Why is it not recommended to check HPV randomly?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that causes cervical cancer and other diseases. With the deepening of knowledge about this virus, tests to detect HPV are becoming more and more popular. However, it is not a good idea to randomly check for HPV. This article will discuss from four aspects why it is not recommended to check HPV casually.
1. Misdiagnosis and over-treatment
HPV is more common in younger women, but most infections clear up on their own and do not require treatment. If a woman tests positive for HPV unnecessarily, she may be diagnosed as having cancer or precancerous lesions, resulting in overtreatment, psychological burden, and side effects. Over-treatment of some young women, in particular, may affect their ability to conceive, making it more difficult to have children in the future. Therefore, it is not recommended to check for HPV casually.
2. Cause panic
Random HPV testing without medical guidance may lead to unnecessary panic, which will not only increase women’s stress and anxiety, but also destroy their quality of life. In addition, testing for HPV may trigger over-screening, resulting in more diagnoses of suspected low-grade abnormalities and increasing the risk of treating unnecessary disease. Therefore, it is not recommended to check for HPV casually.
3. Consumption of medical resources
Random testing for HPV will not only have unnecessary negative impacts on patients, but will also waste public health resources. The accumulation of tests will divert resources from public health units, meaning patients who need testing will face longer wait times.
4. Cost issues
The cost of casual HPV testing without a doctor\’s recommendation will be paid by the individual. In addition, if the test result is positive, more tests and examinations will be required, which will further increase the cost. In addition, overtreatment in positive cases can also increase medical costs. Therefore, due to cost reasons, it is not recommended to check HPV randomly.
Conclusion
In short, random HPV testing may not only lead to misdiagnosis and over-treatment, causing panic and negative impacts, but also waste public health resources and increase medical expenses. If you feel you need to test for HPV, please consult your doctor first and follow your doctor\’s instructions for testing. www.fanyi.baidu.com
