• Mild dysplasia or HPV changes: Mild dysplasia usually doesn't need to be treated, since it frequently resolves on its own within a few years. Even if the changes appear to be caused by HPV, treatment is not recommended, as resolution over time is common--and treatment doesn't effectively eradicate the virus, anyway.



• Moderate to severe dysplasia: For more significant dysplasia, office treatments include cryosurgery, in which the surface of the cervix is touched with a very cold probe to freeze the cells; and LEEP (loop electro-excisional procedure), where a thin slice is taken off the tip of the cervix after it has been injected with local anesthetic.
  
  Hospital treatments for moderate and severe dysplasia include LEEP, as well as laser or scalpel cone biopsy, where a wedge of tissue is removed from the cervix for definitive diagnosis and treatment. Laser ablation of the lesions is another option that involves destruction of the abnormal areas using a laser. Patients treated in the hospital generally go home a few hours after these procedures. Your practitioner will recommend the treatment that is best for you.



• Persistent or recurrent dysplasia: While high-grade dysplasia usually is cured by any of the several treatments listed above, it can persist or recur. Anyone who has had moderate or severe dysplasia should have frequent Pap tests, and if any are found to be abnormal, arrange for follow-up colposcopy. A standard recommendation after mild dysplasia is to have a Pap test every six months for two years and until the Paps are normal.
  
  For high-grade lesions, Paps are usually done every three months for a year, every six months for two more years, and then annually after that. Your doctor will tell you the interval appropriate for your individual circumstances. Women who have had dysplasia should never delay Paps beyond one-year intervals.

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