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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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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 Comments: Cervical Dysplasia - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Cervical Dysplasia Index

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.

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.