Colposcopy Needed for HR-HPV Positive, Cytology-Negative Women

Cytology, the examination of cervical cells under a microscope to detect abnormalities, is a key method in cervical cancer screening. This study published in BMC Women's Health, authored by Dai, W., Wang, T., Chen, L. et al., found that even when cytology results are negative—indicating no detected abnormal cells—women who test positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) still face a significant risk of developing serious cervical lesions. The research recommends that these women should not wait a year for follow-up but should instead undergo immediate colposcopy, a more thorough cervical examination, particularly in countries with limited resources. The study also revealed that factors like age and the type of cervical tissue can affect the accuracy of colposcopy, underscoring the need to combine cytology with HPV testing to more effectively identify women at risk for cervical cancer. Read more here.