Diagnosis by colposcopy: Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) / Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
(Content revised 06/2024)
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 tests 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 in 2024, after colposcopy you will be arranged to undergo HPV testing in 1 year (and in 2 years if needed), then 3 years later. If the results are normal, you can return to routine cervical screening.
If your report is abnormal during follow-up, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly.
For any enquiry, please contact our medical and nursing staff.
