How many women have cervical dysplasia

If your doctor is concerned or you have high-grade changes, a colposcopy may be done. A colposcopy is an in-office procedure that allows the doctor to get a very close view of your cervix. A vinegar solution is applied to the cervix and a special light is used. This makes any abnormal cells stand out.

The doctor can then take a small piece of cervical tissue, called a biopsy , to send to a lab for further testing. Treatment of cervical dysplasia depends on the severity of the condition.

Mild dysplasia might not be treated immediately since it can resolve without treatment. Repeat Pap smears may be done every three to six months. Dysplasia is usually caught early because of regular Pap tests. Treatment typically cures cervical dysplasia, but it can return. If no treatment is given, the dysplasia may get worse, potentially turning into cancer.

While abstinence is the only definite way to prevent cervical dysplasia, you can do a number of things to reduce your risk of getting HPV and cervical dysplasia:. Talk with your doctor about your sexual activity and steps that you can take to lower your risk of cervical dysplasia. The type of treatment used for cervical cancer depends on the stage at diagnosis.

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Skip Navigation. I Want To I Want to Find Research Faculty Enter the last name, specialty or keyword for your search below. Consult your doctor to know if you meet all criteria for the vaccine. For best results, girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 26 should get vaccinated before becoming sexually active.

However, vaccination can be helpful after onset of sexual activity and up to age Consult your doctor to discuss the vaccine criteria and if you should be vaccinated.

Treatment for cervical dysplasia will depend on the degree of abnormal cells and your medical history. Most mild cases will clear up without treatment. Your doctor may suggest getting a pap test every 6 to 12 months, instead of every 3 to 5 years. Instances of moderate or severe cervical dysplasia could require immediate treatment.

Options include:. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment cures most cases of cervical dysplasia. Once treated, cervical dysplasia can return. People who have severe cervical dysplasia, high-risk HPV, or whose condition goes untreated could develop cervical cancer. This article was contributed by: familydoctor.

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Human papillomavirus HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts and certain types of cancer.

A Pap smear is a medical exam used to determine if a woman has cervical cancer. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Our team of dedicated access representatives is here to help you make an appointment with the specialists that you need.

This is called cervical precancer, cervical dysplasia, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. A pathologist will classify these changes as low grade or high grade. Most of the time cervical dysplasia, particularly low-grade dysplasia, will resolve on its own.

Other times dysplasia requires treatment to facilitate resolution. Between , and 1 million people are diagnosed with cervical dysplasia in the US each year. Most people are 25 to 35 years old, although it can occur at any age. HPV, the human papillomavirus, causes almost all cases of cervical dysplasia. Most women have this sexually transmitted viral infection at some point in their life. Most commonly your immune system clears the infection that leads to the development of cervical dysplasia.