Although the vast majority of the women had experience of participating in the screening program, one in three of the women were unaware of which type of cancer she was being screened for and only half of the women were aware of the connection between dysplasia/cervix cancer and life-style factors. It is particularly important to provide better information about life-style factors in order to give women the opportunity of acting accordingly.

Women felt vulnerable when being investigated for intraepithelial neoplasia, but this did not influence willingness to participate in follow-up. The discovery created unnecessary worry and a negative experience that may be solved by a better-developed educational program at the time of screening. There were no signs of remaining anxiety 5 years later, but 8% of women reported a remaining negative influence on their sexual life.

Although the vast majority of the women had experience of participating in the screening program, one in three of the women were unaware of which type of cancer she was being screened for and only half of the women were aware of the connection between dysplasia/cervix cancer and life-style factors. It is particularly important to provide better information about life-style factors in order to give women the opportunity of acting accordingly.

Women felt vulnerable when being investigated for intraepithelial neoplasia, but this did not influence willingness to participate in follow-up. The discovery created unnecessary worry and a negative experience that may be solved by a better-developed educational program at the time of screening. There were no signs of remaining anxiety 5 years later, but 8% of women reported a remaining negative influence on their sexual life.

Many midwives lacked time and a structured guidance when discussing screening and cervical atypia. Improvement in the organisation and certified education for Pap-smear screening with access to recent research, could develop a more empowering exchange between the midwives and the women participating in cervical screening.