Please read Dr. Huson’s article in Patient Education and Counseling titled, Confusion and anxiety in between abnormal cervical cancer screening results and colposcopy: “The land of the unknown”.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection: approximately 20% of women have high-risk genital HPV, and Black women have the highest prevalence across all race/ethnic groups. Persistent HPV infections cause invasive cervical cancer, which is diagnosed in over 14,000 women in the US each year. However, cervical precancers, which are very common, are often detected during screening and can be removed to prevent cancer. After an abnormal screening test result, some women at risk for cervical precancer are recommended for colposcopy to determine what treatment and/or surveillance are needed. Attendance to colposcopy appointments and any subsequent removal of precancer is essential to prevent cervical cancer. To read the full article.
Confusion and anxiety in between abnormal cervical cancer screening results and colposcopy: “The land of the unknown”. Kohler RE, Hemler J, Wagner RB, Sullivan B, Macenat M, Tagai EK, Miller SM, Wen KY, Ayers C, Einstein MH, Hudson SV. Patient Educ Couns. 2023 Sep;114:107810. PMID: 37244133 DOI: 1016/j.pec.2023.107810 Epub 2023 May 23.