Should there be guidance published for recommended follow up for women having had treatment for VaIN? Can women having had VaIN 1 (treated or not) be discharged once vaginal colposcopy and cervical or vaginal vault cytology returns to normal? Does VaIN 2 or 3 require long term follow up with cytology and colposcopy and if so for how long?

What is your practice?

I am looking to develop and also standardise colposcopy training in Europe. Such an approach could be developed elsewhere. I feel an agreed core curriculum for training has been a productive start and has been agreed for the EFC. An on-line log book to record details of training cases has been introduced in the UK in January 2009 so far without problems. The sticking point is looking at common ground for an exit assessment. The EFC feels some form of assessment is ideal. This could vary for different training programmes but the goal would be to train colposcopists to a level of competency which would allow reciprocal recognition.

Are there examples of national colposcopy societies working together to provide an agreed level of competency outside Europe and does this allow freedom of practice? More importantly would this contribute to a uniform and high standard of diagnosis and management of cervical pre-cancer and cancer?

I am sure Christine Bergeron as Chair of the IFCPC Education Committee would be interested to receive any suggestions. Also I would be grateful to receive comments as Chair of the EFC Education Committee.

Simon Leeson

A good or bad habit?

Endocervical curettage is painful and unreliable. So why do colposcopists place so much faith in this technique?