Strengths and limitations
In previous studies, the reproductive concerns of HPV-positive people had been discussed as a part of emotional and psychological responses to HPV diagnosis. Our findings are noteworthy because as far as we are aware, this is the only qualitative study in which reproductive concerns of HPV-positive women have received particular attention. Furthermore, women with diversity in HPV genotypes (both high-risk and low-risk) were interviewed. As queries about sexual health were part of the interview content, they will be discussed in another manuscript entitled ”Sexual life of HPV-positive women.” One of the limitations is that the study was conducted among women attending one colposcopy clinic. However, this referral clinic is likely to reflect other clinics in Iran since it covers a varied population. Possibly women who were interested in the topic decided to participate, and it applies to all qualitative research. Moreover, the relative weight or importance of themes and categories is not always apparent. The credibility of the process is demonstrated in the sentiments stated in the data set, suggesting that the extracted concerns may be transferrable to other settings. An additional strength is that this paper complies with the COREQ checklist designed for the reporting of qualitative studies (19).