I am going for a Colposcopy tomorrow, would anyone share their experience with me?

Question

So that I know what to expect. Is it very painful? What does severe cell changes mean?

Answer 1

ok here's what i can tell ya,

I'm 23 years old and have been to colposcopy ever six months since i was 19 so you could say that i know what am talking about here. Basically i had to figure it out myself beacause NHS explain nothing...

Sever cell changes or abnormal patterns means that basically in lamens terms. The bottom lining of your womb (the bottom of the bag you will carry a baby at some point) has bad cells on the lining, which in time if left could cause cancer of the overys, womb etc. (but dont worry you dont have cancer or anything its a precausion because if left it could lead to that in later life)

When you go into the hospital you will be met by a really nice nurse who will take you to a wee room with a seating bit with a curtain. She will ask you a few question last day of your period, when you last had sex etc. then ask you to lay on the bed and remove you under garments but you wil be given something to cover yourself with so dont worry. The bed is a bit strange because you gotta put you legs in stirips (you know the things to spead your legs when you have a baby) I guess you have already had a smear so you pretty much know what comes next. She sits at the bottom of the bed yea looking in at your bits and comes to a desicison which you have to give consent to.

If you get laser treatment it is unconfortable but not sore the only thing you can really feel is an injection which you get before hand and that feels like a sharp prick but only lasts a second. The laser burns away the cells taking a lineing of you womb with it. And then you done, you will bleed for about 4-5 days and you cant have sex, have a bath, ride a bike or go on streniouse walks/runs fro about a week and a half tho. Gotta think of it like a scab give it time to heal.

The only thing and advise i will warn you about is that i have had this done 3 times now only to be informed that its not a good thing for the lining to get that thin ive been told that because ive had this done 3 times i cant carry a baby past probably 6 month because the baby will get to heavy for the lining and break threw. Also, i am extreamly wet noe i think you know where which has had a massive impact on my sex life with not sensation being acheived because im to wet not good for me or my partner.

All in all you have to have it done you leave your dignity at the door and pick it up when you leave its that simple but make sure they expline everything to you properly and dont be afraid to ask any questions. If you have any more questions give me a shout but good luck and take care.

Answer 2

A colposcopy is used to give the doctor an indicator of what is abnormal on your cervix and what is healthy. The doctor will ask you to lie down, just like with a pap smear. He will aply an acetic wash (vinegar) to your cervix and wait about five minutes. He will look at your cervix through a lighted microscope. Any areas that are "abnormal" will soak up the acetic wash and turn white. The "whiteness" tells the doctor that that area might need to be biopsied. Once in awhile the acetic wash can sting a little if your cervix is inflamed, but nothing you can't handle.

If a biopsy is needed it can feel like a very dull pinch. Its really not as bad as it sounds, sometimes it can make you feel a little icky to your stomach just because you know what is happening, but it really doesn't hurt. If an area is biopsied the doc will apply a little sloution to the cervix to stop the bleeding. You may have some mild cramps afterwards, but nothing an over-the-counter pain med can't help with.

Severe cell changes is what your pap smear picked up, a pap smear is only a SCREENING tool. It is usually called Cervical Intrapethelial Neoplasia 3 or (CIN 3) and is precancerous, or dysplasia of the cervix. It is the stage right before invasive cervical cancer, so it is very important to keep your appts and/or treatment. CIN is very common and usually always caused by HPV. Abnormal cells come in three different grades; mild (CIN I), moderate (CIN II), and severe (CIN III). You are getting the colposcopy today so the doc can make sure you do have CIN 3 and to test for anything further.

Good luck, I wish you all the best. Here are some links for you.

http://www.geocities.com/womenconqueringcancer/GynAcronyms.html

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/cevicalconditions/a/colposcopy.htm

Answer 3

The actual procedure is not painful, it was pretty much the same as having a smear apart from they squirt your cervic with acid to highlight the changes of cells. However if you normally experience pain during a normal smear you may feel a little more incomfortable. When i had mine 2 yeasrs ago they started the procedure while i was awake, but i had a bad uncomfortable feeling when the speculum was inserted so the doctor decided to book me into the day ward the next day to have the procedure done while asleep. After the op i had no problems and thankfully the results came back clear. Hopefully your doctor will be as understanding, so please don't be afraid to say if you do feel some pain. Hope everything goes ok for you Good Luck. x

Answer 4

I will tell you exactly what it is gonna be like. I have had this done to me 2 times. Once in 1985 because I had cellular changes "dysplasia". I was thinkin all these scarey thoughts like cancer is in me... Well its (as u know) uncomfortable in general!It will be just about like a pap test but it goes a bit further. It takes longer and it will hurt in spurts while they are trying to take out and scrape off any abnormal stuff. I had the pleasure of watching this last one(a month ago)on a color monitor. There was a camera somehow on a utensil he used? I got to watch all of it. (didnt make it any easier) You will have strong cramping, just wiggle your toes and they say open your throat, it makes it easier for then to do what they need to do faster. It will be over before u no it & then u will bleed. First time I bled alot. For over a week. This time hardly at all. 2 days lightly max! Don't be scared remember this is saving your life! Good luck! I'll think about ya tommorrow!

Answer 5

I just had a coloscopy about a month ago and I am sorry but I think it hurts not to freak you out but it hurt me. They put me in a chair that leaned me all the way back it felt almost like I was standing on my head and then it was kinda like a pap smear. They use a high powered microscope thing to look at your cervix. they take samples of your cervix which wasn't painful at all but then they scrap around your cervix for cells and that to me was what hurt. And then they will put this yellow/brown stuff around your cervix where they scraped and they will tell you no tampons or sex for two weeks. And make sure and have some pads when you get home cause you will need them.
I know when I had it done I had 4 people tell me it didn't hurt and they lied. Good luck and hope you haven't got to have them every year like me :)

Answer 6

My advice would be give yourself a few days to get over it. It's not really painful at the time as they should sedate you, but the experience as a whole is a bit upsetting and I when I have had them (2) I've felt off colour for a few days afterwards and made the mistake of running back to work.

Answer 7

Not everyone experiences the same thing. Don't worry about the people who experienced pain (although we can sympathise of course), you may not be one of them. And certainly pain is worse if you anticipate it. Breathe deeply and be positive. I know I was terrified of a barium enema I had to have once, and yet it was prefectly ok. I could have worked myself up into a real state if I'd worried too much before going. Good luck.

Answer 8

Hiya ... i had one 5 years ago now... to be honest you wake up feeling like you are having a bad period... although the painkillers they give you are good make sure you take plenty of bed rest as you do bleed a little heavy for the first day or so... I also found the feeling of the blood that was escaping came in bursts (it felt like a wee)...

Good Luck and dont be too nervous...

Answer 9

obviously being a man i would not have had this done but my wife has....it is not so painful and severe cell changes does not necessarily mean something drastic...this is otherwise known as a loop excision and basically means that they will remove the cells using a hot wire...i know it sounds awful but my wife is right next to me here and she says not to worry...it all sounds much worse than it actually is...if it helps...my wife is fully recovered now and has no abnormal cells whatsoever...good luck but stay positive

Answer 10

i had one after my sons birth and now have to ahve one after my daughter. They will take smaples for the biopsie looking at your cervex like its a clock face adn take probly four samples. One at 12, 3, 6, and 9. It can be painful depending on your doctor. HAve a friend go with you, or spouce someone your okay with being in there with you. Someone you trust that can just hold your hand and be a source of good insperation for you. I know its scary and hard to face the thought of what this might turn up. But its for the better that you find out early. Good luck and my prayers are with you. mommyblues78