Colposcopy
A colposcopy is an examination usually carried out in a clinic by a medical professional who is a trained or accredited ‘colposcopist’. It involves the use of a specialist magnifying instrument called a colposcope which is used to look at the cervix (neck of the womb) and determine the presence of any pre-cancerous cell abnormalities.
Before the examination, Dr Novikova will discuss your pap smear results again and you will have the opportunity to ask questions.
The colposcope remains outside the body whilst the examination takes place. Only the speculum is inserted, which is the same instrument used during a pap smear.
Dr Novikova uses the latest equipment during the procedure and it is even possible to view the entire process on a screen, should you wish to do so. Images are taken for your personal medical records. Visualizing the area will help you gain a better understanding of the condition of the treatment and why you need it and Dr Novikova will discuss her findings as she goes along.
During the examination, Dr Novikova will inspect your cervix and apply two liquid solutions that help highlight any abnormal cells. A very small biopsy (a piece of tissue) may be taken for further testing at the laboratory. Most women do not feel the tissue removal at all, while others feel a small pinch. The examination takes around ten minutes.
Dr Novikova will generally not need to remove your coil (IUD) in order to carry out a colposcopy examination.
We advise that you wear a panty liner as you may have a brown discharge from the iodine solution used or spotting from the biopsy. We also advise that you refrain from using tampons for a week after.
You should abstain from having vaginal sexual intercourse for a week after the procedure.
If you develop heavy bleeding or foul-smelling discharge after the procedure please contact Dr Novikova.
Pre-cancerous changes of the outer (squamous) cells of the cervix have the potential to turn into cancer if left untreated. In the cervix, these changes are called ‘Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia’ or CIN for short.
There are different grades of CIN according to how severe the changes are, from CIN1 minor change referred to as Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL) to CIN 2&3 referred to as High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL).
The risk of CIN1 developing into cancer is very small, however, we know that CIN2 and CIN3 may develop into cancer in some cases if left untreated.
There is a rare abnormality called ‘Cervical Glandular Intraepithelial Neoplasia’ or cGIN and this is the same sort of pre-cancerous change involving the inner glandular cells of the cervix. Treatment of cGIN is usually the same as CIN.
Humanpapilloma (HPV) viruses are a group of viruses that infect skin and mucosal cells, as found in the cervix. HPV infections can cause changes in cervical tissue and are associated with a diagnosis of cervical carcinoma.
Most HPV infections do not cause any symptoms, HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection that is found in 95% of the sexually active population. Most women are able to clear the infection without treatment and with no lasting effects.
There are over 100 types of HPV and around 5% of women with an HPV infection will have abnormal pap smears. Around 1-2% develop pre-cancerous cells (CIN). 80% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV strands 16 & 18 whilst the other 20% is caused by other types of HPV.
The test for HPV is recommended for women with low-grade pap smear abnormalities. This will determine whether a follow-up colposcope will be required
Women who have high-risk Humanpapilloma (HPV) should have a colposcope to better assess changes in the cells of the cervix as pap smears only test superficial cells in the cervix. A colposcope will highlight the abnormal cells, which will be taken for biopsy and tested for pre-cancerous changes.
‘Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 1’ (CIN 1) or Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL) changes are considered to be minor. Women with CIN 1 or LSIL will be observed every six months with a pap smear and possibly a colposcopy. The vast majority of CIN 1 lesions disappear within 18 to 24 months without any treatment. In about 5% of cases, however, they may progress to CIN2/3 or High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL).
Women with CIN 2/3 require a procedure to remove these abnormal cells. The procedure is called LLETZ (Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone or Loop Diathermy). It is a minor procedure performed in the operating room under general or local anaesthesia. Please refer to the patients’ information on LLETZ for details.
CIN 2/3 develops into cervical cancer in about 20% of cases and usually takes around 5 to 10 years.
The screening program for pre-cancerous cells of the cervix now includes an HPV test and Dr Novikova may offer it to you during your routine visit.
Approximately 60% of CIN 1 lesions disappear without treatment and less than 1% progress to cancer. About 5% of CIN 2 and 12% of CIN 3 cases will progress to cancer if untreated. It takes 10 to 20 years for CIN to progress to cancer, and it is generally more common in women who smoke or suffer from immunodeficiency.