A 25-year-old single female comes to the gynecologist's office for a follow-up visit related to her abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) test. The test revealed that the woman has human papillomavirus (HPV). The woman asks, "What is that? Can you get rid of it?" Your best response is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer. It is important to educate the patient on the importance of regular Pap smears to monitor for any changes that may lead to cancer. Freezing off "a little lump" is not an appropriate response, and suggesting that the patient will die from HPV is inaccurate and can cause unnecessary anxiety. Also, it is not appropriate to assume that the patient's current boyfriend is the source of the infection without further testing and discussion.

A 25-Year-Old Single Female Comes to the Gynecologist's Office for a Follow-Up