Colposcopy Specialist

Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd

OB-GYNs & Women's Health located in Lake Forest, IL & Grayslake, IL

When your OB/GYN notices changes in your cervix or genitals, your Pap smear is abnormal, or you test positive for human papillomavirus (HPV), they may recommend a colposcopy to take a closer look. At Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd., the expert OB/GYNs can administer safe, noninvasive colposcopies in the comfort of their offices. Women who live or work in the Lake Forest or Grayslake, Illinois, areas can request a colposcopy appointment at Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd. by phoning the friendly, helpful team request an appointment online.

Colposcopy Q & A

What is colposcopy?

Colposcopy refers to a simple, in-office procedure that your OB/GYN performs with an instrument called a colposcope, which resembles a pair of high-powered binoculars and a light attached to a crane on a workstation.

Your Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd. doctor uses the colposcope to illuminate and examine your vulva, vagina, and cervix for signs of abnormal cells or growths.

Why do I need a colposcopy?

Your OB/GYN may order a colposcopy if your Pap smear is abnormal, you test positive for HPV infection, or if you have visible growths or lesions on your genitals, vagina, or cervix. Your OB/GYN uses a colposcope to help diagnose:

Inflamed cervix (cervicitis)
Genital warts
Precancerous changes
Cancer of cervix, vagina, or vulva

Colposcopy only takes about 20 minutes.

What happens during colposcopy?

Getting a colposcopy is similar to getting a Pap smear. You lie back on the examination table with your feet in the stirrups, and your OB/GYN uses a speculum to open your vagina so that your cervix is visible.

Your OB/GYN then brushes a special solution on your cervix that makes abnormal cells easier to see. They examine the area with the colposcope and its bright light, looking for lesions and changes. The colposcope never touches you.

If your OB/GYN notices unusual cells or growth, they perform a biopsy and send the tissue to a medical lab. A cervical biopsy is pain-free, but if your doctor must biopsy your vagina, they first administer a local anesthetic. Your results are ready within about a week.

What happens after colposcopy?

After your colposcopy, you may feel crampy or sore. You can control discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication.

If you had a biopsy, you may have slightly more intense pain and also notice a dark discharge or light bleeding afterward, which you can absorb with a menstrual pad. Don’t use a tampon after getting a biopsy, and you should refrain from sexual intercourse for about a week afterward.

If you’ve noticed unusual changes in your vulva or vagina or want to set up a colposcopy appointment with the experts at Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd., call the friendly office staff, or request an appointment online.

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