HPV & Cervical Dysplasia

Immune & Inflammation Support CareWomen's Health
Written By Jennifer Tang

Overview

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an extremely common group of viruses. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and are cleared by the body over time. However, when certain high-risk types of HPV persist, they can cause abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix known as cervical dysplasia or cervical precancer.¹˒²

A positive HPV test or abnormal cervical screening result does not mean you have cervical cancer. Screening allows these changes to be identified early, monitored, and treated when necessary before they have the opportunity to progress.¹˒³

At Tangible Health, we take an evidence-informed, supportive approach to HPV and cervical dysplasia care. We help you understand your results, support your overall health and healthy lifestyle behaviours, discuss prevention, and work alongside your primary care provider or gynecologist so that recommended cervical screening and medical follow-up remain at the centre of your care.

What Are HPV & Cervical Dysplasia?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 200 related viruses. HPV can spread through intimate skin-to-skin and sexual contact, and exposure is very common.² HPV types are generally described as low-risk or high-risk. Low-risk HPV types can cause genital warts but are not the types primarily associated with cervical cancer. High-risk HPV types can infect cervical cells and, if the infection persists over time, may cause precancerous cell changes.¹˒²

Cervical dysplasia describes abnormal changes in cells of the cervix. These changes are not the same as cervical cancer, but some higher-grade abnormalities have the potential to become cancer if they are not appropriately monitored or treated.⁴

Cervical dysplasia may be described as:

  • CIN 1 — mild or low-grade changes

  • CIN 2 — moderate changes

  • CIN 3 — more severe, high-grade changes⁴

You may also see terms such as LSIL or HSIL on cervical screening or biopsy results. LSIL generally corresponds with lower-grade changes, while HSIL describes higher-grade abnormalities that require closer assessment.⁴

Common Symptoms of HPV & Cervical Dysplasia

One of the most important things to know about HPV and cervical dysplasia is that they are often silent.

High-risk HPV
Most high-risk HPV infections cause no noticeable symptoms. You can have HPV without knowing it, which is why cervical screening is important even when you feel completely well.¹˒²

Cervical dysplasia
Precancerous cervical cell changes also usually do not cause symptoms. They are most often discovered through cervical screening, HPV testing, or follow-up testing such as colposcopy and biopsy.⁴

Genital warts
Some low-risk types of HPV can cause genital warts. These HPV types are generally different from the high-risk types associated with cervical precancer and cervical cancer.²˒⁶

Symptoms that should be assessed

  • Bleeding after sex

  • Bleeding between periods

  • Bleeding after menopause

  • Unusual or persistent vaginal discharge

  • Persistent pelvic discomfort or pain

These symptoms can have many different causes and do not necessarily mean you have cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer. However, these symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare provider rather than waiting for your next routine screening appointment.¹ Because HPV-related cervical precancer is usually symptom-free, regular cervical screening and appropriate follow-up of abnormal results are essential for early detection and prevention.¹˒³˒⁴

Causes & Contributing Factors

Persistent infection with a high-risk type of HPV is the main cause of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer.¹˒⁴ Most HPV infections are controlled by the immune system and resolve without treatment, often within one to two years. The concern arises when a high-risk HPV infection remains present over time and causes cervical cells to change.¹˒²˒⁶

Factors that may influence HPV persistence or the progression of cervical cell changes include:

Persistent High-Risk HPV
Long-lasting infection with a high-risk HPV type is the primary factor involved in the development of cervical precancer.¹ Certain types, particularly HPV 16 and HPV 18, are responsible for a large proportion of cervical cancers worldwide.¹˒⁶

Immune Health
A weakened immune system can make it more difficult for the body to control HPV infection. People living with HIV or taking certain immunosuppressive medications may have a higher risk of persistent HPV and cervical abnormalities.¹

Smoking
Smoking is associated with a greater risk of HPV persistence and progression of cervical cell changes.¹˒⁴

Cervical Screening
Screening does not prevent someone from acquiring HPV, but it plays a critical role in identifying persistent high-risk infection and cervical cell changes before they progress to cervical cancer.¹˒³

Not everyone with high-risk HPV develops cervical dysplasia, and not everyone with cervical dysplasia develops cervical cancer. Regular screening and appropriate medical follow-up allow changes to be detected and managed early.¹˒³˒⁴

Our Approach to HPV & Cervical Dysplasia

At Tangible Health, our role is to provide supportive, integrative care while ensuring that cervical screening, colposcopy, biopsy, and medical treatment remain a priority whenever they are recommended.

Your Results & Follow-Up
A positive HPV result or abnormal cervical screening report can come with unfamiliar terms such as HPV 16, HPV 18, LSIL, HSIL, ASC-US, or CIN. We can help you better understand your results, your recommended next steps, and where naturopathic support fits alongside your medical care.

Your Overall Health
We look at areas such as nutrition, sleep, stress, smoking or vaping, medications, immune health, sexual health, and other aspects of your overall well-being. Our goal is not to promise that a particular diet, supplement, or natural therapy will “clear HPV,” but to support your general health while your healthcare team appropriately monitors or treats cervical changes.

