Cervical dysplasia is a condition in which healthy cells on the cervix undergo some abnormal changes. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that leads into the vagina. It is the cervix that dilates during childbirth to allow the fetus to pass through.
In cervical dysplasia, the abnormal cells aren’t cancerous, but can develop into cancer if not caught early and treated.
A common virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical dysplasia. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, and there are hundreds of strains. Some are low-risk and cause genital warts.
Others are high-risk and cause cell changes that can turn into cervical dysplasia and cancer.
If some one sexually active, a condom might reduce the risk of getting HPV. But the virus can still live on the skin surrounding the genitals not covered by the condom.
While abstinence is the only definite way to prevent cervical dysplasia, you can do a number of things to reduce the risk of getting HPV and cervical dysplasia: