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Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration of female reproductive system 
Female reproductive system

Your doctor may recommend colposcopy if a Pap test or pelvic exam revealed abnormalities. Colposcopy can be used to diagnose:

  • Cervical cancer
  • Genital warts
  • Inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
  • Precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix
  • Precancerous changes in the cells of the vagina
  • Vaginal cancer
References
  1. Colposcopy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp135.cfm. Accessed March 26, 2009.
  2. What is colposcopy? American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. http://www.asccp.org/pdfs/patient_edu/colposcopy.pdf. Accessed March 26, 2009.
  3. Gagne HM. Colposcopy of the vagina and vulva. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2008;35:659.
  4. Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:752.
  5. Galaal K, et al. Interventions for reducing anxiety in women undergoing colposcopy (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD006013.

MY00236

May 16, 2009

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