Diagnosis by colposcopy: Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) / Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
(Content revised 04/2023)
If you have been diagnosed with Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) / Human Papillomavirus (HPV) by colposcopy, what does this mean? [Remarks: LSIL was formerly known as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) I]
- If a woman who has undergone colposcopy and/or biopsy has been diagnosed with Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL), it means that the cells of the cervix are abnormal and have changed in appearance.
- HPV infection of cervical cells can result in cell damage which can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.
- If your colposcopy report shows LSIL/HPV, this means that you have mild cervical cells changes/you have been infected with HPV. However, the majority of women will recover spontaneously without any treatment within 2 years. In the meantime, you need to have regular and more frequent follow-up cervical smears to monitor your condition.
When should I receive the follow-up cervical smears?
According to the ‘Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening' published by the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, after colposcopy you will need repeat smear tests every 6 months until you have 3 consecutive normal cervical smears. Afterwards, you can return to routine cervical screening.
If your report is abnormal during follow-up, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly.
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