Colposcopy?

Hi, I haven't posted in quite a while, but 3 years ago I had a complete hysterectomy. I've been getting pap tests every 6 months. My doctor recently called and told me she wanted to do a colposcopy due to abnormal cells. Is this the same as dysplasia? Since I don't have a cervix, I'm sort of confused about this procedure. Any advice?

I believe that it may be... I had an ASCUS pap that they were going to do a colpo on, but decided instead to allow me on Premarin cream to help with the atrophy. I think the colpo is just so they can see how far the abnomal cells have gone.

Hi - There's a good explanation about the purposes for colposcopy on the following American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology website:

http://www.asccp.org/pdfs/patient_ed...y_20090416.pdf

There can be so many reasons for an abnormal PAP. Try not to read anything into it. Remember, a PAP is just a screening tool, so if it comes up unusual looking, your doctor will naturally want to take a closer look at it. It could be infection-related, it could be atrophy-related, it could just be a false positive. The colposcopy will help your doctor figure out if further investigation needs to happen. Good luck! I hope they find it's just a fluke!

Thank you so much for your encouraging words.