Cervical Dysplasia
Cervical Dysplasia
Post-treatment Relief
In the course of examining a woman's cervix--the opening to the uterus--a doctor may find that the cells are abnormal. Otherwise, with cervical dysplasia, there are no symptoms. It may go away on its own. Or it may not.
It's the "may not" that makes doctors most nervous. Cervical dysplasia can be the first step in the development of cervical cancer. Or it may not be cancer. As such, it's important to get prompt evaluation and treatment, says Diane Solomon, M.D., chief of the cytopathology section of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
EASING DISCOMFORT
If you've been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, you and your doctor will have to decide on treatment--whether to adopt a wait-and-see approach or undergo laser surgery or another procedure to remove the abnormal cells.
Try rest, and an ice pack. If you're being treated for cervical dysplasia, your best bet is to follow your doctor's instructions and let nature heal, says Lila A. Wallis, M.D., clinical professor of medicine and director of "Update Your Medicine," a series of continuing medical education programs for physicians, at Cornell University Medical College in New York City. The wrong self remedies may cause more bleeding. "Sometimes rest and an ice pack to the lower abdomen will help," she adds.
Take an OTC painkiller. If you experience pain or discomfort after removal of the abnormal cells, acetaminophen can help relieve it, says Dr. Wallis. Follow the directions on the package. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen, because they could interfere with the blood-clotting mechanism.
Skip sex for two weeks. You'll need a few weeks to fully recover from treatment, says Dr. Wallis. The time can't be too precise, because each woman's response varies. "The cervical tissue will be kind of like a cut on your knee. It will bleed until it's healed and makes scar tissue," she explains. Refraining from sex for at least two weeks will give your wounded tissue a better chance to stop bleeding and fully heal.
When To See A Doctor
Cervical dysplasia has no symptoms, so you have to count on your doctor to find it. "It is important for a woman to go for her regular Pap smear even if she is not having any problems," says Diane Solomon, M.D., chief of the cytopathology section of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. The National Cancer Institute recommends an annual Pap smear for three consecutive years. If all three tests are negative, the interval between screenings might be lengthened to every three years. However, Dr. Solomon notes, many professional medical societies still recommend an annual test. Furthermore, "It is important not to stop having your Pap smear just because you've become menopausal or are over the age of 60. In fact, about one-quarter of all invasive cervical cancers arise in women over the age of 60." Do not douche or use vaginal creams or lubricants (except as advised by your doctor) for at least two days before a Pap smear, says Dr. Solomon. It can interfere with detection of dysplasia. Schedule your appointment for approximately two weeks after the start of your last period. A sample taken during your menstrual flow may not be adequate for laboratory evaluation, she explains.
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PREVENTION ADVICE Cervical dysplasia is one of the conditions that you'd rather not have to deal with in the first place. Here's what women doctors suggest.
Protect yourself. Studies have shown that certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), otherwise known as genital warts, increase a woman's risk of developing cervical dysplasia, says Dr. Solomon. Two proteins in HPV repress both the tumor suppressor gene P53 and the cancer-fighting retinoblastoma protein PRV. Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as AIDS, and immunologic factors may also be linked to cervical dysplasia.
To protect yourself against STDs when not in a mutually monogamous relationship, always use a condom during sex, says Dr. Wallis. She recommends the female condom, a device consisting of two plastic rings connected by a polyurethane sheath. "There's always stuff that leaks around the male condom," she says. "The female condom covers the whole vulva, so that you don't get exposed."
Take your vitamins. Women whose daily diets include insufficient intake of vitamin A, riboflavin and folate (B vitamins) and ascorbate (vitamin C) have a higher risk of cervical dysplasia, according to a study at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Research has pointed to the importance of certain nutritional deficiencies in relation to cervical cancer, but the role of nutritional factors is still poorly understood. The study showed that about 75% of 257 women studied took less than the Daily Value of vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C and folate. That's 5,000 international units for vitamin A, 1.7 milligrams for riboflavin, 400 micrograms for folate and 60 milligrams for vitamin C.
