The Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition is hosting a webinar, Provider Interventions to Increase HPV Vaccination: A Successful Quality Improvement Example, on Thursday, September 3rd from 5:30-6:30 PM EDT. The webinar will be led by Dr. Alix Casler, an expert in quality improvement and HPV vaccination. Her presentation will include: different options for quality improvement (QI) to improve HPV vaccination coverage; specifics of the implementation of a quality improvement project in a Florida pediatric clinic with successful results; lessons learned for future implementation of this intervention with providers; and, pros and cons of this QI project from the provider prospective. Click here to join the webinar, and call 919-962-2733 for sound.

ASHA, in collaboration with the Partnership for Male Youth, the School Based Health Alliance, and Healthy Teen Network, developed two new tools to guide clinic visits for adolescent and young adult men. The patient piece, designed for males aged 14-18, is a self-assessment tool that gives the scoop on what to expect from a clinical visit. It includes questions designed to help him think about how he's feeling physically and mentally. Topics include diet and exercise, substance use, relationships, immunizations, and sexual health. There is also a companion tool for providers designed to trigger questions providers will want to ask their young male patients during visits.

According to a new National Institute of Health study, a high proportion of reproductive-age women may be experiencing pelvic pain that goes untreated. Researchers surveyed 473 women ages 18 to 44 years who were scheduled to undergo surgery or imaging for such reasons as infertility, menstrual irregularities, tubal sterilization or pelvic pain. As expected, reports of pain were highest for women diagnosed with endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. However, one-third of those without any pelvic condition also reported a high degree of ongoing pain or pain recurring during the menstrual cycle.