When preparing a teaching plan for a female adolescent with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the nurse plans to address the fact that the adolescent is at increased risk for cervical cancer. Which STI would the adolescent most likely have?

A. Nails that curve inward: Inward curving, or spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia), are typically associated with iron deficiency anemia rather than hypoxemia. They reflect nutritional or hematologic issues rather than oxygen deprivation.

B. Clubbing of the nails: Clubbing, characterized by a bulbous enlargement of the fingertips and loss of the normal nail angle, indicates chronic hypoxemia. It results from prolonged low oxygen levels causing vascular and connective tissue changes in the fingers.

C. Nails that curve outward: Outward curving nails are usually a normal shape variation and do not necessarily indicate disease. They lack the bulbous appearance and softening of the nail bed seen in clubbing.

D. Dry, brittle nails: Brittle nails are commonly linked to dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, or thyroid disorders, not chronic hypoxemia. Oxygen deprivation primarily affects soft tissue rather than nail strength or moisture.

A. Genetic testing for BRCA genes: BRCA testing is indicated for women with a strong family history or known genetic risk of breast cancer, not as the initial diagnostic step for a newly detected breast lump. It helps assess genetic susceptibility but does not diagnose the current mass.

B. Fine-needle aspiration: Fine-needle aspiration is used later to obtain tissue or fluid for cytologic analysis once imaging confirms a suspicious lesion. It is not the first step before confirming the lump’s characteristics through imaging.

C. Hormone receptor status: Hormone receptor testing is performed only after a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer from biopsy results. It guides treatment decisions but is not part of the initial workup.

D. Mammogram: A diagnostic mammogram is the appropriate next step to evaluate the characteristics of the lump, determine its location, and identify any additional suspicious areas. Imaging helps differentiate benign from malignant features before proceeding to biopsy or further tests.