What is the difference between a colposcopy and a biopsy

It is appropriate to have colposcopy if your pap reveals abnormal cells, particularly if you have human papillomavirus HPV found in the pap sample. It is also appropriate to have colposcopy if you have HPV found in repeated pap samples. This is true even if the cells appear normal. To continue reading this article, you must log in. Already a member? Login ». As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. You usually do not need to stop eating or drinking before a simple cervical biopsy. If your biopsy needs anesthesia, you may need to fast for a certain number of hours before the procedure.

This is usually after midnight. Tell your provider if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, or anesthetic medicines local and general. Tell your provider about all medicines you are taking. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal supplements. Tell your provider if you have had a bleeding disorder.

Also tell your provider if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines anticoagulants , aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop taking these medicines before the test. You should not use tampons, vaginal creams or medicines, or douche for 24 hours before the procedure. Your healthcare provider may tell you to take a pain reliever 30 minutes before the procedure.

Or you may be given medicine to help you relax before the anesthesia is started. You will need someone to drive you home afterward. Some biopsy procedures only need local anesthesia. Other need regional or general anesthesia. The way the test is done may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices.

Your healthcare provider will put an instrument called a speculum into your vagina. This will spread the walls of the vagina apart to reach the cervix. Often the healthcare provider will use a colposcope. This is an instrument with a special lens like a microscope to help see the cervical tissues. The provider will put colposcope at the opening of your vagina. It will not enter your vagina. Your healthcare provider will look through the colposcope to find any problem areas on the cervix or in the vagina.

He or she may clean and soak the cervix with a vinegar solution acetic acid solution. This solution helps make the abnormal tissues turn white so they are easier to see. You may feel a mild burning sensation. An iodine solution may be used to coat the cervix. This is called the Schiller test. The type of biopsy done will depend on the size and shape of the abnormal cells, as well as where they are. He or she may use forceps tenaculum to hold the cervix steady for the biopsy.

Vulva The vulva is the outer part of the female genitalia, including the labia majora, labia minora and clitoris. More Information Vaginal cancer Vulvar cancer. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Accessed Oct. Feltmate CM, et al. Lobo RA, et al. Intraepithelial neoplasia of the lower genital tract cervix, vagina, vulva : Etiology, screening, diagnosis, management. In: Comprehensive Gynecology. Elsevier; Smith RP. In: Netter's Obstetrics and Gynecology. Accessed Nov. Fowler GC, et al. Colposcopic examination. Abdelhakim AM, et al. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a virus that may raise your risk for certain types of cancer, including cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.

Your doctor may also recommend a colposcopy if you have symptoms or signs of cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancer. A colposcopy can be done in the office of your primary care doctor or your gynecologist.

An instrument called a speculum will be inserted inside your vagina to open it up and give your doctor a clearer view of your cervix.

Your cervix, vagina, and vulva will be lightly wiped with a vinegar or iodine solution that helps your doctor better see abnormal areas. The colposcope is positioned between your legs as close to your vagina as possible, but it never goes inside your body. During the colposcopy, your doctor may perform a biopsy on areas that look unhealthy.

A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination by a pathologist. A pathologist can identify abnormal cells by looking at the tissue sample under a microscope. While a colposcopy can suggest that you have cancer or precancerous tissue, only a biopsy can actually make a diagnosis. If an abnormal area is small, your doctor may be able to remove all of it during the biopsy.

For example, 1 common biopsy method of cervical tissue uses an instrument to pinch off small pieces of suspicious areas. You may feel pinching or discomfort similar to menstrual cramps during some biopsy types.