CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS AFFECT FOR DEVELOPING CERVICAL DYSPLASIA
The use of oral contraceptive pills has been considered a potential risk factor for the development of cervical dysplasia in women with HPV possibly because of the mild suppression of the immune system caused by the hormones in the pills. At this time, however, it is not recommended that women with HPV discontinue taking birth control pills for this reason.
Much research is currently under way to determine whether testing for the higher-risk types of HPV in the cervix when there are abnormalities on the Pap smear can help identify women who are at high risk for progression of the disease. Tests such as the PCR, which looks for the genetic material of the virus, are being used to identify the type and quantity of HPV on the cervix. At this point, it is not clear how the information provided by this test can be useful, and the PCR is therefore not recommended as a routine screening tool.
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