Your doctor or other health professional may refer you for further investigations or to see a specialist based at the hospital. You may also choose to see a specialist doctor privately.<\/p>\n<\/div>
To prevent certain gynaecological and breast cancers, women and girls in the UK are offered vaccinations, screening and sexual health support. For further information, visit our page on prevention and protection:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Cervical biopsy: <\/strong>A cervical biopsy is a test in which small samples of tissue, the size of a pin head, are taken from the cervix and sent to the laboratory to be examined.<\/p>\n<\/div> Womb biopsy<\/strong>: This is called an endometrial biopsy. It\u2019s similar to a smear test but requires a sample from the inside of the womb.<\/p>\n<\/div> Blood tests are sometimes required to give your doctor more information.<\/p>\n Other samples which can help to investigate your symptoms can include:<\/p>\n<\/div> urine samples where you will be asked to provide a small amount of urine in a sterile pot with a secure lid<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> swabs to collect samples of cells<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> pregnancy tests \u2013 some treatments require confirmation that you are not pregnant before you can start them<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> occasionally you may be asked to give a sample of saliva or faeces<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul> If your cervical smear test has shown some abnormal cells, you may need a further investigation called a colposcopy.<\/p>\n<\/div> A hysteroscopy looks inside the cavity of the uterus. It is performed using a very fine telescope, called a hysteroscope, which has a camera at the end.<\/p>\n<\/div> A gynaecological laparoscopy is a procedure (often called keyhole surgery) to look inside your lower abdomen or tummy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> To have an MRI scan you will be given a small injection of dye which will show up your organs when you are inside the scanning machine. The scanner takes multiple images of your body to find the cause of symptoms.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> An ultrasound is a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of the body. This may be done with an ultrasound probe being placed on your stomach or inside your vagina. The ultrasound waves are painless.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Blood test and other samples<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Colposcopy<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Hysteroscopy<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Laparoscopy<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
MRI scan<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Ultrasound scan<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>