A colposcopy is done when a Pap test shows changes in the cells of the cervix that could lead to cancer. It provides more information about the abnormal cells. Colposcopy is a way of looking at the cervix through a special magnifying device called a colposcope. It shines a light into the vagina and onto the cervix. A colposcope can enlarge the normal view by 2-60 times. This allows our providers to find problems that cannot be seen by the eye alone.