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When abnormal cells are found on the cervix the condition is called dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is considered to be a pre-cancerous condition, can occur at any age from puberty onward, and is usually found in women between the ages of 25 and 35.
Risk Factors
Lifestyle and nutritional factors that appear to play a prominent role in the etiology of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma include: early age of first intercourse; multiple sexual partners; Herpes simplex type 2 and papilloma viruses (HPV); lower socio-economic class; smoking; oral contraceptive use; and many nutritional factors. All risk factors appear to be closely related, as in other multifactorial diseases.
Diagnosis & Tests
A class III Pap should be biopsied if there is a history of recurrent abnormal Pap smears, if significant risk factors are present, or if the patient has been unresponsive to therapy. If the patient has a class IV Pap, proper treatment of cervical dysplasia involves first ascertaining if carcinoma in situ is present. This can only be determined through biopsy. Patients with carcinoma in situ, or a class V Pap, should undergo conization.
Treatment & Prevention
The basic approach is to eliminate all factors known to be associated with cervical dysplasia and to optimize the patient's nutritional status. In particular, eliminate smoking and oral contraceptive use and supplement with nutrients mentioned below. For those patients who undergo conization, treatment is still necessary since the causes of cervical dysplasia are not treated by this approach. Pap smears should be repeated every one to three months, according to severity.
Animal product consumption should be decreased, particularly animal fats and exogenous estrogens. High-fiber foods should be encouraged.
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Conditions that suggest Cervical Dysplasia:
Risk factors for Cervical Dysplasia:
Recommendations and treatments for Cervical Dysplasia: | | | | | Botanical |  Vaginal Depletion Pack | The vaginal depletion pack (or vag pack) has a long history of effective use by naturopathic physicians in the treatment of cervical dysplasia. It is thought to work by promoting the sloughing of the superficial cervical cells, particularly those that are abnormal. It is effective in most cases of minor cervical dysplasia. These packs are available in vaginal suppository form and should be used weekly, or as directed by your doctor, until the Pap normalizes. For most patients, the vaginal depletion pack will accelerate the rate of normalization of the cervix. |
MGN-3| | MGN-3 in stage II and stage III patients completely resolved the problem. After six months of MGN-3 use, with no other form of treatment, all follow-up exams and tests were normal. |
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Diet |
 Therapeutic Fasting |
Mineral |
 Zinc| | The rapidly dividing cells of the cervix require zinc for replication. With depleted zinc levels in cervical tissue, there are corresponding abnormalities in the cells. |
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Nutrient |
Beta-Carotene
Meyer's Cocktail |
Vitamins |
Vitamin A| | Vitamin A at 75,000 IU per day for 2 months or until Pap smear results improve, then 25,000 IU per day as a maintenance dose. The preferred form is water-soluble vitamin A. However, doses of vitamin A over 10,000 IU/day should not be considered if pregnancy is a possibility. Vitamin A injections into the cervix have been used successfully when other methods have failed. |
Folic Acid| | Folic Acid in high doses of 10 to 50mg per day have been used successfully to return Pap smears to normal. Folic acid supplementation has resulted in improvement or normalization of cytological smears in patients with cervical dysplasia in placebo-controlled and clinical studies. As folic acid is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world, and quite common in women who are pregnant or taking oral contraceptives, it is probable that many abnormal cytological smears reflect folate deficiency rather than "true" dysplasia. This is particularly applicable to cases in which patients are taking oral contraceptives. |
Vitamin B-Complex
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)| | Recent evidence suggests that beta-carotene and/or vitamin C may reverse or reduce the risk of cervical dysplasia. Inadequate vitamin C intake is an independent risk factor for the development of premalignant cervical disease and carcinoma in situ. |
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KEY | | Weak or unproven link |  | | Strong or generally accepted link |  | | Proven definite or direct link |  | | Very strongly or absolutely counter-indicative | | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Beta-Carotene (Beta Carotene)
The most abundant of the carotenoids, beta-carotene has strong provitamin A activity and is a stronger antioxidant than vitamin A. It is widely accepted today as a cancer preventative. It is found in leafy green and yellow vegetables, often missing in children's diets. Beta-Carotene is believed to be a superior source of Vitamin A because it is readily converted into a more active form of the substance: your body converts it to Vitamin A as needed.
