Cervical Dysplasia describes the mild to severe abnormal changes that can occur in the lining of the cervix. Cervical Dysplasia describes the presence of abnormal, precancerous cells on the surface of the cervix or its canal. Thanks to pap smears, only about 2% of the women with Cervical Dysplasia ever do develop cancer. All this means is that if your pap smear was abnormal, you have cells on your cervix that could turn into cancer if they were left untreated. Although cervical dysplasia can lead to cervical cancer, it is in no way a cancer diagnosis.
Mild dysplasia, moderate Cervical Dysplasia, or severe dysplasia. Mild, does not usually require any treatment, but may be monitored because it could progress, and further tests may be done. Moderate will definitely lead to some kind of further testing, such as a biopsy/colposcopy (a procedure where they insert a camera to look at the cervix and take a bigger sample of tissue). It may also require surgery, depending on the situation. Severe dysplasia certainly requires surgery, such as a LEEP procedure (where they take a wire loop and scrape the cells off).
Cervical Dysplasia can occur at any age after puberty but is most common between the ages of 25 and 35. The condition has been linked to exposure to specific strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes genital warts.
The risk of Cervical Dysplasia is increased in women who have multiple sex partners, who had unprotected sex at a young age (under 18) or with partners who have had multiple partners, or who have a history of sexually transmitted diseases or who smoke cigarettes.
It is important to note that Cervical Dysplasia is not cancer. It is a precancerous condition that when left untreated, could develop into cervical cancer.
Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms with Cervical dyplasia, but some women have bleeding or spotting after intercourse. Abnormal cells in the cervix are usually found on a routine Pap smear. To confirm the diagnosis after an abnormal Pap smear, a doctor will perform a colposcopy, an examination of the cervix using an instrument with a lighted magnifying lens. Doctors often take a sample of tissue for analysis under a microscope (biopsy) during a colposcopy to determine if Cervical Dysplasia is present Some doctors also take a swab of cells from the cervix to determine if HPV is present and, if so, if it is one of the strains of the virus that are strongly linked to cervical cancer.
Treatment for Cervical Dysplasia
If a Pap smear comes back abnormal, the next step is to have a colposcopy. A colposcopy is an in-office procedure that allows a doctor to examine the cervix more thoroughly. Depending on the findings, a cervical biopsy may be performed.
LGSIL (mild) Cervical Dysplasia often returns to normal on its own and usually can be managed with frequent follow-up care, including Pap smears every four to six months. More severe Cervical Dysplasia (HGSIL), which is more likely to develop into cervical cancer, is usually treated surgically.
Once Cervical Dysplasia is confirmed, treatment will vary, depending upon the severity. Mild to moderate cases of Cervical Dysplasia often require no treatment. A "watch and wait" approach is often taken. With this type of treatment, a colposcopy/biopsy is normally done every six to 12 months to see if the dyplasia is clearing up on its own or progressing.
The procedure doctors use most often to treat Cervical Dysplasia is called by two names — LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure) or LLETZ (large-loop excision of the transformation zone). Both names refer to the removal of the outer layer of cervical cells, which are at highest risk of becoming cancerous. The removed tissue is sent to a laboratory for examination to make sure that all the abnormal cells were removed.
More severe cases of Cervical Dysplasia require medical treatment. Common treatments include a LEEP , conization, cryosurgery, and other surgical methods.
Your doctor will advise you not to have intercourse or use tampons for four weeks after the procedure. The doctor will recommend a Pap smear every four months for the first year after the procedure, which has a 95 percent success rate in removing abnormal tissue.
If the area of abnormal tissue extends up into the cervical canal, a procedure called a cone biopsy (in which the doctor removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue) may be required. The tissue is sent to a laboratory to look for cancer cells. This procedure is usually performed in an operating room using a local anesthetic during an outpatient visit. Afterward, you may need to rest for a day or so. In very rare cases, a cone biopsy can increase the risk of premature delivery in a future pregnancy so, if you have had a cone biopsy and become pregnant, tell your doctor that you have had the procedure.
Once treated, Cervical Dysplasia can return, so follow up is necessary.
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