Cervical Dysplasia
Overview
This is a change in the cells of your cervix. That's
the lower part of your uterus. If you have cervical
dysplasia, cells of the cervix begin to show signs
that are not normal. They aren't cancer cells, but
they may become cancerous over time.
Causes and Risk Factors
Cervical dysplasia is usually caused by a common
virus known as "human papillomavirus." We call it
"HPV." It spreads through sex. Not all forms of this
virus lead to cervical dysplasia, but some do. Other
factors increase your risk for cervical dysplasia.
These include early sexual activity, a lot of sexual
partners, and having a baby before age 16. Your
risk is also higher if you have a weakened immune
system, or if you are a smoker.
Symptoms
Dysplasia doesn't usually cause symptoms. It's
important to have regular pelvic exams so your
doctor can watch for changes in these cells.
Treatment
Treatment depends on your needs. If your
dysplasia is mild, it may go away on its own without
any treatment. But if it gets worse, you'll need
treatment to remove the abnormal cells. And, you
may benefit from an HPV vaccine, even if you
already have the virus. Your healthcare provider
can create a plan that's right for you.