Counseling the patient with HPV disease.

This article reviews common clinical scenarios involving human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of HPV disease can provoke anxiety and distress, and have a negative psychosocial impact on patients' lives. The article provides a platform on which the clinician can build counseling strategies. It is paramount to relay accurate, timely, and clear information in a reassuring manner. Emphasis is placed on encouraging patients to adopt healthy and protective measures, such as lifestyle changes, testing for other sexually transmitted diseases, compliance with surveillance and screening visits, and vaccination against HPV in age-appropriate individuals.