What should you know about instrument used for colposcopy?

A colposcope looks like binoculars on a stand with a bright light and magnification. It does not enter the body. A speculum is placed in the vagina to hold the vaginal walls apart, allowing the clinician to see the cervix. Solutions may be applied to highlight areas that need closer inspection. The colposcope helps the clinician examine the surface and decide whether a biopsy is needed. Colposcopy may follow an abnormal cervical screening test, Pap smear, or HPV test. It does not mean that cancer has been diagnosed; cervical dysplasia and other changes can have several outcomes.

You may feel pressure when the speculum is inserted and brief stinging when solutions are applied. Tell the clinician if you are in pain, are pregnant, or may be pregnant. If a biopsy is taken, mild cramping or spotting can occur afterward, and you will receive specific aftercare instructions. Avoid placing anything in the vagina for the period advised by your clinic after a biopsy. Bring a list of medicines and ask when and how results will be communicated.

Contact the clinic for bleeding that is heavy or does not settle, worsening pelvic pain, fever, foul-smelling discharge, or feeling unwell after a biopsy. Seek urgent help for severe pain, faintness, or heavy bleeding. Follow the clinic's advice about delaying sex, tampons, or swimming after tissue sampling.

Will I need a biopsy, and how will the sample be collected? Which findings would lead to further treatment? When should I expect results, and what restrictions apply afterward?