Definition

A medical procedure that allows a doctor to closely examine the tissues of the vagina and cervix using a special instrument called a colposcope.

Example

The doctor recommended a colposcopy to check for any abnormalities in the cervical tissue.

Conversation

I just had to go for a colposcopy yesterday, and it was nerve-wracking.

Oh no, I hope it went well! What was it like?

It was actually not as bad as I thought, just a bit uncomfortable.

That's good to hear! At least you can check everything is okay.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Colposcopy is formed from "colpos" (from Greek "kolpos", meaning womb or vagina) and "-scopy" (from Greek "skopein", meaning to look or examine). The term refers to the examination of the vagina and cervix using a special instrument.

Memory Tip

Think of 'looking' ('-scopy') at the 'womb' or 'vagina' ('colpos') to remember that colposcopy is an examination of these areas.

Visually Confused Words