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Original poster

Colposcopy - whos had one and how was it

34 replies

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 11:44

Am being sent for a Colposcopy after 3 abnormal smears and have to be honest am scared stiff. ( mum died from cancer which started as cervical)

Have read leaflet but am hoping you lovely mnetters might be able to share if you have had procedure.
TIA

OP posts:

worldgonecrazy · 21/05/2012 11:49

It's not that bad but do take someone with you as you may feel very emotional afterwards.

ksrwr · 21/05/2012 11:57

i had one at uni, it was a really weird experience, but not bad, and not painful... just really odd.
if you've had a child, you'll probably be much more used to having that area of your body being poked and prodded so it wont be too much of a big deal.

i got to watch mine on a screen while the doctor was taking the biopsy... not sure i'd do that again if i ever had to have another colposcopy.

but really, please dont worry, it doesn't hurt, its just unpleasant..
xx

smalltown · 21/05/2012 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 12:03

thanks for replies, sounds like i won't watch mine if offered.

Did you have treatment as well?

OP posts:

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 12:04

skirt is a good idea, hadn't thought of that

OP posts:

Yoghurty · 21/05/2012 12:12

I've had lots unfortunately, as I had severe dyskaryosis a couple of years ago.

They are not pleasant and yes, I agree with wordgonecrazy that you might want to have someone with you as it can leave you feeling a bit emotional afterwards. Also, they say you can take some ibuprofen 'to ease the discomfort'- it didn't touch the sides for me!

I'm sure this makes me sound like a complete wuss, but I had more than a few of them and they didn't get easier. It doesn't 'hurt' thou, it's more discomfort than anything, but I was achey afterwards.

You'll be fine Don't worry x

Yoghurty · 21/05/2012 12:17

Oh, and yes, I had treatment after the colposcopy- a biopsy and then an full comb-biopsy to remove a section of my cervix. I have had clear results for 5 years now (smears become more regular after having abnormal results- 6 months then every year instead of 3) which is great news, but complications mean that I may be susceptible to miscarriages and I won't be able to carry a baby full term and will have to be monitored

LEMONADEGIRL · 21/05/2012 12:23

I had one 7 years ago as had abnormal smear. It doesn't hurt like the others said and felt uncomfortable. There was a monitor at h IDE showing my insides but I didn't want to watch as I felt upset the time. Afterwards I felt uncomfortable inside and took ibuprofen which helped. They used the loop thing on me inside and I think that burns the area that is at risk if I remember correctly. I did bleed a bit afterwards but not severely. A biopsy was taken that came back clear.
It was so worth it as would hate to think what could have happened.

I had to have smears more often for 5 years

Good luck you will be fine x

nickiminja · 21/05/2012 12:31

Process itself was uncomfortable but bearable - apart from the fact the song 'I'm Horny' was playing all the way through
I had the next day off work as it was quite uncomfortable to sit down.
Good luck.

smalltown · 21/05/2012 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 12:43

thank you ladies, has made me feel a bit better just knowing what to expect. Real experiances is better than a printed leaflet.

Yoghurty, am sorry you had a bad experience

and as for I'm horny playing all the way through

OP posts:

Blatherskite · 21/05/2012 12:47

I had colposcopy pre-kids so was totally un-used to having so many people up there! I took soon-to-be-DH with me and had a Consultant, a trainee and a nurse in the room. They showed my cervix on a screen and sprayed it with a solution that made the abnormal cells go paler so that they could easily be seen then did a loop excision to remove them - I didn't watch that bit.

Afterwards I was told to take things easy and take painkillers to help. It was like bad period pains and I spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself on the sofa so my suggestion would be to make sure you've bought in some treats and maybe some of your favourite DVDs/magazines in advance so you can just chill out.

Thankfully they got all of the abnormal cells and while I've had to have annual smears ever since (8 years) due to the severity of the changes and will have another 2 at least before I can go back to 3 yearly, it was still worth every second. My Grandma died of cervical cancer and I do not want to go that way

yellowvan · 21/05/2012 12:53

I had the leep but under a general cos i was horribley nervous. prior to that, had the cone thing with very unsympathetic and very rushed staff who explained nothing and told me to stop making a fuss. I then moved area and it took my new gp two years to persuade me to have another smear then the leep after awful cone experience, so definately take someone to talk for you and give you some tlc if staff can't.

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 13:11

i think lack of explanation really doesn't help does it.

I feel much better just talking to you ladies about it

OP posts:

Yoghurty · 21/05/2012 13:56

Thanks everyone.

Not nice at the time (and long-term pregnancy issues not fun) but the consequences of not having smears and not finding out would be a lot worse.

As people have said on here, cancer is in my family too and I've had a lumpectomy and follow up treatment as well, so I'd rather know than not!

3teenhell It's better to know and have treatment and you're right, it's nicer to be able to talk about it- no-one I knew at the time had had similar procedures, so it was the scary unknown. You'll be fine hon x

bluetufty · 21/05/2012 16:36

Hi preteenhell! So glad you posted this as I've just been told I need a colposcopy and all these replies have helped me too.
Am normally pretty ok with health matters and usually think that after childbirth nothing could be more painful or undignified.
But when I was told I would need this done I starting to worry immediately and am terrified of the whole thing.
Need to read some of the replies again to get it all into perspective!
Good luck with your appointment :)

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 17:02

Good luck to you as well Blue, when is your appointment?

OP posts:

bluetufty · 21/05/2012 21:02

Thanks 3teenhell - end of next month. Plenty of time to work myself up into a complete frenzy!

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 21:47

Mine is 11th june so i shall report back for you, the posters today have made me feel slightly better

OP posts:

Meglet · 21/05/2012 21:52

I've had quite a few. I took diazepam the first time so it wasn't too bad. I found them more pleasant than a smear as the nurses were more skilled than GP's ever were. The biopsy part did hurt, but it only lasted a second. And I never watched the colposcopies on the screen.

I had 2 LLETZ treatments under general anaesthetic, I refused a local as I knew I wouldn't cope with it. After 2 dc's and 4 yrs later the CIN3 came back and I had a hysterectomy.

toomanyprojects · 21/05/2012 22:00

I had one over twenty years ago pre children and couldn't relax enough - I seem to remember the consultant taking about a cone biopsy. In the end I was referred for a GA for the treatment and after 5 yrs of more regular smear tests went back to the normal schedule. I think I had a loop incision. I have since had three normal pregancies.

BelaLug0si · 21/05/2012 22:36

Hi 3teenhell
You might find these links useful womens' questions answered and more information including a colposcopy video

Original poster

3teenhell · 21/05/2012 23:10

Thanks will take a look at links

OP posts:

bluetufty · 22/05/2012 11:01

Thank you BelaLug0si! Have looked at this too and its really helpful. :)

BigBadBear · 22/05/2012 11:05

I've had a few, including biopsy and excision. Can't really add much, to be honest, other than it's a bit uncomfortable and odd, and ibuprofen helps afterwards. The staff who did it were lovely, which helped massively.

This is a few years ago for me - I now have two DDs and am back on routine smear testing and so far everything has been fine :)

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