Understanding Your CIN II Biopsy Result
A CIN II result means you have moderate abnormal cell changes in your cervix caused by HPV infection—these are pre-cancerous cells that need treatment or close monitoring because they can progress to cancer if left untreated. 1
What CIN II Actually Means
CIN stands for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia, which is medical terminology for abnormal cells on the surface of your cervix that haven't invaded deeper tissues yet 1
The "II" indicates moderate dysplasia, meaning the abnormal cells extend through about two-thirds of the cervical lining—this is more serious than CIN I (mild changes) but less advanced than CIN III (severe changes) 1
These are pre-cancerous changes, not cancer—the cells are abnormal but haven't become invasive cancer yet 1
CIN II is caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV (human papillomavirus), which is a very common sexually transmitted infection 2, 3
What Happens with CIN II If Untreated
About 43% of CIN II lesions will spontaneously regress (go away on their own), 35% will persist unchanged, and 22% will progress to more severe disease or cancer 1
Recent research shows that women with untreated CIN II have a cumulative cancer risk of 2.65% over 20 years, compared to 0.76% in women who receive immediate treatment 4
CIN II lesions are more likely to persist or progress than to regress, which is why treatment is generally recommended rather than just watching and waiting 1
Why Treatment Is Important
Treatment prevents progression to cervical cancer—the long-term cancer risk is significantly reduced with treatment compared to observation alone 4
CIN II can progress to CIN III and eventually invasive cancer if left untreated, though this progression typically takes years, not months 1, 4
Treatment is highly effective—procedures like LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) successfully remove the abnormal tissue and allow your cervix to heal with normal cells 1
What Treatment Involves
The standard treatment options include LEEP, cryotherapy (freezing), cold knife conization, or laser ablation 1
LEEP is the most common procedure—it uses a thin wire loop with electrical current to remove the abnormal tissue, can be done in the office under local anesthesia, and takes only minutes 5
In certain specific circumstances (young women who want to preserve fertility, are reliable with follow-up appointments, and prefer to avoid treatment), close observation without immediate treatment may be considered, but this requires colposcopy and testing every 6 months 1
Important Points to Remember
CIN II is highly treatable and catching it now prevents cervical cancer—this is exactly what cervical screening is designed to detect 1
Having CIN II doesn't mean you will get cancer—it means you have abnormal cells that need to be removed or closely watched 1
After treatment, you'll need more frequent follow-up testing (typically every 6 months initially) to ensure the abnormal cells don't return 1
Most women return to normal after treatment and can eventually resume routine screening schedules 1