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Cervical Biopsy Complications



 Submitted by Medical Health Test Team on August 5, 2010
Cervical Biopsy Problems

A biopsy is an invasive medical procedure where tissues from an organ or area of the body are collected for analysis by chemical testing and microscopic assessment. This procedure is conducted in order to gain access to cells of the body that need to be checked because of the suspicion of some abnormality in the area. The suspicion arises as a result of previous medical testing which is conducted while performing regular health checkups or while responding to some symptoms that may have presented themselves. Typically a biopsy is conducted if a mass is felt during physical examination or if the mass is seen during ultrasound, CT or MRI imaging scans. In some cases, a biopsy is conducted to find a mass of abnormal cells when there are markers in a blood analysis that point towards cancer.

The cervix is located in the female reproductive tract above the vagina and at the mouth of the uterus. It is a narrow opening that dilates during menstruation to allow the uterus lining to be disposed of. This is one of the reasons why women who have their period suffer from cramps, particularly at the initial stage of the menstruation. This part of the woman’s body is susceptible to cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the more common forms of cancer affecting women, particularly women who are near or have passed through menopause.

A cervical biopsy is conducted through the vagina. The area around the cervix is cleaned and the biopsy is conducted using a needle or a scraping device. The process is usually complete within a few minutes and the woman is allowed to return home immediately after the procedure unless there is some complication or she is affected by another illness which requires hospitalization.

There are usually very few complications with a cervical biopsy because it is conducted through the vagina itself and does not require any incision to be made on the body. One common complaint after the biopsy is a feeling of pain and cramping. This is normal for the first few hours or even the first day after the biopsy. Mild bleeding will also occur in most cases but this should cease in a few hours as well. If there is intense pain, excessive white discharge, or continuous bleeding, the patient should visit the doctor immediately as it means that there is an open wound or an infection developing in the area.

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