Cervical dysplasia is a rather dangerous disease, as it can develop into cervical cancer, which is the second most important type of cancer that causes death in women, especially young girls. However, such a diagnosis is not a sentence at all, because timely diagnosis and proper treatment is what makes it possible to cope with this disease.
Dysplasia is a reversible pathological process that develops in the epithelium of the cervix, which can turn into cervical cancer due to the lack of appropriate treatment. Dysplasia can turn into cervical cancer for years, and sometimes decades. Therefore, it is very important to identify this disease in time and proceed with its elimination in order to avoid the development of its serious complications.
Causes of cervical dysplasia
There are several causes of this disease. These can be internal factors, when hormonal disorders are present or immunity is reduced, or external - when the body is attacked by viruses or infections.
Papillomaviruses are especially dangerous, in particular strains with high oncogenic activity (HPV). In 95% of cases, the inflammatory process in dysplasia is caused by papillomavirus.
Reason:
- poor hygiene;
- earlier onset of sexual activity;
- multiple births;
- use of contraceptive drugs that affect hormonal levels;
- promiscuity in sexual relations;
- genetic predisposition to cancer;
- bad habits (abuse of alcohol, nicotine).
Cervical dysplasia can be:
- weakly expressed - changes occur in the lower part of the epithelium;
- moderately expressed - more than 1/3, but less than 2/3 of the epithelium are captured by changes;
- severe (non-invasive cancer) - the process extends to all layers of the epithelium, but does not penetrate deeper than the basement membrane. In invasive cervical cancer, the basement membrane is destroyed and the tumor spreads into the internal structures of the cervix.
Symptoms of cervical dysplasia
There are no special symptoms characteristic only of dysplasia. Often, women go to the doctor with complaints that accompany inflammatory processes in the vagina and cervix. These include:
- the appearance of discharge that has an uncharacteristic color, smell or texture;
- burning or itching;
- bloody discharge after intercourse or tampon use.
Cervical dysplasia treatments
Dysplasia is treated with immunomodulatory therapy or surgery. The method by which the operation will be performed is determined by the degree to which the dysplasia was diagnosed and whether the patient plans to give birth. There are such methods of surgical treatment:
- cryoconization;
- electrocoating;
- laser conization and vaporization;
- excision;
- amputation of the cervix.
After the operation has taken place, a recovery period begins, lasting about 4 weeks.
During this period may appear:
- copious discharge from the genital tract (with or without an unpleasant odor);
- pain in the lower abdomen (aching);
- bleeding from the genital tract that does not stop for a long time, fever up to 38 ° C, severe pain in the lower abdomen.
During the recovery period, you should refrain from:
- sexual contact;
- douches;
- weight lifting;
- use of tampons.
Prevention of cervical dysplasia
For prevention purposes, you should:
- stop smoking
- use barrier methods of contraception;
- eat rationally, eat foods high in vitamin A and B
- do not delay the treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases
- visit a gynecologist regularly (at least once every six months or a year).
Remember, dysplasia is not a sentence, it is quite treatable if it is diagnosed in a timely manner. Regular gynecological check-ups are one of the things you can do to protect your health.
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