It takes approximately 10 years for cervical dysplasia to develop into cancer, still one of the most common cancer deaths in women. A yearly PAP test is the most important prevention strategy a woman has. Cervical dysplasia is treatable if caught early and in its initial non-invasive stage.

What is Cervical Dysplasia?

Not all cervical dysplasia progresses to cervical cancer. However, squamous cell cervical cancer almost always follows dysplasia. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes nearly all cervical cancers and dysplasia cases. HPV does not always cause cancer or dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia results from sexually transmitted HPV infection.

At puberty, the cells lining your cervix change from columnar cells, which line the rest of the uterus, to squamous cells. Metaplasia commonly occurs at the squamocolumnar junction. This area marks where two cell types meet. It is highly vulnerable to dysplasia. The basal layer contains immature squamous cells with large nuclei. The thickness of the basal layer determines the severity of the dysplasia (mild to severe dysplasia). In the case of Carcinoma "in situ", the immature basal cells extend all the way to the very top of the tissue thickness. As the severity of the dysplasia increases, so does the risk for cancer.

What Are Risks Associated With Cervical Dysplasia?

HPV has a number of subtypes that vary in terms of aggressiveness and risk of developing dysplasia. HPV 16 and 18 are considered to be the most aggressive, accounting for the largest percentage of cervical cancer cases. 

Besides HPV, other risks for cervical dysplasia include:

  • Prior Chlamydia or HIV infection
  • Obesity
  • Birth before the age of 22
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Multiple sexual partners
  • Poor nutrition
  • Low socioeconomic status
  • Family history of cervical cancer
  • Use of oral contraceptive medication

A weakened immune system may increase cervical dysplasia risk. A strong immune system can clear dysplasia effectively. Spontaneous regression occurs in many cases when immunity functions well.

Atypia often appears on Pap smear results. Cells appear between normal and abnormal states. Atypia frequently resolves without treatment. It may indicate tissue repair or early abnormal change. Monitoring helps track any progression.

Cervical Dysplasia Treatment & Prevention Protocols

Diet

There are a variety of nutritional habits and supplements that can be used to prevent HPV or treat this condition and prevent the development of cervical cancer. Diets high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce the persistence of the HPV virus. Tomatoes, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables and papaya are all great sources of these nutrients. As cervical dysplasias can be an estrogen dominant concern, consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale, all high in Indole-3-carbinol, are useful in the prevention of cancer of cervical cancer. This has been shown to help to ensure that estrogen metabolism is being altered in such a way as to reduce the carcinogenic metabolites.

Supplements

Sometimes it can be difficult to ensure adequate fruit and vegetable intake to provide all required nutrients and antioxidants, so a supplement can be beneficial for your health maintenance. Effective supplements for cervical dysplasia include vitamin A, E and C, and mixed carotenoids; look for Indole-3-carbinal as a supplement. Homocysteine is associated with a higher risk of developing cervical cancer and can be produced by vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. You can supplement these vitamins orally as well as through an intramuscular injection. Additionally, you can take green tea extract as a supplement or topically, which has shown some promise in cervical dysplasia treatment.

Lifestyle

In terms of lifestyle goals to treat and prevent cervical dysplasia, a goal to quit smoking should be at the top of your list. Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to develop dysplasia than non-smokers. Again, stress plays a significant role in disease development and immune function. Use stress-reducing techniques and exercises every day to more effectively deal with stress. Young women should also be counselled about sex and the increased risk that unprotected sex, as well as sex with multiple partners at an early age, can have on the development of HPV. Last but not least, there is evidence suggesting that long-term contraceptive use can predispose women to developing a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma called adenocarcinoma. Women on oral contraceptives should be aware that long-term use (of 12 years or more) may have a negative impact on overall health.

HPV Vaccine

The recently developed HPV vaccine has been shown to effectively decrease the incidence of HPV. One must always keep in mind that HPV does not always lead to cervical dysplasia, and the vaccine is not aimed at preventing cervical dysplasia or cancer, only the precursor of HPV.