Letter to the editor Bergedorfer Zeitung: "RECOMMENDATION VALID UNTIL 18TH BIRTHDAY"
Re: Cancer screening: What does a positive HPV test mean, article from 17.3.2021
At a time when people are thinking about coronavirus, the article expresses the fact that there are other important health issues. Language is powerful, so it is important to me to criticize the word cancer prevention, here in relation to cervical health. The incidence of cervical cancer is associated with lifestyle factors. It decreases with a good immune system, a smoke-free lifestyle and increases with the number of sexual partners. Prevention therefore means leading an appropriate lifestyle and vaccination against HP viruseswhich is offered in our gynecological practice as part of the girls' consultation is carried out. Then comes early detection. This is an important difference. The primary goal is to keep the uterus healthy. Incidentally, the recommendation applies until the 18th(!) birthday and not, as mentioned in the article, until the 14th birthday. The secondary goal is that changes are detected early. Health is a precious commodity.
Dr. Annette Klöpper
20129 Hamburg
