What is a colposcopy and what results can I expect from it?

If your provider suspects a high-risk HPV infection may be persisting in your body, they may refer you for a colposcopy. This is an in-clinic appointment during which a doctor will look more closely at your cervix using a microscope-like instrument (a colposcope) and possibly take a small sample to evaluate the cervix for abnormal cells.

The results of this colposcopy will help classify any cell changes observed in your cervix by severity. Abnormal cervical cell changes are classified as low- or high-grade, and can be assigned a Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) grade.

Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL), or CIN1, are considered mild cell changes that usually resolve on their own, without treatment. However, you should continue monitoring these HPV infections as recommended to make sure they do not progress further.

CIN2 and CIN3 are both high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and are considered moderate to severe precancerous changes. These require closer monitoring and, at times, preventive interventions to ensure they do not progress into cervical cancer.