Colposcopy

A colposcope (on the left side of the picture). It is between the arms of a health professional. The colposcope's front end, is pointed towards the opening of the vagina (of the woman's body) in the picture. The health professional is holding a kind of (tool or) instrument made of metal. Those are not part of the colposcope.

A colposcope is a special device that is used to look at the cervix and the vagina, which are usually hidden from sight. Colposcopy can be used to detect cervical cancer, in its early stages, or to detect an infection with HPV. Colposcopy is also important when documenting the damage done in the case of sexual assault. The procedure was first used by Hans Hinselmann, German gynecologist, in 1925.

References

  1. ↑ Chase DM, Kalouyan M, DiSaia PJ (May 2009). "Colposcopy to evaluate abnormal cervical cytology in 2008". Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 200 (5): 472–80. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.12.025. PMID 19375565.