In this Article

• What is cervical dysplasia?
• What causes cervical dysplasia?
• Are there symptoms of cervical dysplasia?
• How is cervical dysplasia diagnosed?
• How is cervical dysplasia classified?
• What are the treatments for cervical dysplasia?
• Carbon dioxide laser photoablation
• Cryocautery
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
• Cold knife cone biopsy (conization)
• Hysterectomy
• What is the prognosis (outlook) for cervical dysplasia?
• Can cervical dysplasia be prevented?
• Cervical Dysplasia At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Cervical Dysplasia - Describe Your Experience
• Cervical Dysplasia Glossary
• Cervical Dysplasia Index

What are treatments for cervical dysplasia?

Most women with low grade (mild) dysplasia (LGSIL, CIN1) (when the diagnosis is confirmed and all abnormal areas have been visualized), will undergo spontaneous regression of the mild dysplasia without treatment. Therefore, monitoring without specific treatment is often indicated in this group. Treatment is appropriate for women with high-grade cervical dysplasia.

Treatments for cervical dysplasia fall into two general categories: destruction (ablation) of the abnormal area and removal (resection). Both types of treatment are equally effective. Generally, destruction (ablation) procedures are used for milder dysplasia and removal (resection) is recommended for more severe dysplasia or cancer.

The destruction (ablation) procedures are carbon dioxide laser photoablation and cryocautery. The removal (resection) procedures are loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), cold knife conization, and hysterectomy. Treatment for dysplasia or cancer is not usually done at the time of the initial colposcopy, since the treatment depends on the analysis of the biopsies done during colposcopy.

Carbon dioxide laser photoablation

This procedure, which is also known as CO2 laser, uses an invisible beam of infrared light to essentially vaporize the abnormal area. A local anesthetic is given to numb the area prior to the laser treatment. A substantial amount of clear vaginal discharge and spotting of blood can occur for a few weeks after the procedure. The complication rate of this procedure is very low, about 1%. The most common complications are narrowing (stenosis) of the cervical opening and delayed bleeding. Disadvantages of this treatment include that this procedure does not allow sampling of the abnormal area and is not satisfactory for treating cervical cancer. It is useful, however, for milder dysplasia.

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