Barbaros Mah. Ağaoğlu My Prestige, Kat: 15 Daire: 127 Ataşehir İstanbul
Colposcopy is a procedure that allows the examination of the cervix, vaginal tissue, and vulvar areas (the area of the labia) using a device called a colposcope, which is equipped with a magnifying lens and different colored lights (such as green light). This device can magnify the tissue 3 to 40 times and uses special dyes to examine these areas.
The colposcope device is similar to binoculars in function. Colposcopy is not an invasive procedure.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) publishes colposcopy indications based on recent studies. In Turkey, clinical practice guidelines are also being published. If a patient has undergone a conization surgery due to CIN 3 (HGSIL),colposcopy should be done at the 6-month follow-up.
If there are unclear or irrelevant Pap smear results, colposcopy is recommended. However, the decision to perform colposcopy depends on the previous pathology results, the presence of HPV, and the type of HPV. Therefore, the colposcopy decision algorithm—i.e., the steps and timing for its implementation—is determined by the physician based on the patient's laboratory and clinical status.
In clinical practice, performing colposcopy more frequently than every 6 months is not meaningful, as cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cell changes do not typically occur in less than 6 months.
Colposcopy is performed by colposcopist gynecologists. The experience of the physician plays a significant role in colposcopy, as an experienced colposcopist can decisively determine where to take a biopsy.
The purpose of colposcopy is to detect cancer before it develops, caused by HPV and other carcinogens. Therefore, performing colposcopy correctly is a vital procedure. Colposcopy is performed in our Istanbul clinic. For detailed information, please feel free to contact us.
The decision to perform colposcopy is generally based on the results of a Pap smear. The reasons for performing colposcopy, based on recent publications, can be summarized as follows:
Colposcopy should be performed mainly when there are suspicious cell changes in the Pap smear results or when HPV positivity is present. However, even if HPV is negative, if visible suspicious areas are seen or if there is any abnormality in the Pap smear, colposcopy should be performed, especially in patients who have previously undergone conization due to CIN 1, CIN 2, or CIN 3.
Pap smear is a screening test. If suspicious areas are found in the Pap smear, a tissue sample should be taken. Colposcopy helps in determining which part of the cervix should be sampled for biopsy.
Through colposcopy, abnormal cells are detected before cervical cancer can develop, helping to prevent the formation of cancer.
Colposcopy is performed using a colposcope, a device similar to binoculars that magnifies the cervix 4 to 40 times and uses different colored light and special dyes to examine the area in detail. After the patient is placed on the examination table, a speculum is inserted, and the colposcope is used to examine the cervix with normal light and then with green light.
Special dyes are applied to the cervix and vaginal areas in sequence, and based on how the tissue absorbs the dyes, a directed biopsy is taken. During the biopsy, samples should also be collected from the cervix through endocervical curettage (ECC).
Cervical cancer originates from the transformation zone between the cervix and the uterus, and ECC helps obtain samples from this transformation zone. Both colposcopy and the biopsy directed by it are painless procedures. They can be performed without general anesthesia.
Sexual activity should be avoided for 3 to 4 days before the colposcopy. It is also advised not to wash the vaginal area, use suppositories, or undergo transvaginal ultrasound before the procedure.
These actions can lead to cell shedding and interfere with the pathological examination of the biopsy. Additionally, vaginal discharge and infection may negatively affect the biopsy sample and lead to complications after biopsy collection. Therefore, colposcopy is recommended after treating vaginal discharge.
The colposcopy procedure takes about 10 minutes. Its short duration is due to the fact that it is a non-invasive procedure.
Colposcopy is a procedure that can easily be performed in outpatient settings. However, if the patient prefers to have it performed in a hospital, it can also be done there. The price of colposcopy varies depending on whether it is done in an outpatient setting or in a hospital. Additionally, some patients who feel anxious during the procedure may request general anesthesia. In such cases, the price of colposcopy may change.
Colposcopy should be performed after treatment for active vaginal infections and HSV (genital herpes).
Colposcopy is performed after a speculum is placed during a gynecological examination. No other procedure is performed that the patient would feel. If a biopsy needs to be taken from the cervix during the colposcopy, the biopsy is completed painlessly under local anesthesia.
Bleeding after colposcopy is generally not expected. However, if there are red lesions on the cervix, mild pink-red bleeding may occur due to contact bleeding after staining. If a biopsy was taken during the colposcopy, there may be a small amount of bleeding, slightly less than a menstrual period, which can last 1-2 days.
The following images can be detected during a colposcopy:
During colposcopy, the inner walls of the vagina should be stained with Lugol’s solution, and biopsies should be taken from Lugol-positive areas, as the HPV virus also causes vaginal cancer and VAIN (vaginal precursor lesions). A complete genital area cancer screening should involve colposcopy of the cervix, vagina, and vulva (including the inner and outer lips).
Colposcopy involves examining the cervix, vagina, and vulva under high magnification and with special dyes. If risk areas are seen during the procedure, a biopsy should be taken and sent for pathological examination. An experienced colposcopist can identify potential cancerous lesions during the procedure. If a biopsy is taken, the final pathology result will be available in 1 to 10 days.
Colposcopy is a frequently performed and necessary procedure in gynecological practice. Since it is not painful and not an invasive procedure, patients can easily continue their daily lives. Typically, patients can resume their normal activities 30 minutes after visiting the clinic.
If no biopsy was taken during the colposcopy, there are no restrictions on sexual or social activities. However, if a biopsy was taken during the procedure, sexual activity and swimming should be avoided for one week. After a colposcopic biopsy, patients can take a shower and return to work on the same day.
The purpose of colposcopy is to detect cervical cancer changes caused by HPV and other carcinogens in advance. In virgin patients, since there is no HPV transmission, the procedure is unnecessary. Additionally, the speculum used during the procedure can damage the hymen, leading to legal issues.
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