Nearly 15,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually. Low grade blood cells on the cervix, the narrow part at the bottom of the uterus, can be the result of an abnormal Pap smear and should be treated promptly.
Definition
Low grade blood cells are a type of squamous intraepithelial lesion that can change in the size, shape and number. It can also be called cervical dysplasia. Some disappear, while others can become large and more abnormal, causing a high-grade lesion. These early changes usually appear in women ages 25 to 35, but occur in other age groups.
Effects of low grade blood cells
Low grade cervical dysplasia typically resolves on its own without long-term problems. However, if left untreated, it can lead to high grade cervical dysplasia, which can develop into cervical cancer.
Signs and symptoms
Cervical dysplasia typically doesn't have any outward signs or symptoms and is usually detected in a woman's annual Pap smear. However, some women do experience genital warts, abnormal bleeding, spotting after intercourse, vaginal discharge and low back pain.
Causes
There is no known cause for cervical dysplasia, but there may be a connection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Diagnosis
If your Pap smear is abnormal, your doctor may order a colposcopy, a procedure that views the cervix with a magnifying lens, and biopsy, a small sample of tissue that is removed from the cervix, to further test the abnormal cells. Other tests include the Schiller test, a test that coats the cervix with an iodine solution, a endocervical curettage (ECC) that checks the inside of the opening of the cervix, a dilation and curettage (D&C) that stretches the cervical opening and the lining is scraped out, or a cone biopsy that removes a larger cone-shaped sample of tissue.
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