Gynecologic Health Gynecologic Health Basics

Cervical Dysplasia

A group of abnormal cells is called a lesion. Cervical dysplasia lesions can:

• Shrink or disappear
• Remain without changing
• Progress to become cervical cancer

Cervical dysplasia can occur at any time after puberty, but it is most common in women ages 25 to 35. With early identification, treatment and follow-up, nearly all cases of cervical dysplasia can be cured but the condition can recur. Without treatment, 30 to 50 percent of cervical dysplasias may progress to invasive cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Cervical dysplasia is classified according to the results of a Pap smear. Physicians may use three different systems to classify results of Pap smears: the descriptive system, the CIN system or the Bethesda system. The main difference between these classification systems is whether numbers or words are used to describe the extent of dysplasia. The systems include:

Descriptive System	CIN System	Bethesda System
Mild dysplasia	CIN 1	ASC-US ASC-H Low-grade SIL
Moderate dysplasia	CIN 2	High-grade SIL
Severe dysplasia	CIN 3	ASC-H High-grade SIL

Other terms that may be used to describe cervical dysplasia include:

• Regressive. Referring to cells that shrink or disappear.
• Persistent. Referring to cells that remain present but do not change.
• Progressive. Referring to cells that become cancerous.

If a woman is confused by the classification system used by her physician, she should request clarification of the information.

Risk factors and causes of cervical dysplasia

The precise cause of cervical dysplasia is not known, but it has been linked to exposure to certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of more than 100 viruses. They are called papillomaviruses because certain types may cause warts (papillomas), which are benign (noncancerous) tumors.

Certain types of HPV can trigger the cells on the cervix to behave abnormally. HPV is far more common than cervical dysplasia, with the majority of the sexually active population exposed to one or more types of HPV in their lifetime. Not all HPVs, however, will cause cervical dysplasia.  It is likely that other elements cause or play a role in the development of cervical dysplasia. Though these elements have not yet been identified by the medical community, certain factors are known to increase the risk of cervical dysplasia. In addition to HPV exposure, they include:

• Multiple sexual partners.

• Early onset of sexual activity (younger than 18 years old).

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