A new study says women are getting tested for HPV too often. You'd be forgiven for being confused.
The study drew on doctor-reported information about how often they were testing patients. Reuters summarizes the study in Obstetrics and Gynecology as follows: "Not only is it a waste of money, it also means that women who test positive may be getting extra treatment they don't necessarily need and that comes with a risk of complications and side effects." That's partly because, according to Mona Saraiya of the CDC, HPV is so prevalent among women in their twenties that testing positive won't even tell you much about whether they're going to get cancer.
Earlier this year, a study concluded that most women didn't actually need annual pap smears. You can read more about the medical basis for that here.
Too Many Women Get HPV Tests: Study [Reuters]
See You Later, Speculum [Slate]
Earlier: The Possibility Of Relief From Your Annual Pap Smear Hell