Colposcopy

Colposcopy in Mumbai

Colposcopy is an approach to closely examine the vagina, vulva, and cervix of females to check out for signs of any diseases. The procedure involves the use of a special instrument/ a microscope installed with a magnifying lens and a light, called a colposcope to view the magnified images of the tissues on the cervix, vaginal walls, and vulva.

The vagina is the passageway through which bodily fluids or menstrual flow passes out of the body. It connects the outer genitalia (the vulva) and the cervix. The vulva is the “lips” or opening to the vagina. The cervix is the opening to the uterus or mother’s womb. It is the narrow, lower portion of the uterus situated between the rectum and urinary bladder, forming a canal that opens into the vagina, which directs to the outside of the body.

During colposcopy, if unusual cells are found, a small tissue sample may be collected by the doctor for further testing/study at a medical laboratory. This process is known as a biopsy. It medically assists the doctor in figuring out the exact problem and how to treat it. If cervical cancer is found in its early stages or precancerous cellular changes are noticed, the patients can be timely treated and their life can be saved by colposcopy followed by a biopsy. Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal is a top-rated gynecologist who specialises in providing best biopsy and colposcopy in Mumbai procedures and practices at Harleys Cosmetic & Women Clinic.

Why is Colposcopy done?

Gynecologist Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal recommends women for colposcopy if they get to see any abnormal/malignant cells revealed in their Pap smear test, which is done to screen for cervical cancer, or abnormalities during a pelvic exam, which is performed to look for any unwanted changes in the cervix, vagina, or vulva. The different changes that can be easily noticed with the help of a colposcope include abnormal blood vessels, colour, tissue structure, and patterns.

Therefore, a colposcopy can be performed to diagnose and assist the doctor in the treatment of:

Cervicitis: Inflammation of the cervix
Precancerous changes in the tissue of the cervix, vagina, or vulva
Genital warts, which may indicate HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection- a potential risk factor for developing cervical cancer
Polyps (non-cancerous growths) on the cervix, vulva, or vagina
Unusual bleeding from female genitals
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in women whose mothers have taken DES during their pregnancy, as this can raise the risk of suffering from cancers related to the female reproductive system.

How to prepare for Colposcopy?

Before going ahead with the Colposcopy, the patients must follow these doctor-recommended instructions:

Avoid taking appointments for colposcopy when having menstrual periods.
Refrain from intercourse and use tampons for 1-2 days beforehand.
Do not take any vaginal-related medications or use creams for 2 days before the scheduled colposcopy.
Take an over-the-counter pain relieving medication, prior to the colposcopy procedure.
If pregnant or could be pregnant, inform the gynecologist before giving consent for a colposcopy.
Inform the gynecologist or healthcare provider about the current intake of medications or herbal supplements. If taking any blood thinner or any drug that affects blood clotting, discontinue or stop their consumption before colposcopy. Also, tell the concerned doctor if you are sensitive or allergic to any medications, anesthesia, latex, tape, or iodine used in the procedure.

What to expect from Colposcopy in Mumbai?

Colposcopy is carried out either in the hospital setting or at the office of the healthcare provider, the gynecologist Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal. Typically, it takes 10-20 minutes to get over. The process goes as follows:

Firstly, the patient is made to wear a hospital gown. The patient must ensure that her bladder is emptied before starting with a colposcopy.
Next, the patient is asked to comfortably lie on an exam table with her feet and legs apart and supported, as for a pelvic exam.
To provide effective colposcopy in Mumbai, the expert gynaecologist inserts an instrument called a speculum into the vagina of the patient to spread out the vaginal walls and expose the cervix.
Then, she positions the colposcope at the entrance of the vagina, not inside the vaginal canal but a few inches away from the vulva. The colposcope has a light at its end which helps shine the vaginal canal and a magnifying lens which helps her closely visualize the problems in the vagina, vulva, and cervix through the lens of the colposcope as if using binoculars to see distant things.

For further examination, doctor may clean the cervix and vagina with a cotton swab to clear away any mucus and then soak them with an acetic acid solution that helps turn the abnormal tissues white and highlight the areas where suspicious cells lie. At this step, the patient can expect to feel a mild burning sensation. In addition, an iodine solution may be used to coat the cervix- Schiller test.
Upon seeing any abnormalities, the doctor may conduct a cervical biopsy. When it’s done, the area is numbed. However, the patient can still experience a slight pinching sensation or cramp as her tissue sample is taken. When a sample of cells is removed from the inside of the cervical canal, the patient can get some cramps. The collected tissue is sent to a medical laboratory for further testing.
Lastly, the doctor may provide a pressure dressing or paste-like topical medicine (a chemical solution) on the biopsy site to stop bleeding and protect it.

Following the colposcopy in Mumbai, the patients are asked to stay for some time and rest before they head to their homes. The recovery period may vary among patients who have undergone only colposcopy and those who have a colposcopy with biopsy, based on the type of biopsy done and anesthesia (if any) used. If the patients have received regional or general anesthesia or IV sedation, they will be shifted to the recovery room for observation and when they get conscious and their vitals are stable, they can go back home with someone else driving.

For patients who have undergone a biopsy, it’s normal to experience some blood spotting, mild cramping, and dark or black-colored discharge resulting from the medication applied to the cervix to control its bleeding, for some days.

The results of colposcopy help determine whether there is a need to go for any further testing or treatment.

Aftercare:

Do not use tampons, or have intercourse, or douche for a week post colposcopy or as long as the healthcare provider advises.
A sanitary pad may be used for a few days to catch blood or any discharge.
Avoid getting indulged in any strenuous physical activities or heavy weight lifting.
Resume the normal daily routine and diet plan when the healthcare provider permits.
Take the prescribed painkiller to get relief from cramping or soreness.
Do not miss out on the return visit to Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal for further care or treatment. Generally, women who have undergone a cervical biopsy would often need to get Pap Smear tests done.

When to call a doctor?

Colposcopy is a safe procedure with minimal risks. However, rare patients can experience some complications after a biopsy is done during the colposcopy procedure. These include pelvic pain, infection, and heavy bleeding.

It’s recommended to consult, Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal, for best Colposcopy in Mumbai, if one is experiencing any of these signs and symptoms indicating complications after colposcopy:

Fever
Chills
Severe pain in the abdomen area
Heavy bleeding, much more than typically experienced during menstrual periods.

To know more about colposcopy and colposcopy cost, consult the top gynaecologist in Mumbai, Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal, at her gyne clinic, Harleys Cosmetic & Women Clinic, or at the prestigious hospitals located in Mumbai, like Surya Hospitals: Multispecialty Hospital for Women & Children, Cloudnine Hospital, BSES MG Hospital, and Criticare Asia Multispeciality Hospital.

Address

Harleys Cosmetic and Womens Clinic
101-102, Jyoti Tower, DN Nagar,
Next to Nav Chaitanya, off Link Road,
Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053. Locate us

Phone

+91-9323048601

Email

info@drshilpagynaecologist.com

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