Your Prevention Plan
Prevention may include staying up to date with cervical screening, reviewing your HPV vaccination history, smoking cessation when relevant, and discussing other sexual and reproductive health considerations. HPV vaccination may still protect against HPV types you have not previously encountered, even if you have had a previous HPV infection or abnormal cervical screening result. The vaccine does not treat an HPV infection or cervical abnormality that is already present.⁵

Your Goals
Your priorities may include understanding an HPV-positive result, navigating an abnormal cervical screening result, supporting your overall health while being monitored, reviewing supplements, discussing HPV vaccination, or coordinating naturopathic care alongside your medical team. Your plan is built around your individual needs while keeping evidence-based cervical cancer prevention and follow-up at the centre of care.

Treatments That May Be Included

Your HPV or cervical dysplasia support plan may include:

  • Clinical nutrition to support nutritional adequacy and overall health

  • Lifestyle medicine to support sleep, movement, stress management, and smoking cessation when relevant

  • Nutraceuticals & supplements when there is an individualized nutritional or clinical indication

  • Botanical medicine when clinically appropriate, with consideration of medications, health history, and the available evidence

  • Naturopathic counselling to support lifestyle changes and the emotional stress that can accompany an HPV-positive or abnormal screening result

  • Preventative health guidance including cervical screening and HPV vaccination education

  • Collaborative care with your family doctor, nurse practitioner, gynecologist, colposcopy clinic, or other healthcare providers

Naturopathic care is supportive and should not replace recommended cervical screening, colposcopy, biopsy, or medical treatment of cervical dysplasia.

What to Expect

Initial Assessment
We begin with a comprehensive review of your HPV and cervical screening history, previous HPV or Pap results, biopsy or colposcopy findings if available, HPV vaccination history, medications and supplements, sexual and reproductive health, lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, stress, smoking history, and overall health.

Targeted Testing
Testing is based on your individual screening history and medical recommendations. Cervical dysplasia cannot be diagnosed using a naturopathic blood test, hormone test, or functional medicine panel. Depending on your situation, appropriate medical assessment may include HPV testing, cervical cytology, colposcopy, or cervical biopsy. In Ontario, HPV testing is now used as the primary cervical screening test for most eligible people.³

Additional laboratory testing may be considered when there is a separate clinical reason to assess another aspect of your health, but it should not replace appropriate cervical screening or follow-up.

Personalized Plan
Your care plan is developed around your screening results, medical recommendations, overall health, lifestyle, vaccination history, and goals. Recommendations may include nutrition and lifestyle support, individualized supplementation, smoking cessation support, HPV vaccination education, and coordination with your medical team.

Ongoing Support
HPV and cervical dysplasia follow-up depends on factors such as your HPV results, cervical cell changes, previous screening history, and individual risk. Some low-grade cervical abnormalities may return to normal without treatment, while higher-grade changes require closer medical management and may need a procedure to remove abnormal cells.⁴ Follow-up allows us to adjust your supportive care while ensuring that recommended medical monitoring remains a priority.

When to Seek Support for Endometriosis

Consider speaking with a healthcare provider if:

  • You have received a positive high-risk HPV result

  • Your cervical screening test was abnormal

  • You have been diagnosed with CIN 1, CIN 2, or CIN 3

  • You have been referred for colposcopy or biopsy

  • High-risk HPV remains present on follow-up testing

  • You are unsure what your cervical screening results mean

  • You want to discuss HPV vaccination

  • You are overdue for cervical screening

  • You experience bleeding after sex or between periods

  • You experience any vaginal bleeding after menopause

  • You have unusual or persistent vaginal discharge

An abnormal result does not automatically mean cervical cancer. Completing the recommended follow-up is the most important next step because screening and treatment of precancerous changes can prevent cervical cancer from developing.¹˒³

Book An Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. A positive HPV result means that a high-risk HPV type was detected, not that you have cancer. Follow-up helps determine whether the infection has caused any cervical cell changes.¹˒²

  • HPV is extremely common, and most sexually active people will encounter it at some point. Most infections cause no symptoms and go away without treatment.¹˒²

  • Yes. Most HPV infections are controlled naturally by the immune system and resolve within about one to two years. There is currently no medication or supplement proven to eliminate HPV itself.²˒⁶

  • No. Most HPV infections never lead to cervical dysplasia. The risk is mainly associated with persistent infection with certain high-risk HPV types.¹

  • Some low-grade changes, particularly CIN 1, can return to normal without treatment and may only need monitoring. Higher-grade changes require closer medical follow-up and may need treatment.⁴

  • No. HPV can remain undetected for a long time, so it is usually impossible to know when or from whom an infection was acquired. A new positive HPV result does not necessarily mean the infection is recent.

  • Often, yes. The vaccine cannot treat an HPV infection you already have, but it may still protect against other HPV types included in the vaccine.⁵

  • Yes. HPV vaccination greatly reduces risk but does not protect against every HPV type that can cause cervical cancer, so cervical screening is still recommended.⁵

 

Related Care

HPV and cervical dysplasia can overlap with several areas of health. You may also benefit from:

Jennifer Tang
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