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Cervical exam
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Indications for examination of the cervix
The procedure should be performed by all women over 30 years of age. This will allow possible deviations or damage to be noticed at the initial stage. The main indication for examination of the cervix is any complaint or the patient's age.
The procedure is also performed after surgery or complex treatment of any disease. This allows assessing the woman's condition and monitoring the recovery of the uterus. Such examination is actively used if the woman is in a risk group. As a rule, this includes patients who may develop oncology.
Today, doctors often lean towards such an examination. It is used in cases where a regular gynecological examination does not provide a complete picture of what is happening. Colposcopy is also actively used in the presence of patient complaints that could not be eliminated by a gynecological examination.
Preparation
The procedure is carried out immediately after the end of menstrual bleeding. It is advisable to resort to examination in the first 2-4 days. If the appointed date of examination coincides with menstrual flow, everything is postponed. Preparation is carried out a couple of days before the procedure itself. It is imperative to abstain from sexual intercourse. A similar requirement is put forward for the use of various candles, sprays and suppositories. Hygiene products cannot be used, and the genitals should be washed exclusively with water.
Self-douching is prohibited. In general, this type of treatment is used only after the doctor's approval. Otherwise, there is a risk of harm to your own body. Do not take painkillers before the examination. Colposcopy is a completely safe way to examine the cervix. It is carried out using mirrors and magnifying devices.
Cervical examination before childbirth
A gynecological examination is carried out immediately before childbirth. For this, a woman needs to come to the hospital at 38-40 weeks. Such an examination of the cervix will determine the degree of its maturity and condition; before childbirth, it is very important that everything goes according to plan. The body must be ready for future stress and the birth process.
The cervix is considered ready for labor when it is soft and shortened to the touch. A finger can easily pass through the canal; it is located in the center of the small pelvis. A vaginal examination is aimed at determining which part of the body the baby is facing. A mandatory requirement of this procedure is to prevent pathogenic bacteria from entering the vagina and uterus. This will help avoid possible postpartum complications. During a gynecological examination before labor, attention is paid to the amniotic fluid, the degree of smoothing of the cervix. All this is a mandatory procedure that all women in labor go through.
Technique of implementation
The quality of the examination may be affected by the mucus in the uterus. Therefore, the first step is to remove it. This is done by treating the cervix with vinegar or Lugol's solution. A tampon soaked in the liquid is inserted into the vagina, it must be cotton wool. The technique can be either simple or advanced.
Simple examination. It is carried out immediately after the mucus has been removed. An extended examination involves treating the vagina with a 3% acetic acid solution. The procedure can be started after 2 minutes. After such treatment, any deviations become more noticeable.
To determine oncology, Lugol's solution is used. It is necessary to treat the vagina with it. This solution colors everything brown. If there is oncology, whitish spots will be visible. If the doctor notices this, he will immediately do a biopsy for histological examination. After the examination, a small scratch may remain, which will heal on its own within a few days.
Examination of the cervix in mirrors
During the procedure, special attention is paid to secretions and anatomical changes. Examination of the cervix in mirrors will allow you to assess the condition of the mucous membrane, detect inflammation and vascular pathology.
If there is bloody discharge, a malignant neoplasm is excluded. With cervicitis, erosions and hyperemia are possible. Cervical cancer is not always easy to distinguish from erosion. Therefore, in addition to the examination, a biopsy is performed.
Women who are sexually active are given special Pederson or Grave, Kusco mirrors. A spoon-shaped mirror and a lift are used as auxiliary instruments. Kusco mirrors are used most often, since they do not require a special lift.
Folding mirror. The smallest instrument is selected for inspection, it is quite sufficient for a full inspection. Folding mirrors are inserted in a closed state, as soon as it is in place, it is turned and moved apart.
Disposable Cusco speculum. First, the spoon-shaped lower speculum is inserted, and then the flat one is inserted parallel to it. This allows you to assess the condition of the cervix and see possible pathological processes in it.
The gynecologist decides how to conduct the examination based on the patient’s complaints and a previously conducted gynecological examination.
Examination of the cervix under a microscope
The woman should lie down in a gynecological chair. The examination of the cervix under a microscope will take about 30 minutes. First, the doctor will examine the vagina using a special mirror. Only water is used as a lubricant; any lubricants can affect the reliability of the results obtained.
Then they resort to examining the cervix using a binocular microscope. In order to alleviate the discomfort from the procedure, it is possible to moisten the vagina with a saline solution. At the end of the procedure, the cervix is treated with acetic acid. This may cause a slight burning sensation. At the end of the examination, the doctor makes a decision about a biopsy. If there are pathological processes or any doubts, material is taken for histological examination. Sometimes an iodine solution is used, which allows you to confirm / refute the presence of oncology.
Cervical examination during pregnancy
Once a woman is registered, she will be examined throughout her pregnancy. This is a mandatory and completely normal process. The first examination of the cervix during pregnancy is carried out on the day of registration, then according to a special schedule. It is necessary to undergo an examination at 30 weeks, this is done when a woman is registered for leave. During this period, smears are taken for vaginal flora and cytology.
