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Review
. 2026 Mar;53(1):121-138.
doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2025.09.009. Epub 2025 Nov 5.

A Lens into the Quality Standards of Modern-Day Colposcopy

Jessica Buck DiSilvestro  1 , Akemi Scott  2 , Akiva P Novetsky  3 , Rebecca B Perkins  1
Affiliations
Review

A Lens into the Quality Standards of Modern-Day Colposcopy

Jessica Buck DiSilvestro et al. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2026 Mar.

Abstract

Colposcopy is an office-based procedure performed to identify precancerous or cancerous lesions of the cervix. In 2017, colposcopy guidelines were developed by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology to standardize terminology, protocolize the procedure, and propose quality metrics. As a result of changes in cervical cancer screening and management guidelines, the volume of colposcopy within the United States has significantly decreased over the past 3 decades, and with the adoption of the human papillomavirus vaccination is anticipated to continue to decline. Therefore, colposcopic quality assessment and improved provider training is of increasing importance.

Keywords: Colposcopy; Human papillomavirus DNA tests; Papanicolaou test; Quality improvement; Uterine cervical dysplasia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest. Dr Jessica DiSilvestro is funded by the Tufts Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health, United States (BIRCWH) K12 Career Development Award (K12AR084217).

MeSH terms