Colposcopy

[notHarris]

Hi I'd love some advice about this. For a while now I've been ridiculously anxious about getting a smear after the first one I had, the student nurse asked if she could "have a go" turning it into a long and painful process.
So, the GP offered me an appointment at a special clinic at the hospital for anxious patients. Said they were very experienced and would know how to help me stay calm.
Anyway, I've had my appointment through and it's for a "colposcopy" which I understood to be the next stage after an abnormal smear, not an alternative. Is that right?
Have they made a mistake or is it just another name for a smear. I'm confused now and don't want to work through all the anxiety only to be turned away on the day.
Thanks for any help or advice.

I would ring and ask them for more information - they should be telling you this anyway, or ask for a telephone appointment with a GP with a well women clinic to ask them to explain.

I had one after an abnormal smear and it isn't anything to worry about, but I definitely had a letter explaining that I'd had an abnormal smear first. They may just want to have a good look at you.

I've had normal smears for ages since also.

Ring them and check - colposcopy isn't the same thing as a smear. As elfton says, they're nothing to worry about, but best to have the right level of procedure!

Sorry, to explain more clearly, they use a little scope to examine your cervix - so it's like a smear but with tiny cameras prob not what you fancy if the aim is just to have a well-managed normal smear test.

I'm not a medical person but I have had a colposcopy. It's the same procedure as a smear really but they can have a good look at your cervix by using a magnifying glass and you can see it on a screen. It's usually used after an abnormal smear. However, don't panic. When I went, there were four people in the room and they tried to take my mind off the discomfort which a single nurse can't really do. I actually found it annoying that they were talking because I wanted to look at the monitor. And then one tried to hold my hand!! So you see, there'll be a lot going on and you won't have too much time to get nervous. Maybe that's why they're sending you there?

I have had one recently and it's really nothing to worry about. It's exactly as pp said in that they can see your cervix through magnifying lense and you can see it on screen, much like a vaginale ultrasound. They may need to do a biopsy if they see abnormalities in which case they just scrape off a little bit and send off for testing. It's not the most comfortable but bearable. just just try to relax and you'll be fine. Good luck

Thanks everybody!
I'm going to try really hard to get to this one as I know I really do need it. I just don't want to psyche myself up only to be turned away on the day.