Diagnosis dysplasia
For patients
If you have received a diagnosis of mild or moderate dysplasia after a smear test, the uncertainty is great at first. What does this diagnosis really mean for you now?
Diagnosis of mild or moderate dysplasia
The term "dysplasia" generally refers to a malformation of tissues and organs.
If dysplasia has been diagnosed after the pap smear it means that the cells on the cervix show some mild to moderate cell changes. They are usually triggered by human papilloma viruses (HPV).
Approximately 750,000 women in Germany receive this diagnosis each year.
Do I have or do I get cancer?
Mild or moderate dysplasia is not cancer. Most patients (about 8 out of 10) will also never develop cancer. This is because the cell changes heal on their own - without the need for any intervention. Conization is usually not necessary.
What can I do now?
HPV (human papilloma viruses) are responsible for the cell changes.
Your gynecologist will use an HPV test to determine which high-risk type is responsible for the dysplasia.
But there is also good news: in most patients, the immune system kicks in and fights HPV. For this to happen, a specific protein must be present in the nucleus of the HPV, the "L1 capsid protein", which activates the immune system. If this protein can be detected, there is an 80% probability that the dysplasia will heal, often within a year or two.
The Cytoactiv® test can be used to quickly and reliably detect whether the L1 protein is present to activate the patient's immune system.
women in Germany annually
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