What is colposcopy?

Objectives:

To elucidate psychosexual problems in women referred for colposcopy after an abnormal cervical smear and a 6-month and 2-year follow up.

Design:

Prospective study.

Setting:

Department of Gynaecology, Malm?University Hospital, Sweden. POPULATION: One hundred consecutive women referred for colposcopy for the first time subsequent to receiving notification of an abnormal cervical smear.

Methods:

The women completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a psychosexual questionnaire and had one psychosocial interview prior to colposcopy at all three visits.

Main Outcome Measures:

Depending upon the result of the cervical biopsy, women had either a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or not. Psychosexual variables, anxiety measures, and psychosocial variables were used to estimate sexual functioning at the beginning of the study and at follow up. Differences in sexual functioning between LEEP and non-LEEP groups were estimated.

Results:

'Spontaneous interest in sex', 'Frequency of intercourse', and 'sexual arousal' were reported to be statistically significant lower at 6 months compared with the first visit, and at 2 years, 'spontaneous interest in sex' and 'Frequency of intercourse' still remained low. There was no difference in sexual functioning between the LEEP and non-LEEP groups at follow up.

Conclusions:

Two years after referral for colposcopy, women still had an effect on sexual functioning, that is, lesser 'spontaneous interest' and decreased 'Frequency of intercourse'. We found no support for a relationship between treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by LEEP and deterioration in sexual functioning.

Please click on the required question.

• 1 What is the cervix?
• 2 What is a cervical polyp?
• 3 What is meant by cervical erosion (ectopy) and cervicitis?
• 4  What is the transformation zone?
• 5 What is a 'Paptest' (PAP test (cervical smear) test)
• 6  My PAP smear test (cervical smear) shows inflammation. Should I be worried?
• 7  What are cells and what is an abnormal (pre- malignant) cell?
• 8 My PAP smear test (cervical smear) shows abnormal cells. Does this mean that I have cancer?
• 9  What is meant by the terms pre-malignant cells, dyskaryosis, dysplasia and CIN?
• 10  What are the symptoms of pre-malignancy of the cervix?
• 11  What are benign and malignant tumours?
• 12  Why have I developed a pre-malignant condition of my cervix?
• 13  What is colposcopy?
• 14  What treatments are available for pre-malignant conditions of the cervix?
• 15  Can pre-malignant conditions of the cervix be cured?
• 16  How can I be re-assured that the pre-malignant changes will not recur?
• 17  How can we prevent carcinoma of the cervix?
• 18  Is there a reason to screen for HPV?
• 19  Support Groups.
• 20  Are there any support groups?

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.