Editing Colposcopy (section)

{{Short description|Medical examination of the cervix}}
{{distinguish|Colonoscopy}}
{{Infobox medical intervention |
  Name        = Colposcopy |
  Image       = Basic_Female_Reproductive_System_(English).svg |
  Caption     = In this diagram, the [[canal of the cervix]] (or ''endocervix'') is circled at the base of the womb. The [[vaginal portion of cervix|vaginal portion of the cervix]] projects free into the vagina. The [[transformation zone]], at the opening of the cervix into the vagina, is the area where most abnormal cell changes occur |
  ICD10       = |
  ICD9        = {{ICD9proc|67}} |
  MeshID      = D003127 |
  OPS301      = {{OPS301|1-671}} |
  OtherCodes  = |
}}
'''Colposcopy''' ({{langx|grc|κόλπος|kolpos|hollow, womb, vagina}} + ''skopos'' 'look at') is a medical [[medical diagnosis|diagnostic]] procedure to visually examine the [[cervix]] as well as the [[vagina]] and [[vulva]] using a colposcope.<ref name="pmid19375565">{{cite journal |vauthors=Chase DM, Kalouyan M, DiSaia PJ |title=Colposcopy to evaluate abnormal cervical cytology in 2008 |journal=Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. |volume=200 |issue=5 |pages=472–80 |date=May 2009 |pmid=19375565 |doi=10.1016/j.ajog.2008.12.025 }}</ref>

The main goal of colposcopy is to prevent [[cervical cancer]] by detecting and treating precancerous lesions early.  [[Human Papillomavirus]] (HPV) is a common infection and the underlying cause for most cervical cancers. Smoking also makes developing cervical abnormalities more likely.

Other reasons for a patient to have a colposcopy include assessment of [[diethylstilbestrol]] (DES) exposure in utero, [[immunosuppression]], abnormal appearance of the cervix or as a part of a [[rape kit|sexual assault forensic examination]].

Colposcopy is done using a colposcope, which provides a magnified and illuminated view of the areas, allowing the colposcopist to visually distinguish normal from abnormal appearing tissue, such as damaged or abnormal changes in the tissue ([[lesion]]s), and take directed [[biopsy|biopsies]] for further pathological examination if needed.

Colposcopy has historical roots in the 10th century when [[Abulcasis]], a renowned Arabian physician, pioneered the use of reflected light to inspect internal organs, with the cervix being the first organ examined in this way.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Spaner |first=S. J. |last2=Warnock |first2=G. L. |date=1997 |title=A brief history of endoscopy, laparoscopy, and laparoscopic surgery |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9449087/#:~:text=The%20first%20effective%20open-tube,tools%20in%20their%20medical%20practice. |journal=Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A |volume=7 |issue=6 |pages=369–373 |doi=10.1089/lap.1997.7.369 |issn=1092-6429 |pmid=9449087}}</ref><ref>Frantizides CT (ed): Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery. St. Louis: Mosby, 1995.</ref><ref>Graber IN, Schultz LS, Pietrofitta JJ, Hickok DF (eds): Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery. Chicago: McGraw-Hill,</ref> The modern procedure was developed by the [[Germany|German]] physician Hans Hinselmann, with help from [[Eduard Wirths]].<ref name="urlThe Deadly Origins Of A Life-saving Procedure – Forward.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/9946/ |title=The Deadly Origins Of A Life-saving Procedure – Forward.com |date=27 January 2007 |access-date=2010-01-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rB0yxE2WhWIC&q=colposcopy+Wirths+hinselmann&pg=PA3|title=Colposcopy of the Cervix, Vagina, and Vulva: A Comprehensive Textbook|first=Michael S.|last=Baggish|date=11 April 2018|publisher=Mosby|access-date=11 April 2018|via=Google Books|isbn=9780323018593}}</ref> The development of colposcopy involved experimentation on Jewish inmates from Auschwitz.<ref name="urlThe Participation of Hans Hinselman in Medical Experiments at Auschwitz">{{cite journal |title= The Participation of Hans Hinselman in Medical Experiments at Auschwitz |journal= Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease |volume= 14 |issue= 1 |pages= 1–4 |doi= 10.1097/LGT.0b013e3181af30ef |pmid= 20040829 |year= 2010 |last1= Halioua |first1= Bruno |s2cid= 188116 }}</ref>