A colposcopy is a routine procedure performed after a woman has had one or more abnormal pap smears. A colposcopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows the clinician to take a closer look at the cervix.
During a colposcopy the clinician can determine exactly where the abnormalities are and take small tissue samples from those areas on the cervix.
From the tissue samples it can be determined if treatment is necessary or if the cervix simply requires continued monitoring. In most cases treatment is not necessary.
Pap smears and colposcopies help us catch abnormalities early so they can be professionally assessed and dealt with if needed. Many women have at least one abnormal pap smear and some have one or more colposcopies over the course of their lifetime. Thanks to the body’s immune system, most of the time the abnormalities on the cervix go away on their own.