Cervical Screening Programme
Our unit is nationally and internationally renowned for providing friendly, professional services to women with abnormal cervical smear results.
The unit also researches pre-invasive disease of the cervix and is a valuable training resource for junior medical staff and nurses.
The department is based on the 3rd floor of the Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
Colposcopy & Hysteroscopy: 0121 335 8101 08:30-17:15
Emergency Contact Ward 8 — Out of hours: 0121 335 8180
What is Cervical Screening?
Cervical screening is a test to check the health of your cervix (the opening to your womb).
It helps stop cervical cancer before it starts.
It is offered to people aged 25 to 64 who have a cervix.
A small sample of cells is taken and tested to look for a virus called HPV (Human Papillomavirus). It looks for a common HPV virus. If HPV is detected, the cells are examined more closely.
If there are early changes, they can be treated to stop cancer from developing. This test does not check for cancer; it helps stop cancer from developing.
Anyone who has a cervix should be invited for cervical screening.
If you're a trans man or non-binary and have a cervix, you can speak to your GP, sexual health clinic or transgender health clinic about getting invitations routinely.
What is HPV?
HPV is a common virus that most people get at some point. It spreads through skin contact in the genital area.
HPV usually goes away on its own, but sometimes it stays in the body and can cause changes to cells. If not treated, this could lead to cancer.
What is a Colposcopy?
You will be referred to the Colposcopy department following an abnormal smear test, unexplained bleeding or changes on the cervix that require closer examination.
Colposcopy is a procedure where a doctor or nurse looks at the cervix with a magnifying instrument to find any abnormalities.
There will be a doctor or nurse and a healthcare assistant with you to protect your privacy.
If anything abnormal is noticed, a small tissue sample (biopsy) will be taken and tested.
What happens at the appointment?
You will first speak to a nurse or doctor, who will ask questions, explain the procedure and answer any questions you have.
You will be asked to give permission (consent) for the procedure to go ahead, and everything will be explained to you.
Your care team
Your care team will be made up of doctors, nurses and healthcare staff.
They will make sure you feel safe and supported.
The procedure
A colposcopy is usually done by a specially trained nurse (colposcopist) or doctor.
Before the procedure, you will be asked to remove the bottom half of your clothes behind a curtain. You will be given a sheet to cover yourself. If you wear a loose skirt or a long jumper, you can keep this on during the procedure.
You will be asked to lie down and put your legs on a padded support.
A colposcopy can feel uncomfortable or painful; you can ask for the procedure to be stopped at any time and given some pain relief to help.
What it might feel like
A smooth, tube-shaped tool (a speculum) is gently placed into your vagina to open it. A microscope with a light attached (colposcope) is then used to look at your cervix; this does not go into the vagina.
The doctor or nurse will put liquids on your cervix to help them see any abnormal cervical cells.
You may feel a mild tingling or stinging sensation when the liquids are used.
A small tissue sample, around the size of a pinhead, may be removed for testing. This is known as a biopsy.
You may feel a mild pinching or scratching feeling as the tissue is removed.
Further treatment
If the doctor or nurse finds abnormal cells in your cervix, they may recommend removing them; this will reduce your risk of cervical cancer.
They may do this treatment on the same day as your colposcopy, or you might be asked to come back for another appointment.
LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone)
A large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) is used to remove abnormal cells.
You will have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb your cervix, so you should not feel any pain.
It will take around 15 minutes.
If you still feel pain or discomfort, speak to the doctor or nurse and they will provide more pain relief.
A heated loop of wire is then used to remove the tissue. An area of tissue about the size of a fingernail is removed.
If you have a coil (IUD or Mirena coil), the doctor or nurse will try not to damage the threads. If this happens, the coil can still be removed safely as normal.
This procedure can be done during the colposcopy procedure, and you will not need to stay in the hospital afterwards.
Cone Biopsy
If the doctor or nurse needs to remove a large piece of tissue, they may recommend a cone biopsy. This involves removing a cone-shaped section of tissue from your cervix.
You will need to have another appointment and attend the ward. You will need to be put to sleep (general anaesthetic) for the cone biopsy and for this reason, you may need to spend the night in hospital afterwards.
After a procedure
You can go home to rest and recover following the procedure. You may have some mild pain, so taking painkillers such as paracetamol can help.
You may have some bleeding and discharge from your vagina. This should pass within a few days after a colposcopy.
If you had a biopsy (tissue sample) or LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone), bleeding may last longer. After a LLETZ, some people can have bleeding for up to 4 weeks. If you have any bleeding, discharge or pain, do not have penetrative sex or put anything inside your vagina.
If you had LLETZ, you may be told to avoid sex for four weeks, do not use tampons or menstrual cups, use pads instead. Avoid activities that could make bleeding or pain worse, such as exercise.
Support and advice
If you need help with a language, interpreters or an external translator are available. Please tell the clinic before your appointment if you need an interpreter.
British Sign Language (BSL) signed content: Taking part in NHS cervical screening - GOV.UK