American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology

The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) is a professional society founded in 1964 that is dedicated to promoting education and research in the fields of colposcopy and the study of the characteristics, causes, and effects of diseases and disorders (pathology) of the vagina, the vulva, and the neck of the uterus (cervix). Colposcopy is the visual examination of the vagina and the cervix with the use of an illuminated, magnifying instrument. The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology is dedicated to engaging in continuing medical education (CME) development, conducting a biennial scientific meeting, providing current practice guidelines, and offering free pathology consultation services to its members. The ASCCP, which has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), offers postgraduate courses on topics such as comprehensive/basic colposcopy, advanced colposcopy, vulvar diseases, and management in colposcopy. In addition, the Society publishes “the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease,” a source of the most current science in the diagnosis, causes (etiology), and therapy of diseases and disorders of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. This peer-reviewed publication contains original articles in basic science and clinical practice, editorial comment, review articles, case reports, correspondence, book reviews, abstracts from relevant meetings, and descriptions of technique/technology. The Society also offers additional professional publications and materials including the “Home Study Course Collection,” which is a collection of 50 individual home study courses from 1972 to 1997; “A Practical Video Guide to Colposcopy”; the “Modern Colposcopy Slide Teaching Set”; and a CD-ROM project created in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) entitled “A Comprehensive Review of Colposcopy.” The ASCCP also sponsors an e-mail discussion list (listserv) for physicians and pathologists.