Pelvic exams and Pap tests are used to check for changes in cervical cells or cancer. For a Pap test, your doctor gently scrapes cells from the cervix. The cells are sent to a lab for tests.

Some women may get an HPV test along with the Pap test. You should talk with your doctor to see if this is right for you.

If your Pap test is not normal, your doctor may look at the cervix with a colposcope. A colposcope is a special type of microscope for looking at the vagina and cervix. The test is called a colposcopy. During the test, your doctor may take a sample of tissue. The samples are tested in the lab.

Sometimes there may be abnormal cells that are not picked up with the Pap test. If you have a normal Pap test but an area of the cervix does not look normal in a pelvic exam, your doctor may want to do a biopsy of the area.