The last examination is carried out before the birth itself, usually scheduled for 38-40 weeks. This will allow you to assess the condition of the cervix and its readiness for the upcoming birth process.
Sometimes an additional examination is carried out. It is necessary if there is a suspicion that a woman has an infection or if special symptoms appear. This will help to identify the cause of this condition and prescribe high-quality treatment. If a woman has bleeding, then an additional examination is mandatory.
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Consequences
After the procedure, the woman will have to wear a pad for some time. The main consequence of the examination is minor bleeding, observed for 5 days. This is quite normal and there is no need to worry about it. After the procedure, other discharge may appear, their color varies from green to coffee. This is also normal and there should be no reason to worry.
In order to avoid serious consequences, it is necessary to abstain from sexual intercourse, douching and using suppositories. This can be done after the cervix returns to normal. If a woman is constantly bothered by unpleasant symptoms, it is worth going to the hospital. In this case, an additional biopsy will be performed. It will allow to exclude possible serious deviations. There are no serious consequences after the procedure. But you should not exclude the possibility of development, each organism is individual.
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Complications
Examination of the cervix is a completely safe method. It does not give any complications, and if they occur, then extremely rarely and due to the characteristics of the woman's body. However, in rare cases, negative symptoms may appear. After the examination, minor bleeding is possible and this is normal. But if the discharge is heavy, this is a reason to see a doctor. Against this background, an increase in body temperature is possible. The appearance of abnormal discharge is not excluded, which requires immediate consultation with a doctor. Sometimes there is a nagging pain in the lower abdomen, but this symptom is normal.
Sometimes, the symptoms that develop are the body's response to the procedure. You should not worry about this if they have successfully disappeared on the second day after the examination. If they persist, you should visit a doctor. This will help identify the true cause of such manifestations.
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Discharge after examination of the cervix
If a woman has not been diagnosed with any complications, but there is still discharge, there is no need to worry. After the procedure, a small incision may remain, not exceeding 5 mm. This is quite normal and there is nothing to worry about. This damage occurs due to the gynecological mirror. If it is not used carefully, it can damage the mucous membrane. Usually, discharge after examination of the cervix persists for 5 days. If they are abundant and last much longer, there is a reason to see a doctor.
It is quite possible that during the examination there was a violation and an injury was caused. In this case, they resort to a repeated examination to identify the true cause of the bleeding. Sometimes the discharge is not red at all. They are characterized by various shades, within the range of green or even coffee grounds. There is clearly no need to worry here, such discharge is also normal. If there are any doubts, it is enough to simply visit a gynecologist.
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The cervix bleeds during examination
If there is blood after the examination, there is no reason to panic, this process is quite normal. During the examination, the cervix bleeds due to the effect of speculums on it. Sometimes the doctor makes mistakes and injures the cervix. There should be no reason to worry. Standard colposcopy always leaves a small cut of 5 mm. It will heal on its own within a few days. That is why after the procedure you cannot use suppositories, have sexual intercourse or douche.
If minor bloody discharge appears, there is nothing to worry about. It will pass on its own within 5 days. If it is abundant and does not stop after a specified time, you should consult a gynecologist. This does not necessarily mean pathology, it is quite possible that the woman has too weak vessel walls and any impact leads to bleeding. If you have any doubts, you should consult a gynecologist again.
Pain during examination of the cervix
Pain may appear after the procedure. This is due to the use of mirrors. The mucous membrane of the cervix is very delicate, so pain may appear during the examination. It may occur due to incorrect insertion of the mirror or due to certain errors during the procedure. Usually, the pain syndrome goes away on its own. Its severity depends on the condition of the cervix; if there is an inflammatory process there, the pain will be severe. Usually, this is a nagging pain syndrome that leaves the woman within 24 hours. If this does not happen, there is a reason to see a doctor.
It is quite possible that the basic techniques of conducting the examination were violated. If this is not the problem, a repeat examination is carried out. During it, pathological changes or processes in the cervix may be detected. Biopsy is used as an additional method of examination. This will confirm/refute the probability of a malignant neoplasm.
Rehabilitation period
For several days after the procedure, the patient may experience unpleasant pain. Usually, they are not strong, to relieve them, they resort to the help of painkillers, such as Analgin, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. They are taken according to the same principle: one tablet 2-3 times a day. They cannot be used in case of hypersensitivity. There is a risk of developing allergic reactions. In general, the rehabilitation period does not require the use of any medications, this is done in extreme cases.
If a biopsy was performed during the examination, the recovery period may last up to several weeks. During this time, minor discharge is possible. If the cervix was treated with vinegar during the examination, the discharge may be greenish.
The recovery period requires abstinence from suppositories and sexual intercourse. If strange symptoms such as severe pain, bleeding and fever occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.