Pregnancy & Cervical Dysplasia

Pregnancy can complicate treatment of cervical dysplasia. The condition, which can develop into cervical cancer, is usually diagnosed through a Pap test and biopsy, while treatment involves removal of any abnormal tissue. The surgical procedure to remove tissue can cause early labor and premature birth, however. For this reason, many doctors recommend that pregnant women postpone treatment for cervical dysplasia until after pregnancy.

Types

• A diagnosis of cervical dysplasia means that abnormal cells have grown in a woman's cervix. The cells may be categorized as precancerous or cancerous. About two-thirds of the precancerous cells develop into cancer. There are two main types of cervical dysplasia. Low-grade dysplasia involves slow-growing cells, and this form of the disease may go into remission on its own. High-grade dysplasia, in contrast, grows very aggressively, and requires surgical intervention. Both forms can develop before or during pregnancy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), without treatment between 30 to 50 percent of all high-grade cervical dysplasias will develop into invasive cancer.

Effect of Pregnancy

• According to the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, most cases of cervical dysplasia can be treated after pregnancy. Doctors prefer to wait to avoid harming the fetus or triggering labor prematurely. Throughout the pregnancy a physician will closely monitor the mother's health. According to the American Social Health Association, hormones that develop during pregnancy may cause cervical dysplasia to grow.

Treatment

• Treatment for cervical dysplasia usually takes place two weeks or more after the patient gives birth. Some low-grade cases may clear without treatment. If not, treatment generally involves surgical scraping of the cervix or a procedure known as loop electrosurgical excision (LEEP). Alternative treatments may include surgical removal of the cervix (hysterectomy) or freezing and destroying the affected tissue (cryotherapy). All of these techniques serve to remove or destroy the abnormal cells in the cervix.

Research

• According to researchers at the University of Iowa, a technique known as laser colonization may allow treatment of cervical dysplasia during pregnancy. The technique uses a laser to vaporize abnormal tissue without increasing the risk for premature labor. Laser colonization has not been widely used due to its expense and the technical expertise needed to perform it.

Prevention/Solution

• According to the NIH, women can reduce their risk for cervical dysplasia by not smoking, or quitting if they already smoke. Other risk reduction factors include limiting your number of sexual partners and practicing safe sex habits. Women who wait until after the age of 18 to become sexually active also have a lower risk of cervical dysplasia, according to NIH. Women who are planning to get pregnant may want to see their gynecologist for a Pap smear, in order to detect existing cervical dysplasia while the risks of treatment are lower.