Colposcopy is a way of looking at the cervix through a special magnifying device called a colposcope. It shines a light onto the vagina and cervix. A colposcope can enlarge the normal view by 2-60 times. This allows the doctor to find problems that cannot be seen by the eye alone.
Cells on the cervix grow all the time, just like skin. The cells at the bottom layer slowly move to the surface. Then they are shed. When this process changes in some way, cells become abnormal. The changes may go away on their own. If they don't, they may worsen and lead to cervical cancer. In most cases, these changes are found with a Pap test.
Colposcopy is done when a Pap test shows changes that could lead to cancer. It provides more information about the abnormal cells. Colposcopy also may be used to further assess certain problems: Genital warts on the cervix Cervicitis (an inflamed cervix) Benign (not cancer) growths, such as polyps.
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Colposcopy