Dysplasia is made by joining two words dys and plasia Wherein the term dys means abnormal and plasia means growth. So we can say that Cervical dysplasia is the term for abnormal growth of cervical cells. Dysplasia is not cancer, but can develop into cancer of the cervix. Most often found in women between 25 and 35 years of age, it can occur in younger and older women.
Cervical dysplasia can be classified in three categories as:-
Mild – When only a few cells are abnormal it is said to be mild dysplasia. Mild cervical dysplasia usually goes away without treatment. But doctors usually treat mild cervical dysplasia at early stage to prevent it from progressing.
Moderate – Almost one-half of the thickness of the surface lining of the cervix are abnormal cells in moderate dysplasia
Severe - When the entire thickness of cells is abnormal and has not yet spread below the surface or basement membrane it is said to be Severe Cervical dysplasia. Severe Cervical dysplasia should or must be treated without delay as it may turn into invasive cancer.
How is Cervical Dysplasia Caused?
Multiple sexual partners.:-Cervical Dysplasia is more common in women who have many sex partners.
- Early onset of sexual activity - women who started early sex at the age of eighteen
- Cervical Dysplasia is said to be caused by some strains of a wart virus, called the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than eighty to ninety percent of women with cervical dysplasia have an HPV infection.
- This disease is caused with excess cigarette smoking and having very little intake of folic acid in the diet.
- Multiple pregnancies and pregnancy before age 20.
- Use of oral contraceptive use for Long term.
- Having infections Repeatedly.
Diagnosis of Cervical Dysplasia
Cervical Dysplasia is diagnosed with the help of :-
Pap smear:- Screening tests.
Both the above procedures are very effective for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer.
Biopsies: - In biopsy a small piece of tissue is taken from the body and observed under a microscope. The biopsies are done during a procedure called a Colposcopy.
Colposcopy: - As the Pap smear is not a diagnostic tool but only a screening test, physicians do colposcopy to take a closer look at your cervix so that the cause of abnormal results can be determined. Coloposcopy is a diagnostic tool with the help of which cause of abnormalities found in Pap smears are determined. Colposcopy is a visual examination of the cervix. It takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes to perform Colposcopy.
Treatment for Cervical Dysplasia :-
Choice of treatment for cervical dysplasia usually depends upon the:-
- Extent and severity of the dysplasia whether it is mild, moderate or severe.
- Age of the woman,
- Whether she has any other gynecological problems or not.
The most common methods of treating cervical dysplasia are:-
Cryotherapy, Laser Treatment , Loop Excision, Hysterectom and Cone Biopsy.
