What is a colposcopy?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
A colposcopy is a close-up exam of the cervix, vagina, and vulva through a lighted magnifying device - most often done after an abnormal Pap smear. The Pap can show abnormal cells but cannot diagnose them; the colposcopy provides the closer look, usually with a small biopsy of anything suspicious. The biopsy result shows whether cells are cancer, precancer, or nothing serious. The procedure takes minutes and needs no sedation for most women.
What to do
- Keep the appointment. An abnormal Pap plus a recommended colposcopy is the system working as designed - the next step, not a verdict.
- Expect a longer pelvic exam. The scope stays outside the body; the biopsy can cause brief cramping and light spotting afterward.
- Skip tampons and sex briefly after. Your provider gives the exact window for healing if a biopsy was taken.
- Follow up on results. Precancerous cells are highly treatable - the follow-up plan matters more than the word biopsy.
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