Moderate dysplasia is a medical term that refers to abnormal cell growth on the outer layer of the cervix in women. It is usually caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease. Women with moderate dysplasia do not typically notice physical symptoms, and a diagnosis is made only after a doctor receives abnormal Pap smear results. Treatment procedures to remove damaged tissue are usually effective, and most women experience full recoveries. A case of dysplasia that goes unnoticed or untreated, however, can eventually lead to cervical cancer.

HPV does not always cause dysplasia, but the disease is a significant warning sign that abnormal cervical tissue growth might occur. The presence of HPV can result in dysplastic cells — cells that do not mature correctly and tend to spread across the outer layer of the cervix. These cells are considered precancerous because, without treatment, it is highly possible that carcinoma and eventual cervical cancer will emerge.

Dysplasia is classified according to the Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) scale. The CIN recognizes mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia based on the number of damaged cells and the progression of cancerous conditions. In a cervix with moderate dysplasia, about half of the total tissue is affected. Moderate and severe cases are deemed high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and run the highest risk of developing into cancer. Early detection and diagnosis are essential to prevent cancerous conditions.

Gynecologists usually notice the first signs of dysplasia when they perform routine Pap smears that reveal the presence of HPV. A closer inspection of the cervix may reveal visible lesions on abnormal tissue. A doctor can take a biopsy of cervical tissue to further inspect its contents and determine the stage of progression based on the CIN. Some instances of moderate dysplasia will naturally dissipate in time, but the majority of gynecologists prefer to attempt treatment procedures to ensure a proper recovery.

Treatment for moderate dysplasia may take the form of laser therapy, cryotherapy, a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), or a cone biopsy. A doctor can attempt to destroy the damaged cells with specialized lasers or freeze them with carbon dioxide in cryotherapy. In a LEEP, the gynecologist uses an electrified wire loop to scrape away abnormal cells. In more severe instances of dysplasia, larger areas of tissue are cut away in a cone-shaped biopsy. When treatment is effective at removing all abnormal cells, a woman is likely to experience a full recovery.