What is a Colposcopy Procedure?
A colposcopy procedure is an examination method doctors use to get a closer look at a woman’s cervix. It involves using a special microscope that allows doctors to look at the cervix and see far more than the naked eye is capable of seeing. The procedure itself is very similar to a pap smear. The woman lies on the table with her legs in stirrups as she would during a pap smear. Only this time, a solution is placed on the cervix so that light does not shine through it, allowing the doctor to take a closer look at the surface of the cervix. Then, the colposcope is brought down between the woman’s legs with the light shining on the cervix. Doctors are looking at the white areas that may show up on the cervix. If these areas are seen on the surface of the cervix, then the doctor may be prompted to take a biopsy, which they usually do at the time of the procedure.
