Cervical Dysplasia | HPV | What You Need to Know

Cervical Dysplasia | HPV | What You Need to Know

Cervical dysplasia is a disorder that affects the cervix, which is the lower end or opening of the uterus. A set of abnormal alterations in the cells of the cervix mark cervical dysplasia. Although, this isn’t really cancer it is considered as a precancerous stage, since the cellular abnormalities in cervical dysplasia are likely to transform into cervical cancer if left untreated. This abnormal or dysplastic appearance of the cervical cells under the microscope is what gives the disorder its name. The level of abnormalities or changes in the cervical cells observed in the cervical tissue biopsies or smears under the microscope are used as a benchmark to grade the severity and extent of this condition.

Generally, this disorder is likely to go unnoticed due to its asymptomatic nature, unless one comes across the cellular changes on a routine examination. However, it’s equally important to detect cervical dysplasia in its initial stages to prevent it from turning into cancer. Hence, educating yourself about this precancerous condition is your best bet against it.

What Causes Cervical Dysplasia?

Women between 25 to 35 years of age are most likely to suffer from cervical dysplasia, although it may occur at any age. Certain factors like indulging in sexual intercourse before 18 years of age, giving birth before a woman turns sixteen, multiple sexual partners, smoking, and use of immunity suppressing medications may greatly increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical dysplasia. Another common cause of cervical dysplasia is the HPV or Human Papilloma Virus. This virus generally affects the female genitals and is transmitted through sexual contact. Usually, HPV infections last anywhere between 8 to 13 months and may also recur. However, these infections are silent and asymptomatic just like cervical dysplasia. Thus, avoiding risk factors like multiple sex partners and frequent unprotected or unsafe sexual practices is important to avoid these infections and subsequent cervical dysplasia. Getting yourself vaccinated with the HPV vaccination is also recommended to reduce your risk of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer.

How Do You Know If You Have Cervical Dysplasia?

Unlike most other disorders of the female reproductive tract, cervical dysplasia rarely produces any symptoms. So, most womenaren’t even aware about this unseen tripwire within their uterus, until they come across it during a routine pap smear. Hence, regular gynecological evaluations and pap smears are important to help detect cervical dysplasia. However, a pap smear alone does not help diagnose this condition. Abnormal changes indicating cervical dysplasia on a pap smear are further verified with a cervical biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

How Is Cervical Dysplasia Treated?

• The treatment of cervical dysplasia is largely dependent on the severity of the cellular abnormalities or the grade of dysplasia. Mild cervical dysplasia sometimes disappears without any treatment and with careful 6 monthly pap smears alone. The pap smears essentially monitor the changes to make sure the condition isn’t worsening, in which case treatment is mandatory. Cervical dysplasia is treated surgically with cryosurgery to freeze the dysplastic cells, or Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to remove the abnormal cells with electrical stimuli, or cone biopsy to surgically excise the abnormal tissue area, or laser therapy to burn the dysplastic cells. Some extreme or severe cases of cervical dysplasia may also require hysterectomy, wherein the entire uterus is removed surgically. Your doctor is likely to decide the best course of treatment depending on the grade and severity of your cervical dysplasia.