Is Waiting and Watching the Best Approach When Abnormal Cervical Cells Are Detected?

When abnormal cervical cells are detected, deciding to wait and watch instead of removing them immediately may not be the safest approach, according to a new study. The study included more than 27,500 women diagnosed with a precancerous condition known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2). Researchers found that those who underwent active surveillance instead of excision were nearly four times more likely to develop cervical cancer during 20 years of follow-up.

While these lesions can develop into cancer, half of CIN2 cases have been shown to spontaneously regress within two years. The lack of clarity regarding treatment has caused debate in the medical community and concern about overtreatment and its impact on pregnancy. The lead researcher emphasizes that these new findings are important for future guidelines on the management of CIN2 and the clinical counseling of women diagnosed with CIN2.