Abnormal Cells

• Cervical dysplasia is a term used to describe abnormal growth of cells on the cervix. This growth is not considered to be cancerous, but it is considered to be a possible precursor to cancer. The disease often produces little or no symptoms. Some women complain of slight bleeding after intercourse. There are three categories of cervical dysplasia. The first is called mild dysplasia, or CIN I. It is marked by only a few abnormal cells which usually return to normal on their own. The second is when there are a moderate to marked amount of abnormal cells. This is CIN II. The third is severe dysplasia, which means the cervix contains a great amount of abnormal cells, some of which may be precancerous.
  
  

Cause Unknown

• Scientists do not know what causes cervical dysplasia, but they do know that there are some factors that can increase your risk of getting it. You have a higher risk of contracting cervical dysplasia if you have had multiple sexual partners, if you have had a baby before you were 16, if you are or were a sexually active teenager, if you smoke or have smoked cigarettes, and if you have a sexually transmitted disease or infection, such as genital warts. You are also at risk if your mother consumed the drug diethylstilbestrol while pregnant.
  
  Cervical dysplasia is most commonly found in woman in their mid-20s to mid-30s, but can affect any woman who is past the age of puberty.
  
  

Treatment

• Moderate and severe cases of cervical dysplasia are treated with surgery. The outer layer of cervical cells is removed and sent to a lab to make sure all abnormal cells were caught. After the surgery, the doctor will warn you to abstain from using tampons and from having intercourse for a month. In addition, you will have to return for Pap smears every four months, to check for more abnormal cells. The procedure has a high success rate of over 95 percent.