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Warning-sign checks

Cervical dysplasia: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Arrange a prompt visit sooner for unexplained bleeding, unusual discharge, or pelvic pain.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Follow-up is essential even after abnormal tissue has been removed.

    Treatment greatly reduces risk, but it does not guarantee that HPV has cleared or that abnormal cells will never return.

    If the early follow-up tests are reassuring, testing can become less frequent.

    Current U.S. risk-based guidance recommends long-term surveillance at three-year intervals for at least 25 years after treatment of high-grade disease, after the initial series of negative follow-up tests.

    Surveillance may continue beyond age 65 when health status allows.

    Routine follow-up is appropriate when there are no new symptoms and a monitoring plan is already in place.

    People who become pregnant, start immune-suppressing treatment, or receive a new HIV diagnosis should tell the clinician managing their cervical follow-up because the plan may need to change.

The article also says

After treatment for high-grade dysplasia, HPV-based testing is generally performed more often at first.

People being observed rather than treated also need testing and, in some cases, repeat colposcopy at the recommended times.

Missing these visits can allow persistent high-grade changes to go unnoticed.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Cervical dysplasia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.