I take the day off after a colposcopy?

After a colposcopy

You can often go home to rest soon after the treatment is finished. After a colposcopy you may have some mild pain, similar to period pain, for a few days. Taking a painkiller such as paracetamol can help.

What not to do before colposcopy?

Your doctor may suggest that, for 24 to 48 hours before a colposcopy, you stop using vaginal medicines, creams, powders, or foams. During this period, you should also stop having vaginal sex, using tampons, or placing any other products in your vagina.

Can I go for a walk after a colposcopy?

You can shower and bathe as usual after a colposcopy. Exercise and physical activity are okay too.

How do you relax during a colposcopy?

Making a conscious effort to relax during your colposcopy can make a big difference. When you feel pain, discomfort or your body tightening up, breathe in deeply. Slowly, if possible. Hold your breath for a second, then slowly exhale.

Do they dilate your cervix for a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is like a Pap smear

Smith dilates your cervix (the opening of your uterus) with a speculum. But it doesn't hurt more than or take longer than opening your cervix for a Pap smear.

Does a colposcopy mean I have HPV?

A colposcopy is a test to take a closer look at your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina. A colposcopy is often done if cervical screening finds changes to your cells that are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). These changed cells can turn into cervical cancer cells.

Why does my Obgyn want to do a colposcopy?

During your gynecological exam, our doctors swab the cervix at the top of your vagina to get a small sample of cells. If the lab finds some abnormal cells, you're called back into the office for a colposcopy. You also might need a colposcopy is if we detect the human papillomavirus.

What is an alternative to a colposcopy?

Microcolposcopy is a good alternative to colposcopy in evaluating abnormal cervical cytology.

Why do I smell after a colposcopy?

It is normal for a patient to have acidic/sour odor for a few days after the procedure. They may have the discharge for up to 2 weeks. But, if the discharge has a smelly or fishy odor, you probably have an infection and need to see the doctor to be treated for the same.

What not to do after a colposcopy?

Do not douche, have sexual intercourse, or use tampons for 1 week if you had a biopsy. This will allow time for your cervix to heal. You can take a bath or shower anytime after the test.

What not to do after a colposcopy biopsy?

You may be told not to douche, use tampons, or have sex for 1 week after a biopsy, or for a period advised by your healthcare provider. After a cone biopsy, you should not put anything into your vagina until your cervix has healed. This may take several weeks.

Can you go straight back to work after a colposcopy?

Most people can return to work or school immediately after having a colposcopy. Some people have mild pain or cramping, but this usually goes away within one to two hours. Do not put anything in the vagina (creams, douches, tampons) and do not have sex for 48 hours after having a biopsy.

What is the next step after colposcopy?

You'll go back to having regular pelvic exams, Pap tests, and/or HPV tests. Your doctor or nurse will tell you how often you need to have these. Or you might also need further treatment. There are 4 procedures that are very good at removing the abnormal cells and preventing cervical cancer.

Should I be worried about a colposcopy?

Colposcopy is a medical term that sounds quite scary. However, there is no reason for the actual test to scare you. The first thing you need to understand is that modern treatments can prevent you from getting cervical cancer. This is because abnormal cellular changes take place over several years.

What are the side effects after colposcopy?

Can you request anesthesia for a colposcopy?

General anaesthetic use varied between colposcopists ranging from 0 to 16.5% of new patients seen. Woman's choice was the most commonly specified reason for the use of general anaesthetic. Conclusions: The proportion of colposcopy patients treated under general anaesthetic is 20%, within guideline limits.

Is a colposcopy urgent?

Deciding how long to wait before scheduling the colposcopy is an issue best addressed by your treating gynecologist. Colposcopy is not a follow-up test that typically needs to be done the moment an abnormal pap is identified, but it is important not to let this go either.

Is a colposcopy considered surgery?

Is colposcopy considered surgery? Colposcopy isn't surgery, but biopsies are considered minor surgical procedures. Biopsies sometimes happen as part of colposcopy. If your provider finds any abnormalities during your colposcopy, they can remove a sample of the suspicious tissue.

Do they always take a biopsy with a colposcopy?

Only if your doctor finds something that doesn't look normal during your colposcopy. If they find several areas that don't look right, they'll biopsy those, too. Your doctor will do the biopsy during your colposcopy. They'll use a sharp tool to take a sample of tissue from the abnormal area.

What happens if you have HPV for 3 years?

In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area.