What to expect?
A lot of females have anxiety before getting their colposcopy done as it can be an invasive procedure but it is very important to try and calm down and get over these worries as it is only the fear of the unknown and it is very crucial to get it done for early identification of precancerous lesions that are easier to treat and almost get completely cured by the simple removal of these parts of the cervix instead of being left undiagnosed and turning over the years into cancerous and invasive conditions that then lead to more serious issues like spreading to the bladder and rectum and then metastasizing to distant organs making the condition not easily treatable as precancerous ones and with far more serious life threatening complications and sequelae.
So you may need to take someone you trust with you to that appointment to give you the support you need, and make sure to ask your doctor during your visit any questions and inquiries you have concerning the procedure , your condition , different treatment modalities, prognosis and follow up after treatment .
Many people also cancel their appointments for fear of the procedure being painful but it is not supposed to be very painful _only slightly uncomfortable _ as it is only for visualizing your cervix .
your doctor may apply a local anesthetic if you need a tissue sample taken (biopsy), all you can expect is a little discomfort and pressure from the device introduced into the cervix (speculum) and a burning sensation if the doctor applied a solution to wash the cervix or to perform diagnostic tests or to apply topical medication.
Your doctor may give you an over the counter pain reliever (ibuprofen, acetaminophen ) before the procedure starts by 20 minutes to make you feel more comfortable and the procedure less painful.
