Cervical Dysplasia - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments
This condition, where there are abnormal precancerous changes in the cervix, is known as cervical dysplasia. These changes can be mild or severe, and can be detected from the results of a Pap smear test. If this condition is ignored and not treated, then it might lead to cervical cancer. However, cervical dysplasia does not mean that the patient will develop cancer, or has cancer.
Symptoms: There are no symptoms associated with cervical dysplasia. In fact, that is why doctors often recommend a regular Pap smear, so as to detect cervical dysplasia before it can morph into cancer.
Causes: There is a connection between cervical dysplasia and human papillomavirus (HPV). The latter is spread through sexual contact. What you must know is the HPV and cervical dysplasia can clean up on its own in several women, however for some it might turn cancerous. Research has shown that women who smoke have a higher chance of getting cervical dysplasia. Some of the other causes of cervical dysplasia include giving birth before a woman is twenty years old; multiple sexual partners; and, being HIV positive.
Screening: Cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer can take years to develop. Thus, it is important to undergo regular screening in order to detect either of these conditions as quickly as possible. The Pap smear test is the common method of detecting cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer. In this procedure, the doctor will use a brush or a swab to take sample cells. The doctor then sends these for a test to the pathologist. He also examines the pelvic region. If the test results are abnormal, then the doctor might recommend a colonoscopy, a biopsy, and HPV testing.
Treatment: If the cervical dysplasia is not so severe, then a woman will undergo something called spontaneous regression, and doctors will monitor her condition regularly without treatment. A woman with severe cervical dysplasia can undergo any of the two treatment options – destruction or ablation, and removal or resection. These treatments are known to be quite effective. The former uses cryocautery and carbon dioxide laser photoablation. The resection or removal procedures include hysterectomy, cold knife conization, and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (known as LEEP). Do remember that cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia are not treated when the colonoscopy is done. The treatment plan depends upon the results of the biopsy and the colonoscopy. You should discuss the details of the treatment with your doctor.
