[Women's experiences with cell changes]

Each year almost 15,000 Danish women are diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. The period of medical supervision before regression or progression and a possible conical section can be protracted. The aim of this study was to examine women's experiences of the different stages of cervical dysplasia. Furthermore, it aimed to examine whether women's knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) as the cause of cervical dysplasia influences their illness perception.

A qualitative research design was applied using group and individual interviews with women who had been diagnosed with different stages of cervical dysplasia. The study was informed by a literature review that identified issues and questions which would be considered important by participants.

The participants considered cervical dysplasia to be highly distressing. Their fear of cancer was not proportional to the stage of their dysplasia but was rather determined by a lack of knowledge about their condition. Information about HPV did not result in stigmatisation equivalent to other STDs as the relation to cancer remained dominant for illness perception.

HPV vaccination not only makes it possible to prevent many incidences of cervical cancer but also to spare women the burden of having cervical dysplasia. Awareness of the patients' perspective can improve patient communication with women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. This study shows that it is extremely important to address women's fears and their need for information about cervical dysplasia from the beginning of the course of the disease irrespective of the stage of their cell changes.