the healthy human
Amber Beckenhauer, DO
Board Certified Family Physician
Founder/Owner/CEO
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CREATING HEALTHY HUMANs...
ONE PATIENT AT A TIME.
AT THREE LOCATIONS:
Colposcopy
What Is a Colposcopy?
A colposcopy is a dynamic new service offered by The Healthy Human.
Instead of referring patients away from our office,
you can have this helpful procedure done by our trustworthy health care staff.
This diagnostic procedure is a thorough examination of the cervix and vaginal area for abnormalities or disease.
Just like any medical procedure, you should know all the facts, so please read the information below, and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions!
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When Is a Colposcopy Performed?
When a woman has an abnormal pap smear, a colposcopy is a good option to have.
This procedure can detect inflammation of the cervix, cervical cancer, and vaginal cancer.
It is also often used with a biopsy because of its effectiveness in detecting these cancers.
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How Is a Colposcopy Performed?
We will perform your colposcopy in our hospital and surgical center.
This ensures a clean, safe, and trusted environment for you during this diagnostic procedure.
The actual procedure only takes 10-15 minutes. We place a speculum in the vaginal area, which holds open the vagina.
A tool called a colposcope is then used to illuminate the inside of the vagina and allow us to examine any abnormalities.
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What Are the Risks of a Colposcopy?
A colposcopy is generally a low-risk procedure.
We are happy to discuss the few risks with you, so please contact us.
For instance, we do not recommend scheduling a colposcopy during your menstrual cycle or having intercourse 1-2 days prior.
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Results of a Colposcopy
If a biopsy is performed at the same time, we will send the sample to a lab for testing.
Depending upon the severity of the results, low to high grade cells, the patient may require immediate treatment
(such as a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
vs. another future colposcopy to gather further information.
Dr. B will take the time to discuss your results with you and the next steps in your cervical management.
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Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
What Is LEEP?
Historically, cervical cancer has been a leading cause of death for women in the US.
In the past several decades, that rate has been falling, in no large part due to better testing
and treatment procedures like those offered at The Healthy Human.
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The LEEP involves using a thin wire loop electrode to remove the affected tissue of the cervix.
This allows us to send the tissue to the lab for extensive testing, while ensuring the complete removal of the affected tissue. The LEEP only takes 20-30 minutes to perform;
however, we have each patient plan for an hour appointment for check in, treatment, and recovery.
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Recovery time is typically only several days. There are possible side effects and we will discuss them with you in great detail.
Healthy Human staff will advise you on recovery time from work/activity/intercourse, etc.
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*For any of the above, please contact us for more information today on scheduling, costs, insurance reimbursement, etc!
Contact Us
The Healthy Human is committed to providing quality and comprehensive healthcare. To learn more about our clinic and how we can help you, get in touch with us today.