OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated physical after-effects of colposcopy. We compared post-colposcopy self-reported pain, bleeding, discharge and menstrual changes in women who underwent: colposcopic examination only; cervical punch biopsies; and large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ). DESIGN: Observational study nested within a randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Grampian, Tayside and Nottingham. POPULATION: Nine hundred-and-twenty-nine women, aged 20-59, with low-grade cytology, who had completed their initial colposcopic management. METHODS: Women completed questionnaires on after-effects at approximately 6-weeks, and on menstruation at 4-months, post-colposcopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of pain, bleeding, discharge; changes to first menstrual period post-colposcopy. RESULTS:Seven hundred-and-fifty-one women (80%) completed the 6-week questionnaire. Of women who had only a colposcopic examination, 14-18% reportedpain, bleeding or discharge. Around half of women who had biopsies only and two-thirds treated by LLETZ reported pain or discharge (biopsies: 53% pain, 46% discharge; LLETZ: 67% pain, 63% discharge). The frequency of bleeding was similar in the biopsy (79%) and LLETZ groups (87%). Women treated by LLETZ reported bleeding and discharge of significantly longer duration than other women. The duration of pain was similar across management groups. Forty-three percent of women managed by biopsies and 71% managed by LLETZ reported some change to their first period post-colposcopy, as did 29% who only had a colposcopic examination. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical punch biopsies and, especially, LLETZ carry a substantial risk of after-effects. After-effects are also reported by women managed solely by colposcopic examination. Ensuring that women are fully informed about after-effects may help to alleviate anxiety and provide reassurance, thereby minimising the harms of screening.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated physical after-effects of colposcopy. We compared post-colposcopy self-reported pain, bleeding, discharge and menstrual changes in women who underwent: colposcopic examination only; cervical punch biopsies; and large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ). DESIGN: Observational study nested within a randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Grampian, Tayside and Nottingham. POPULATION: Nine hundred-and-twenty-nine women, aged 20-59, with low-grade cytology, who had completed their initial colposcopic management. METHODS:Women completed questionnaires on after-effects at approximately 6-weeks, and on menstruation at 4-months, post-colposcopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of pain, bleeding, discharge; changes to first menstrual period post-colposcopy. RESULTS: Seven hundred-and-fifty-one women (80%) completed the 6-week questionnaire. Of women who had only a colposcopic examination, 14-18% reported pain, bleeding or discharge. Around half of women who had biopsies only and two-thirds treated by LLETZ reported pain or discharge (biopsies: 53% pain, 46% discharge; LLETZ: 67% pain, 63% discharge). The frequency of bleeding was similar in the biopsy (79%) and LLETZ groups (87%). Women treated by LLETZ reported bleeding and discharge of significantly longer duration than other women. The duration of pain was similar across management groups. Forty-three percent of women managed by biopsies and 71% managed by LLETZ reported some change to their first period post-colposcopy, as did 29% who only had a colposcopic examination. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical punch biopsies and, especially, LLETZ carry a substantial risk of after-effects. After-effects are also reported by women managed solely by colposcopic examination. Ensuring that women are fully informed about after-effects may help to alleviate anxiety and provide reassurance, thereby minimising the harms of screening.
Authors: James Dickinson; Eva Tsakonas; Sarah Conner Gorber; Gabriela Lewin; Elizabeth Shaw; Harminder Singh; Michel Joffres; Richard Birtwhistle; Marcello Tonelli; Verna Mai; Meg McLachlin Journal: CMAJ Date: 2013-01-07 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Dik Habbema; Sheila Weinmann; Marc Arbyn; Aruna Kamineni; Andrew E Williams; Inge M C M de Kok; Folkert van Kemenade; Terry S Field; Joost van Rosmalen; Martin L Brown Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2017-03-01 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: A Schneider; K Wagner; C Rakozy; C Stolte; P Bothur-Schäfer; T Welcker; N Choly; A Roesgen; H Rothe; G Böhmer Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 2.915