Whats the point of doing a colpscopy while im pregnant?

Question

What is the point of the doctor doing a colpscopy while im pregnant?

Im just wondering cuz i've been reading that if they see abnormal cells they will do a biopsy but obviouslly the said the couldn't do the biopsy so why even bother with the colpscopy thing? can the doctor tell anything just by looking? any advice?

Answer 1

I would ask your doctor, and if you don't get a satisfactory answer, get a second opinion from another health care practitioner.

My understanding of a colposcopy is that it is basically a method of doing a biopsy - they take an instrument that looks kind of like a paper punch with long handles, and they insert it in through your v****a up to your cervix.  Then operate the handles from the outside of you, but the "paper punch" part snips out a little bit of tissue from your cervix and into the instrument.  They can then analyze this tissue to check for any abnormalities.

Although conventional wisdom would say that you don't mess with the cervix while you are pregnant, one reason I can think of for doing it now is that many cancers seem to thrive on estrogen.  And, while you are pregnant, you have more than the normal amount of estrogen in your body, which could make those kinds of cancers grow faster/become more aggressive.  It's possible that they could treat some displasia (abnormal cell growth) with cryotherapy (basically, freezing the abnormal cells) and still give your cervix time to heal before you give birth.

I have had both the colposcopy (hurts like h**l) and the cryotherapy (doesn't hurt but is really gross while the frozen, dead cells are sloughing off for the next couple of weeks).  Bottom line is that you need to do what you feel is in the best interest of both you and your baby, and you need to get straight talk from the doctor so that you can make the best decision you can.  If you don't feel like you can communicate on this level with your current doctor, then you should find one that you "click" with so that you can.  Your health - and that of your unborn baby - is too important not to.

Hope this helps - good luck.  

Answer 2

I wouldn't think a doctor would want to do a colposcopy while pregnant. I've had a colposcopy before (not while pregnant) and because of that and a few other things I have to have frequent ultrasounds to make sure my cervix isn't going to open up too soon. Not that I mind seeing my baby more frequently, I just wouldn't think doing a colposcopy while pregnang would be worth it, I would think it would be better to wait until after you have the baby.  

Answer 3

Had one done a couple of weeks ago to check moderate dysplasia on my cervix for precancerous cells. They can tell if it is cancerous or not. And it poses no harm to the baby or you. Mine came back as just moderate benign dysplasia, so after my baby is born, they are just going to follow up with a routine pap and go from there. The doctor can tell alot from just looking at it...where the abnormal cells are actually located, what they look like, and what stage they are in. They can take small samples of your cervical cells but can not do a ECC (endocervical cutterage....google it) while you are pregnant. It's worth doing just so they know where to begin following up when you have your 6th week postpartum pap. It's scary to know that not everything is as it should be especially when pregnant. But, I would rather know than not know. I was a bit skeptical about it too but I feel much better now that it is over and I don't have to deal with it for another couple of months. Good luck to you!!

Answer 4

im 31 weeks and i have hpv and pre cancerous cells and have had a copo and biopsy b4 i was pregnant and two copos while pregnant...they wont do a byopsy but they can make a guess by looking and with me the drew a pic of where the cells r to have checke out afte i have the baby...hope that help some