Colposcopy in Sumy

Colposcopy is a method of examining a woman's vagina and cervix. The advantages of colposcopy are high information content, painlessness, non-invasiveness and speed of examination. Colposcopy is performed by obstetrician-gynecologist.

How to get prepared for a colposcopy?

Colposcopy is performed on any day of the menstrual cycle, except for the menstruation period. Special preparation for colposcopy is not required; it is enough to carry out hygiene of the external genital organs with warm water. During the day before colposcopy, it is recommended to exclude sexual intercourse, douching, use of tampons and medicines in the form of vaginal suppositories, not to conduct transvaginal ultrasound examination (ultrasonography) of pelvic organs.

The procedure of colposcopy at “ON Clinic Sumy”?

Colposcopy is performed on a gynecological chair using a colposcope, which is equipped with a microcamera for examining the walls of vagina and cervix. The obtained images of cervix are displayed on a computer screen and stored in the archive for further follow-up observation. The procedure takes a few minutes and is completely painless.

When diagnosing defects in the epithelium (for example, cervical erosion), colposcopy with iodine is performed. Iodine acts as a dye for healthy tissue, makes the affected areas of mucous membrane lighter and more visible against the background of healthy tissue, which is saturated with iodine and acquires a rich brown tint. Vaginal discharge after colposcopy with iodine may turn brown for 1-2 days.

When conducting colposcopy, you can immediately pass tests for cervical biopsy. For examination, the doctor will take tissue samples from areas of the pathologically altered epithelial lining.

Who needs colposcopy?

Preventive colposcopy is recommended once a year for all women of reproductive age. The indications for colposcopy are the following symptoms:

• discomfort and pain in lower abdomen;
• discomfort during intercourse;
• itching, burning in vaginal area;
• vaginal discharge;
• rash on external genitals;
• detection of pathological changes in gynecological smears and tests.

What diseases can be diagnosed using colposcopy at “ON Clinic Sumy”?

Colposcopy allows diagnosing changes in the epithelium of walls of vagina and cervix:

• cervical dysplasia;
• cervical erosion;
• cervical cancer.

Timely curing of precancerous diseases (cervical erosion, cervical dysplasia) is the prevention of their transformation into cervical cancer.

What tests to be taken before colposcopy?

Additional tests can be done before colposcopy or taken during the procedure. The list of necessary tests in each individual case is selected by the doctor depending on the symptoms, examination data and a woman's age, including:

• smears to identify the causative agents of sexually transmitted infections;
• screening for human papillomavirus (HPV);
• cytological smear.

How often shall one undergo colposcopy?

Preventive colposcopy shall be done once a year. Colposcopy is an effective method for diagnosing precancerous conditions and cervical cancer in the early stages, when this disease is subject to successful treatment. It is important to bear in mind that cervical cancer is asymptomatic for a long time, so you should consult a doctor to diagnose diseases without waiting for any symptoms to appear.

Is colposcopy performed on pregnant women?

Colposcopy can be done during pregnancy. Colposcopy is usually performed in the first trimester of pregnancy as part of a comprehensive examination of a woman. Timely diagnostics and treatment of cervical diseases during this period allows avoiding possible complications during childbirth (bleeding, laceration of cervix, pathologies of labor).

Contraindications to colposcopy procedure

Colposcopy has a number of limitations. Colposcopy is contraindicated in the following cases:

• in the presence of inflammatory processes in the uterus;
• in the first months after childbirth;
• during the recovery period after surgery in the uterus or its appendages (ovaries, fallopian tubes);
• during menstruation.

Individual intolerance to iodine or other drugs used for colposcopic tests is a contraindication to their use. In such cases, a simple plain colposcopy is performed.

You can make an appointment with a gynecologist in Sumy for examination and colposcopy by filling out the appointment form on the website or by calling the phone number of the 24-hour contact center indicated on our website.