One of the most serious reproductive system diseases in women is dysplasia of the cervix uteri - changes in the cells of the epithelium and the appearance of atypical cells that can degenerate into cancerous cells. However, with timely diagnosis and timely treatment, dysplasia can be treated.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the third, most severe degree of dysplasia of the cervix, the causes of its appearance and methods of treatment.
Causes of cervical dysplasia
In this disease, the cells are most often affected in the region where the flat epithelium passes into the cylindrical (the so-called transformation zone). This disease does not occur sharply, it develops over the years, growing from one stage to another. There are three stages of dysplasia:
- Stage 1 - the epithelium is struck deep by 1/3;
- 2 stage - epithelium struck deep into 2/3;
- Stage 3 - the entire thickness of the epithelium of the cervix is affected by atypical cells, but the disease does not extend to other tissues, vessels, nerve endings, etc.
The third stage is precancerous. If it is not treated, dysplasia is transformed into an oncological disease, and a woman will develop a malignant tumor.
The most common causes of the appearance and development in the female body of dysplasia are:
- inflammatory processes of the organs of the reproductive system (in particular, inflammation of the cervical canal itself);
- sexually transmitted diseases ( STD in women );
- long-term effects on the body of the papilloma virus of certain types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35).
In addition, there are risk factors that contribute to the change of cells: smoking (both active and passive), hereditary predisposition to oncological diseases, early onset of sexual activity and frequent changes in sexual partners, prolonged intake of oral contraceptives, improper nutrition, etc.). .
This disease is not distinguished by any characteristic symptoms and is diagnosed accidentally, during the next gynecological examination. Suspected of dysplasia, the doctor usually prescribes additional tests that include tests for the detection of sexual infections (PCR), colposcopy, a Pap smear, and if there is a suspicion of severe cervical dysplasia, a biopsy of a fragment of altered epithelial tissue.
How to treat dysplasia of the cervix?
There is a standard regimen for treating cervical dysplasia . Patients with grade 3 dysplasia are treated by a specialist gynecologist-oncologist.
Treatment of the disease is based on the following.
- Restoration therapy (it is performed with dysplasia of any degree and is desirable for any woman as a prophylaxis). It involves changing the diet and additional intake of vitamins and trace elements, such as folic acid, bioflavonoids, selenium, vitamins A, C, B6 and B12, E, etc.
- Removal of a site with altered cells. It is carried out by the following methods:
- chemical destruction;
- cauterization by electricity;
- destruction by cold (cryodestruction);
- laser exposure;
- excision (cold-knife method).
The doctor chooses the method of surgical treatment based on the data on the general health of his patient, the history of her illness, the presence of chronic diseases, the desire to have children in the future, etc., since this is always associated with a risk of complications. Sometimes he can choose expectant management, as after the recovery therapy the dynamics of dysplasia can improve, which at 3 stages happens quite rarely. In advanced cases, as well as in the first stages of cervical cancer, an amputation of the cervix uteri is usually performed operatively.