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CIN does not cause symptoms. It is most often found when a woman goes for one of her regular cervical smear tests.
During the smear test the nurse or doctor takes a sample of cells from the cervix, and then sends it to the laboratory to be looked at under a microscope.
If there are any abnormal cells, the cell changes will be classed as borderline, mild, moderate or severe.
If your result is borderline or mild, you will have a repeat smear test in a few months' time. There is a good chance that the cells will go back to normal without any treatment.
If your result is moderate or severe - or if you have had two borderline or mild smears - you will be invited to visit a nearby colposcopy clinic. At the clinic you may have some tests and/or treatment to remove the abnormal cells.
You may have:
Another smear test
Colposcopy
This means looking at the cervix through a magnifying instrument called a colposcope. The doctor or nurse uses a device called a speculum to hold open the walls of the vagina. They can then look at the cervix through the colposcope, and see any areas that may be abnormal.
Punch biopsy
This means taking a small sample of tissue (biopsy) from your cervix to be looked at under a microscope.
After the biopsy you may not need to have any treatment. Instead, the clinic may arrange a follow up appointment so you can have further checks in a few months' time. Alternatively your doctor may recommend that you have a wire loop biopsy (see below).
Wire loop biopsy of the cervix
This is a form of treatment for pre-cancer. It involves taking away a small part of the cervix where the abnormal cells are. The treatment takes about 10 minutes and you have a local anaesthetic first. A thin wire is used to remove the abnormal area.
The clinic will arrange for you to have another smear test after a few months. If the results are normal, you are likely to be discharged from the clinic. Your GP will then arrange for you to have more frequent smear tests for a few years afterwards, to make sure all is well.
