After your doctor reviews the results from your exam, they will decide if and what treatments may be most appropriate for you. The doctor or colposcopy nurse will call you to talk to you about your care plan and provide you with information to prepare you for the treatment. Some treatments require a restriction on your returning to normal activities, so you may require time off work. Please ask the doctor what is recommended for you so that you can make arrangements beforehand. If it is decided that you do not require further treatment, you will simply be asked to book a follow-up appointment in a few months so the team can check-in with you.
Getting ready for your treatment
- It is normal to feel nervous before your treatment. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member to support you during your visit.
- Write down a list so you can tell your doctor or colposcopy nurse if you take any medications. This should include any over the counter medications, herbal remedies or if you have any allergies.
- Please make sure you have someone who can drive you home after your treatment. This is for your own safety and is a strict hospital policy. We cannot treat someone who is planning to drive themselves home from their appointment.
- Be sure to eat a normal breakfast or lunch on the day of your treatment. You can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) before the treatment as you may have some cramping during the procedure.
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If you have your period and it is heavy (first two days), please call and see if you need to re-book your appointment.
What to expect on the day of your treatment
The clinic is located on the first floor of our Dietary wing. If you enter through the main hospital entrance, ask the Volunteers for directions to the clinic. Once you arrive, register with the Colposcopy team.
After you have registered, the nurse will take you to a clinic room. They will talk to you about your test results, explain the treatment, answer any questions and tell you what to expect during and after the treatment. The nurse will then take you a treatment room after the initial assessment and remain with you throughout the procedure.
The doctor will arrive and take some time to speak with you before your treatment. They will also be happy to speak with you and answer any questions during and after the treatment as well. The treatment will only take a few minutes to complete.
Afterwards, the nurse will discuss any restrictions and follow-up care. After a short recovery period you'll be able to leave the treatment room. We will ask you to book a follow-up appointment for 4 - 7 months. This can be done with the secretary before leaving.
Treatments available in the clinic
- Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) - During this treatment the doctor will remove the abnormal cells or dysplasia from the cervix using a small wire loop with a low electrical current. For more info about this treatment, click here.
- Laser Therapy Treatment - Laser is a small high energy beam of light that evaporates the abnormal cells or dysplasia. For more info about this treatment, click here.
After your treatment
The colposcopy doctor will continue to care for you until it is safe for you to return to your family doctor. You do not require any Pap tests with your family doctor while you are being seen in the clinic. However, you will need to see your family doctor for any other yearly preventative health check-ups such as internal pelvic exam and breast exam. Once you are discharged from the clinic, it is important that you continue to have a Pap smear once a year with your family doctor.
