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A community educational program and the introduction of a colposcope in Decatur, Alabama, led to a dramatic decrease in the relative percent of patients evaluated by conization after a positive Pap smear, and a corresponding increase in the relative percent of colposcopic evaluations. The percent of negative or dysplastic tissue diagnoses from conization was reduced from 78% before the colposcopy program to 61% after the program. It was estimated that the colposcopy program resulted in an 81% reduction in the number of conizations and that colposcopy used in lieu of conization resulted in a substantial reduction in both morbidity and cost.