Should I be worried if I need a colposcopy?

Try not to worry

If you're referred for a colposcopy after an abnormal cervical screening

cervical screening

Cervical screening (smear test) is a quick test to check your cervix (neck of the womb) for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that can cause many different types of cancer. HPV causes 99% of all cervical cancers. Your sample is checked for HPV that can cause cell changes.

https://www.nhsinform.scot › cervical-screening-smear-test

Cervical screening (smear test) in Scotland - NHS inform

test, you shouldn't assume you have cervical cancer. Less than 1 in 1,000 women referred for a colposcopy are found to have cervical cancer that requires immediate treatment.

Why would a doctor recommend a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is used to find cancerous cells or abnormal cells that can become cancerous in the cervix, vagina, or vulva. These abnormal cells are sometimes called “precancerous tissue.” A colposcopy also looks for other health conditions, such as genital warts or noncancerous growths called polyps.

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.

What happens if colposcopy is abnormal?

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. It's a painless procedure that takes less than 30 minutes and doesn't require a hospital stay.

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.

Colposcopy - Should I be worried??

What if cervical biopsy is positive?

However, if you recently had a cervical biopsy, you may need repeated Pap and HPV testing sooner. A positive test, on the other hand, means that cancer or precancerous cells have been found and further diagnosis and treatment may be needed.

What is the 2 week rule for colposcopy?

An individual must be referred to colposcopy and should be seen within 2 weeks of referral (≥93% of cases) if the appearance of the cervix is suspicious or they have symptoms consistent with cervical cancer.

How quick is urgent colposcopy?

A colposcopy is usually carried out in a hospital or clinic. It should usually take 15 to 20 minutes to have your colposcopy and you should be able to go home afterwards. But you might be at the hospital for several hours from getting there to going home.

Do you need someone to drive you home after a colposcopy?

You will be able to drive yourself home after this procedure. You may bring someone to drive you if you would like. If you do not have a biopsy done, you may: Resume normal activity immediately after the procedure.

What is the alternative to colposcopy?

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

Do all abnormal Pap smears require a colposcopy?

Colposcopy. If you have certain symptoms that could mean cancer, if your Pap test shows abnormal cells, or if your HPV test is positive, you will most likely need to have a test called colposcopy. You will lie on the exam table as you do with a pelvic exam.

How do you get rid of precancerous cells in your cervix?

Also called loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), this is the most common way of treating precancerous changes of the cervix. The abnormal tissue is removed using a thin wire loop that is heated electrically. The aim is to remove all the abnormal cells from the surface of the cervix.

Do they sedate you for colposcopy?

The treatment involves removing a small disc-shaped piece of tissue containing these abnormal cells. This procedure will be carried out in the day care unit under a general anesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the procedure.

Can I work the day after a colposcopy?

After the colposcopy

If your doctor didn't take a biopsy sample during your colposcopy, you won't have any restrictions on your activity once your exam is complete. You may experience some spotting or very light bleeding from your vagina in the next day or two.

How do you relax before a colposcopy?

Exercise, journaling, meditation and time with friends may also relieve stress. Some women experience colposcopy pain and discomfort, particularly if their healthcare provider has to obtain tissue samples for examination. It's not always possible to know in advance if your provider will need to take samples.

How long is recovery from colposcopy biopsy?

It usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks for your cervix to heal after this procedure.

What happens if cancerous cells are found in cervix?

Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells in the cervix can sometimes travel to the lung and grow there. When cancer cells do this, it's called metastasis. To doctors, the cancer cells in the new place look just like the ones from the cervix.

How do you stay positive while waiting for biopsy results?

Is a cervical biopsy serious?

Complications from a cone biopsy may include bleeding, infection or the cervix becoming scarred. A cone biopsy doesn't necessarily come with an increased risk of fertility problems, but if you've had a larger amount of tissue removed, you may be at a higher risk of premature birth.

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.

Should I be worried about precancerous cells on cervix?

Precancerous conditions of the cervix are changes to cervical cells that make them more likely to develop into cancer. These conditions are not yet cancer. But if they aren't treated, there is a chance that these abnormal changes may become cervical cancer.

Can a cancerous cervix be removed?

Minimally invasive surgery, which can also be called laparoscopic surgery, has been used to perform radical hysterectomies in women with early-stage cervical cancer for several decades. A minimally invasive procedure can be performed manually or with the use of robotic systems.

Should I get a hysterectomy if I have precancerous cells?

If the precancerous disease is more extensive or involves adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), and the woman has completed childbearing, a total hysterectomy may be recommended. During a total hysterectomy, the entire uterus (including the cervix) is removed.

Can abnormal cells on cervix be nothing?

An abnormal cervical screening test result means that you have changes in the cells covering the neck of your womb (cervix). These changes are not cancer. The cells often go back to normal by themselves. But in some women, if not treated, these changes could develop into cancer in the future.

What is the most common reason for an abnormal Pap smear?

In most cases, an abnormal Pap test is a result of: A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. A sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD), such as herpes or trichomoniasis. A bacterial or yeast infection.