Anxiety in women referred for colposcopy: a prospective observational study.

Regardless of the diagnosis, patients being transferred for a colposcopy within the cervical cancer screening program for the first time have very high anxiety levels. The prospect of a potentially painful examination seems to be a key factor. Only a scientific evaluation of the new cervical cancer screening will be able to show if the rising numbers of colposcopic examinations is really worth the risk of exposing so many more women to the emotional distress of a colposcopy.