Colposcopy

Abnormal results on your smear test are very common but cervical cancer is very rare. An abnormal smear result means you have some changes to the cells of your cervix, these are pre-cancerous changes. The cervical screening programme is designed to catch any changes early. It is important to remember that it is extremely rare for these abnormal changes on your cervical screening sample to be cancer.

The cervical screening test tests for HPV first, if this is positive it is then looked at under a microscope by a specialist pathologist. Most abnormal results show minor cell changes. These are called borderline, mild or low-grade dyskaryosis.  These cell changes are often linked to HPV infection. In many cases these minor changes will go back to normal by themselves.

Some people may have results classified as moderate or severe changes to the cells on the cervix.  This is called high-grade dyskaryosis. These changes are also pre-cancerous in nature.

HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. There are many types of HPV and some types can cause cancer. HPV is a very common virus and around 8 in 10 sexually active people will have a HPV infection during their lifetime. Your body will normally clear the infection on its own, however, if your body cannot clear the infection, the virus can cause changes to the cells in your cervix. These changes can become cancer in the longer term. 99.8% of cervical cancer cases are caused by a high-risk HPV virus.

It is not essential to take time off work but you may wish to take the rest of the day off following your appointment.

Unless your period is very heavy the examination can continue, however, if you feel uncomfortable, please contact the secretaries to re-arrange your appointment.

Yes. You are very welcome to bring another adult for support to your appointment, they can be with you throughout the examination.

We advise you wear something light, avoid thick jumpers. Wearing a skirt can be helpful, however, we do offer gowns to cover yourself with also.

It should not be painful. It may be a little uncomfortable, at any point if you feel pain, please let the staff know.

There will be a colposcopist (doctor or specialist nurse), a nurse to assist and a health care assistant. We are teaching hospital so sometimes we have trainee colposcopists and students attending the clinic also. You will be asked if these students can be in the room, please let us know if you would prefer minimal staff.

We have both male and female colposcopists. If you would prefer to see a female colposcopist, please contact the gynaecology secretary prior to your appointment on the telephone number on your clinic letter.

If for any reason you cannot attend your appointment, please let us know in advance. If you do not attend, we will offer one repeat appointment.

Please inform your colposcopist if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. We advise your colposcopy should continue as planned, the colposcopy itself will be performed by an experienced clinician and any treatment or biopsy may be delayed until after you have delivered.

Your colposcopist will advise if you require a follow up appointment. In most cases we offer a ‘see and treat’ service, however, it is possible you may need to return on another day.

If you have had treatment or a biopsy at your appointment we advise while your cervix is healing, not to have sex, use tampons or swim for four weeks.

A letter with the results of any smear or biopsy taken during the colposcopy will be sent to your home address within 2-6 weeks and your GP will also receive a copy.  If you have not received this letter 6 – 8 weeks after your appointment date, please contact us directly.

Studies have shown smoking affects how well the immune system works and therefore its ability to clear the HPV virus, leading to persistent infection. There is limited evidence regarding the effect of e-cigarettes at present. If you would like some support with quitting smoking your local stop smoking service can help.

Please contact the Nurse Colposcopist on 03033 303593. If no-one is available to take your call, leave a message and we will call you back.

After treatment at colposcopy if you have:

• heavy bleeding from your vagina which is more than you would expect during a heavy period
• unpleasant offensive discharge from your vagina
• lower abdominal pain that does not get any better after taking painkillers

Please contact the Gynae Assessment Unit initially for telephone triage.

Gynae Assessment Unit – Grimsby – 03033 303770

Gynae Assessment Unit – Scunthorpe – 03033 303018