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Few women have heard of virus associated with genital warts (HPV) and its link with cervical cancer
August 01, 2003Few women have heard of the virus associated with genital warts (HPV), or are aware that it is linked to cervical cancer, reveals a study in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The authors assessed women’s knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) by surveying those attending a Well Woman Clinic in central London. The survey took place over a period of 15 months from 2000 to 2002.
In all, over 1000 women completed the survey during that time, amounting to around 80% of female clinic attenders invited to take part. The average age of the women was around 30 and they were mostly white, well educated, and in full time employment. Most said they had had between one and three sexual partners in the preceding 12 months.
Less than a third of the women had ever heard of papillomavirus, and those that had, tended to be older or had had an abnormal smear test result in the past. Knowledge about the virus was poor: fewer than half knew that the virus is the main cause of cervical cancer and only a third knew that genital warts, also caused by types of HPV, do not themselves cause the disease.
Most believed that condoms protect against infection with the virus, although the evidence for this, say the authors, is not clear. But only half knew that the contraceptive pill does not protect against infection. Smokers were less likely to be well informed, a finding that is of some concern, say the authors, given that smoking increases the risk of cervical abnormalities and cancer among women infected with the virus.
The authors venture that as the sample of women surveyed were well educated, it is likely that awareness of HPV among the general population is even lower. It is important to rectify this deficit so that women who participate in the cervical screening programme really understand the implications of their results, particularly if testing for the virus is to be introduced, as has been mooted, conclude the authors.
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Less than a third of the women had ever heard of papillomavirus, and those that had, tended to be older or had had an abnormal smear test result in the past. Knowledge about the virus was poor: fewer than half knew that the virus is the main cause of cervical cancer and only a third knew that genital warts, also caused by types of HPV, do not themselves cause the disease.
Most believed that condoms protect against infection with the virus, although the evidence for this, say the authors, is not clear. But only half knew that the contraceptive pill does not protect against infection. Smokers were less likely to be well informed, a finding that is of some concern, say the authors, given that smoking increases the risk of cervical abnormalities and cancer among women infected with the virus.
The authors venture that as the sample of women surveyed were well educated, it is likely that awareness of HPV among the general population is even lower. It is important to rectify this deficit so that women who participate in the cervical screening programme really understand the implications of their results, particularly if testing for the virus is to be introduced, as has been mooted, conclude the authors.
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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Model highlights benefits and risks of cervical cancer screening methods
In an analysis based on a computer model, it appears that comparing the benefits and risks of different cervical cancer prevention approaches may help women and their physicians choose appropriate screening strategies.
New HPV test for developing countries shows high accuracy in predicting cervical disease: Study
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Cervical cancer prevention should focus on vaccinating adolescent girls
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Breaking the 'mucus barrier' with a new drug delivery system
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Obese women in Canada are less likely to be screened for cervical cancer
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