Colposcopic Alterations Are More Frequent in Smokers and Appear at a Younger Age
Tobacco use is a recognized cofactor risk for cervical cancer induced by high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (HR-HPV). This study aimed to evaluate the specific influence of tobacco use on colposcopic examination results in women infected by HR-HPV. HR-HPV-positive women undergoing a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LLETZ) after colposcopic examination were considered for this study. A total of 819 patients from a regional screening program were included, of whom 320 were smokers and 499 non-smokers. Smokers were significantly younger (41.1 Smoking in any amount is associated with worse colposcopic and histopathological findings, and this occurs at younger ages.