Biopsy
Removal of a sample of tissue from a living being for diagnosis. A pathologist later uses a microscope to look for certain features, such as cancer cells, in the sample. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy involves inserting a thin needle to remove a small amount of tissue, sometimes using CT or ultrasound to guide the needle. A core biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue with a thick needle or by inserting a thin, lighted tube (laparoscope) into a small incision in the abdomen. Another biopsy method is to remove tissue during an operation.
Cancer
Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.
Carcinoma
Malignant growth of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissue and giving rise to metastasis: An invasive malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue that tends to metastasize to other areas of the body.
Cervical Dysplasia
Abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix, classified as either mild (70% of cases fall into this category; the cells regress on their own), moderate, or severe, or as class 1, 2 or 3. While dysplasia itself does not cause health problems, it is considered to be a precancerous condition. Left untreated, dysplasia sometimes progresses to an early form of cancer known as cervical carcinoma in situ, and eventually to invasive cervical cancer.
Cervix
The lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
Dysplasia
Abnormal development of tissue.
Exogenous
Arising from the outside; the opposite of endogenous.
Folic Acid
A B-complex vitamin that functions along with vitamin B-12 and vitamin C in the utilization of proteins. It has an essential role in the formation of heme (the iron containing protein in hemoglobin necessary for the formation of red blood cells) and DNA. Folic acid is essential during pregnancy to prevent neural tubular defects in the developing fetus.
Herpes Simplex
An infection, often recurrent, caused by herpes virus type 1 and 2. It causes cold sores around the lips and mouth, and also causes painful blisters on the genitals and in the pubic area, thighs, and buttocks.
Intravenous Infusion (IV)
A small needle placed in the vein to assist in fluid replacement or the giving of medication.
IU (mIU, uIU)
International Unit: An arbitrarily defined but agreed upon unit that depends on what is being measured.
mIU: 0.001 or one thousandth of an IU.
uIU: 0.000001 or one millionth of an IU.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Naturopathy (Naturopath, Naturopathic, Naturopaths)
Medical practice using herbs and other various methods to produce a healthy body state by stimulating innate defenses without the use of drugs.
Pap Test (Pap Smear)
Papanicolaou test. Microscopic examination of cells collected from the vagina and cervix to test for uterine cancer or dysplasia.
Precancerous Lesion (Precancerous Lesions)
Abnormal tissue that is not yet malignant.
Virus (Viri, Viruses)
Any of a vast group of minute structures composed of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA that reproduces in the cells of the infected host. Capable of infecting all animals and plants, causing devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, and are completely dependent upon the cells of the infected host for the ability to reproduce.
Vitamin A
A fat-soluble vitamin essential to one's health. Plays an important part in the growth and repair of body tissue, protects epithelial tissue, helps maintain the skin and is necessary for night vision. It is also necessary for normal growth and formation of bones and teeth. For Vitamin A only, 1mg translates to 833 IU.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
A water-soluble antioxidant vitamin essential to the body's health. When bound to other nutrients, for example calcium, it would be referred to as "calcium ascorbate". As an antioxidant, it inhibits the formation of nitrosamines (a suspected carcinogen). Vitamin C is important for maintenance of bones, teeth, collagen and blood vessels (capillaries), enhances iron absorption and red blood cell formation, helps in the utilization of carbohydrates and synthesis of fats and proteins, aids in fighting bacterial infections, and interacts with other nutrients. It is present in citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, potatoes and fresh, green leafy vegetables.
Zinc
An essential trace mineral. The functions of zinc are enzymatic. There are over 70 metalloenzymes known to require zinc for their functions. The main biochemicals in which zinc has been found to be necessary include: enzymes and enzymatic function, protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Zinc is a constituent of insulin and male reproductive fluid. Zinc is necessary for the proper metabolism of alcohol, to get rid of the lactic acid that builds up in working muscles and to transfer it to the lungs. Zinc is involved in the health of the immune system, assists vitamin A utilization and is involved in the formation of bone and teeth.
Last updated: Jun 01, 2008
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