Colposcopy Center - Potomac, MD
Potomac Obstetrician-Gynecologist Doctors for ColposcopyType of Physician: Obstetrician-Gynecologist What is a Obstetrician-Gynecologist? A certification by the Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology; practitioners provide medical and surgical care of the female reproductive system and associated disorders, to the extent that it distinguishes them from other physicians. This training enables them to serve as consultants to other physicians and as primary physicians for women. Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology Common Name: Ob/Gyn or Ob-Gyn Obstetrician-Gynecologist Doctors in Potomac * Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Contemporary Womens Health Care Associates  Contemporary Womens Health Care Associates  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Contemporary Womens Health Care Associates  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capitol Womens Care  Greater Washington Maternal Fetal Medicine  Capital Women's Care  Capitol Womens Care  Capitol Womens Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Simmonds Martin & Bernstein MDs  Lori Kaler MD  Evelyn M Karson MD  Simmonds Martin & Bernstein MDs  Simmonds Martin & Bernstein MDs  Congressional OB/GYN  Shady Grove Fertility  Sheri L Hamersley MD  Womens Fertility and Health Center  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Robert D Footer MD  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Earl N McLeod MD  Mark Seigel MD  Womens Health Specialists  Johnson Y Fan MD  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Kathy A Mesbahi MD  Esfand Nawab MD  Contemporary Ob/Gyn Associates LLC  Carolyn J Harrington MD & Iris Dominy MD  Carolyn J Harrington MD & Iris Dominy MD  Shen-Sho Tseng MD  Womens Health Care Center  Richard N Footer MD  Marc Vatin MD  Nancy P Youssefi MD  Ob/Gyn Group  Ob/Gyn Group  Martha T Cole MD  Sophia M Abdullah MD  Bergin & Powers MDs  John L Marlow MD  Bergin & Powers MDs  Brendan Burke MD LLC  Ronald A Paul MD  Julius S Piver MD  Cesare F Santangelo MD PC  Vivian Fraga MD  Gaithersburg OB/GYN  Gaithersburg OB/GYN  Gaithersburg OB/GYN  Gaithersburg OB/GYN  Peter Ma MD  Oluyemisi Famuyiwa MD  Nina V Jeanes MD  James Skinner & Rosado MDs  Kambiz (Karl) Kazemi MD  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Capital Women's Care  Capital Women's Care  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Capital Women's Care  Ob/Gyn Associates PA  Oliver L Kreitmann MD  Peggy J Scurry MD  Narong Suvannasankha MD  Capital Ob/Gyn Associates Potomac, MarylandUpcoming Local Events2012-05-27
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ColposcopyWhat is colposcopy?Colposcopy is a gynecological procedure that illuminates and magnifies the vulva, vaginal walls, and uterine cervix in order to detect and examine abnormalities of these structures. The cervix is the base of the womb (uterus) and leads out to the birth canal (vagina). During colposcopy, special tests [acetic acid wash, use of color filters, and sampling (biopsy) of tissues] can be done. Colposcopy is not to be confused with culdoscopy, which is the insertion of an instrument through the wall of the vagina in order to view the pelvic area behind the vagina.
Why is colposcopy done?Colposcopy is usually done in one of two circumstances: to examine the cervix either when the result of a Pap smear is abnormal, or when the cervix looks abnormal during the collection of a Pap smear. Even if a Pap smear result is normal, colposcopy is ordered when the cervix appears visibly abnormal to the clinician performing the Pap smear. The purpose of the colposcopy is to determine what is causing the abnormal looking cervix or the abnormal Pap smear so that appropriate treatment can be given.
How is colposcopy done?A colposcope is a microscope that resembles a pair of binoculars. The instrument has a range of magnification lenses. It also has color filters that allow the physician to detect tiny abnormal blood vessels on the cervix. The colposcope is used to examine the vaginal walls and cervix through the vaginal opening.
Colposcopy is a safe procedure with no complicatio... Recommended Reading Related to ColposcopyWhat is a Pap smear?A Pap smear (also known as the Pap test) is a medical procedure in which a sample of cells from a woman's cervix (the end of the uterus that extends into the vagina) is collected and spread (smeared) on a microscope slide. The cells are examined under a microscope in order to look for pre-malignant (before-cancer) or malignant (cancer) changes. A Pap smear is a simple, quick, and relatively painless screening test. Its specificity - which means its ability to avoid classifying a normal smear as abnormal (a "false positive" result) - while very good, is not perfect. The sensitivity of a Pap smear - which means its ability to detect every single abnormality -- while good, is also not perfect, and some "false negative" results (in which abnormalities are present but not detected by the test) will occur. Thus, a few women develop cervical cancer despite having regular Pap screening. In the vas... Other Related Colposcopy ArticlesEmergency Contact for Potomac
Nearby Potomac Hospitals *Suburban Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare National Institutes of Health Sibley Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington Reston Hospital Center Holy Cross Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Georgetown University Hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center Dominion Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Washington Adventist Hospital The George Washington University Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington Hospital Center Howard University Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Children's National Medical Center Montgomery General Hospital Providence Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington Inova Alexandria Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley United Medical Center Laurel Regional Hospital Doctors Community Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Howard County General Hospital Prince William Hospital Fort Washington Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Potomac Hospital Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Springfield Hospital Center Frederick Memorial Hospital Spring Grove Hospital Center Baltimore Washington Medical Center Northwest Hospital Kernan Hospital Saint Agnes Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Colposcopy by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Menopause
- Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
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Cervical Cancer
- Cervical cancer is cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix. Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Women (STDs)
- Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
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Cervical Dysplasia
- Cervical dysplasia is a condition in which the cells of the inner lining of the cervix have precancerous changes. There are two types of cervical dysplasia; 1) squamous intraepithelial lesion, and 2) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Cervical dysplasia is caused by infection of the cervix with HPV (human papillomavirus). There are various diagnostic measures for cervical dysplasia. Treatment generally depends upon the progression of the dysplasia, mild, moderate, or severe.
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Genital Warts (HPV)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. HPV is primarily transmitted by sexual contact. While some people develop warts in the genital region after infection, others experience no symptoms. Though genital warts can be removed, there is no cure for HPV infection. There is a vaccine to prevent infection from four common HPV types.
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Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal cancer is fairly uncommon. There are two types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Risk factors include being 60 or older, exposure to DES while in the womb, HPV infection, and having a history of abnormal cervical cells. Painful intercourse, pelvic pain, vaginal lumps, and abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge are all symptoms of vaginal cancer. Treatment depends upon the stage of the vaginal cancer and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the use of radiosensitizers.
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Sexual Health
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