Test / Diagnostic Procedure: Colposcopy

You will have been invited to have a colposcopy because of the result of your cervical screening test (previously called a ‘smear test’). This is usually for one of 4 reasons, which are:

• We found some abnormal cells in your cervix and an infection with human papillomavirus (HPV)
• You have an HPV infection which hasn’t gone away
• You have had several screening tests where we were unable to give you a result (it is likely there is nothing wrong, but a colposcopy can find out for sure)
• The nurse or doctor who carried out your screening test thought your cervix did not look as healthy as it should

A colposcopy examination is carried out to check whether there are abnormal cells on your cervix, and if so, how serious they are. This is a follow-up to your cervical screening test.

Just like at your screening test, the consultant will put a speculum into your vagina and open it gently. They will then use a colposcope to take a close look at your cervix. The colposcope does not go inside you, or even touch your skin. It stays about 30cm (12 inches) outside your vagina. The image of your cervix from the colposcope will sometimes be on a screen. This helps the consultant see your cervix more clearly.

The consultant will dab different liquids onto your cervix. The liquids make any abnormal cells a different colour so that they can be seen more easily. If the consultant finds anything unusual they may take away a small tissue sample, a few millimetres across (a biopsy). The biopsy will then be sent for analysis.

The examination can feel uncomfortable and some people may feel some pain. If it feels painful, tell the nurse or doctor and they will try to make it more comfortable for you.

The usual treatment for high-grade abnormal cells is to remove them, taking care not to damage the healthy parts of the cervix. The treatment most often used to remove abnormal cells is LLETZ ('large loop excision of the transformation zone'). 

People sometimes need to come back for another colposcopy to have treatment, but often it is possible to remove the abnormal cells during your first colposcopy. If you need to come back for treatment we can do this at OneWelbeck Women's Health. We usually use a local anaesthetic for the treatment, so you will be awake but won't feel any pain. After treatment we will invite you to have a cervical screening test sooner than usual to check that the treatment was successful.

If you are pregnant, we will be able to remove the abnormal cells after you give birth. You should talk to your consultant about when it is best for you to have this done.

Self pay pricing: from £1,080.