Women’s Health: Getting Yourself Checked Out by OT&P Healthcare

 Not your ordinary pap smear…

Getting your lady parts checked out isn’t always high on a mama’s check list. For many mamas, having your hoo-ha inspected (read: a gyne all up in your biznass) was something we all signed up for when getting pregnant. But after the baby is born, those regular pap smear check-ups can often go under the radar in the midst of our busy lives.

We can all agree that our health should take priority as healthy and happy mamas, make for healthy and happy families, right? Thankfully for us, for over 20 years, OT&P Healthcare has been providing medical care to women and families in Hong Kong with internationally trained and English-speaking doctors. OT&P Healthcare offer a wide range of medical services like Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Family Medicine, Surgery as well as other specialty experts. It is also the only internationally accredited clinic group in HK.

One valuable service that OT&P Healthcare provides specifically for women is a colposcopy, also known as a detailed gynaecology test. We’ve heard of cervical screenings and pap smears, but what is a colposcopy and what is the doctor looking for? It is a diagnostic procedure when the cervix, vagina and vulva are examined for signs of HPV (human papilloma virus) infection, or cellular abnormality such as CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia). It is done by an experienced doctor and is a day procedure.

However, for most women, a colposcopy is only required if you have had an abnormal pap smear results. In many situations, the doctor will see the abnormal areas highlighted by the special solutions and want to take a biopsy to send for examination on a cellular level to confirm what they see.

For some women, the smear results may show a more severe abnormality and the doctor will want to perform a LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) at the same time as a colposcopy. This involves removing a small part of the cervix where the abnormal cells reside. It is usually done in a hospital in the operating theatre to reduce the risk of infection and allows the doctor access to instruments that help control any bleeding. Some women will want to stay overnight to rest after the surgery, although it can be done as a day procedure as well. Although the abnormal cells are removed, it is important to continue doing smears afterwards to detect any future changes!

OT&P Healthcare’s  Women and Child clinic  is located in Central offering speciality procedures like the colposcopy as well as other obstetric and gynaecology services. In addition, OT&P Healthcare also has seven clinics conveniently located around Hong Kong from three clinics in Central, Wan Chai, Repulse Bay, Clearwater Bay, and Discovery Bay. Make sure to check OT&P Healthcare’s website for more information and details of the services provided.

www.otandp.com