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Cervical Dysplasia Introduction |
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Cervical dysplasia
refers to the development of
abnormal cells on the surface of the
cervix. Alternate terms for
this condition include squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL)
and cervical intraepithelial
neoplasm (CIN). SIL is
subdivided into low (L-)or high grade
(H-)categories. CIL is subdivided
numerically, and the categorization
of numbers is paralleled to the
severity of abnormality upon the
cervix - CIN
I (mild); CIN II (moderate); or CIN
III (severe). Cervical
dysplasia is diagnosed by the PAP
smear test. [1] |
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For some
medical authorities, cervical
dysplasia is considered a sexually
transmitted disease. It is
estimated that 90% of dysplasia
cases result from the
infection of the Human Papilloma
Virus (HPV), which also causes genital
warts. [2]
Several strains of HPV including, 16,18,31,33,35
and 39, are more highly
correlated with severe cervical dysplasia and
its progression into
cervical cancer. Other risk factors
for developing cervical dysplasia
include; cigarette smoking, multiple
sexual partners, unprotected sexual
intercourse, and sexual intercourse
at an early age. [3]
Women of any age can
develop cervical dysplasia.
The most common age for development
of low grade SIL or CIN I is 25-35.
The most common age for development
of high grade SIL or CIN II and CIN
III is 30-40.
[4]
Lesions or abnormalities of the
cervix are pre-cancerous.
Cervical cancer is the
third leading cause of cancer deaths
for women in the United States.[5]
Although the mean age of detection
is 50 years old, cervical cancer may
affect women as early as 20 years of
age. [6] 90% of low
grade or mild cervical dysplasia are detected by
an abnormal PAP smear
test. This early detection is
critical, as cervical dysplasia is 100%
treatable. [7,
8] Most cases of cervical dysplasia
will take 10-15 years to develop
into cancer, but severe forms of
dysplasia can develop into cancer in
as quickly as one year.
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Cervical Dysplasia Signs and Symptoms
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Cervical dysplasia usually has no
physical symptoms and is discovered from
an abnormal PAP smear test. Early
signs of cervical cancer may
manifest themselves as, abnormal bleeding that occurs
between periods, bleeding after sexual
intercourse, or increased bleeding
during menstruation. An increase in
discharge from the vagina, that may
or may not be foul smelling, is also
a symptom of early cervical cancer. [9]
If a woman is experiencing any of
these symptoms, she should seek the
care of a physician to rule out
the possibility of cervical cancer.
Many other diseases
can cause these same symptoms.
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Learn More About Cervical
Dysplasia |
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