Colposcopy is a microscope that magnifies the epidermis of the cervix or genitalia, with a light source and filter, to clearly examine the cervix and genitalia, allowing the doctor to observe the changes in the epithelium and blood vessels of the cervix to diagnose any abnormal lesions and to determine the severity of the lesions. If necessary, colposcopy can be performed to obtain the most accurate diagnosis as a basis for treatment. Localized biopsies are performed on suspicious areas to improve the diagnosis of cervical disease and genital lesions. Colposcopy is divided into two types: optical colposcopy and electronic colposcopy. 1. Colposcopy is not recommended on the day of cervical cytology sampling or HPV test sampling because the microtrauma after sampling can interfere with colposcopic observation. It is also not recommended to do colposcopy right after an internal examination. 2. If you have vaginal inflammation, it is best to have the examination after the inflammation has subsided. 3. Sexual intercourse, vaginal medication and vaginal douching are prohibited for 3 days before the examination. If you are using Ebenezer pessary, you should stop taking it for at least 1 week before having colposcopy. 4. The examination of cervical lesions should follow a three-step procedure, i.e. cytology-colposcopy-histology. Therefore, patients are advised to get the cytology results before colposcopy (unless cervical cancer is suspected by visual inspection). Many people prefer to skip the cytology step and go straight to colposcopy, which may seem like a shortcut for a short time but is actually a detour, and the patient will spend more time and money on cervical cancer screening and risk unnecessary invasive tests.