Your doctor should be able to tell you about anything abnormal that was seen during a colposcopy. A smooth, pink surface of the cervix is normal.

A specialist called a pathologist will examine the tissue sample from the cervical biopsy and will report to your doctor whether the cells appear normal or abnormal. Results of a biopsy most often take 1 - 2 weeks. If the biopsy results are normal, it means that no cancer or precancerous changes were seen in the cells.

Abnormal findings that may be seen during the colposcopy include:

• Abnormal patterns in the blood vessels
• Areas that are swollen, worn away, or wasted away (atrophic)
• Cervical polyps
• Genital warts
• Whitish patches on the cervix

Abnormal biopsy results may include:

• Cancer of the cervix
• Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (precancerous tissue changes that are also called cervical dysplasia)
• Cervical warts (infection with human papilloma virus, or HPV)