A colposcopy service can be part of a routine gynaecological outpatient department or it may be a specialized unit in a referral centre. In either situation, the facilities for treating cervical precancerous lesions should be made available. A comprehensive colposcopy set up should have a colposcope with ancillary equipment and consumables, equipment for ablative treatment (thermal ablation or a cryotherapy) and an electrosurgical unit with accessories and a smoke evacuator for excisional treatment.
Colposcopy can also be performed as an outreach service using a portable colposcope. Cervical biopsies and cryotherapy (or, alternatively, thermal ablation) are also feasible in this setup.
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