What is colposcopy and how it is performed?
Colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to examine surfaces of the cervix, lower part of its canal and the tissues of the vagina and vulva with a colposcope.
The advantages of this examination are: non-invasiveness, painlessness, and briefness. The result of the examination is known within few minutes. Colposcopy may be carried out repeatedly; it is safe even in pregnancy.
When is colposcopy performed?
- It is used mainly in cervical cancer detection. A cervical cancer is a slowly progressing neoplasm due to its developmental complexity. Changes in epidermis structure appear on the cervix and that enables detection of preneoplastic and early neoplastic lesions at a gynecological visit.
- Colposcopy may be helpful in diagnostics of viral, bacterial and fungal infections which lead to chronic genital tract inflammation.
- Colposcopy is also performed in diagnosing infections, inflammatory processes of cervix, and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Colposcopy is also used to perform a direct punch biopsy, define the range of a surgery on cervix, vagina and vulva, assess if the abnormal transformation was fully eradicated after a surgical or electrosurgical intervention.
In 90% of cases the result of the examination is normal.
In case the examination shows certain changes, the following procedures can be performed:
- during the course of colposcopy, small cell samples can be taken for histopathologic evaluation;
- suggestions for diagnostic follow-up or treatment can be presented;
- the result can be shown to the personal physician of the patient in order to plan the course of further treatment.
The opinion of a personal physician and the result of the first colposcopy are key factors in decision upon the need for another colposcopy.
Colposcopy and HPV virus
Colposcopy allows diagnostics of asymptomatic infections with a HPV virus. Therefore, it allows the beginning of the treatment before early clinical symptoms arise. Along with cytology, colposcopy is used for monitoring the course of infection with HPV.
How do we do it?
Medicover hospital offers its patients colposcopy performed with a high class video-colposcope. This modern piece of equipment allows patients to watch the procedure – and doctors may explain any images on the screen. The patient receives the description of results along with images after the procedure. All the results are recorded in the digital format which in case of later doubts allows to render the course of procedure.
What is really important, the examination is performed in an intimate atmosphere.
Colposcopies at the Medicover Hospital are performed by Doctor Ewa Kurowska- Mroczek.
If you are interested in undergoing any procedure at the Medicover Hospital – please call our
Costumer Service Centre at 500 900 900.
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