There are many conditions that can interfere with pregnancy, or with your ability to get pregnant. One of the conditions that many women are concerned about when it comes to getting pregnant and to pregnancy is cervical dysplasia. Understanding what exactly cervical dysplasia is and how it’s diagnosed will help you understand the implications in regard to pregnancy and getting pregnant.

Cervical dysplasia refers to a condition in which abnormal cells appear on the surface of the cervix.  Cervical dysplasia can be severe, moderate, or mild.  Cervical dysplasia is considered to be precancerous and, if it is left untreated, cervical dysplasia can often progress into cervical cancer.  It can take as long as ten years for cervical cancer to develop from cervical dysplasia.

Fortunately for most women who suffer from cervical dysplasia, it usually isn’t a concern when it comes to getting pregnant. If it’s treated properly and if it doesn’t become cancerous, it should not interfere with your ability to get pregnant at all.

There are other concerns with this condition, however. Having cervical dysplasia may put you at risk for a number of other conditions, such as some STDs or sexually transmitted infections. These kinds of conditions can, of course, interfere with your ability to become pregnant. Chlamydia, in particular, can affect your fertility. Because it is often symptomless, it’s a surprisingly common problem for fertility.

If you do become pregnant and have had cervical dysplasia, there are some things you need to be aware of, as well. In some cases, if you have had repeated biopsies due to cervical dysplasia, it will be possible for your cervix to be shortened by the cervical dysplasia.  Even this condition should not prevent you from getting pregnant; however, if you do become pregnant, you will want to discuss the situation with your health care provider.  It may be that you will need to have a cerclage during your pregnancy.  A cerclage refers to a procedure when a small stitch or suture is placed in your cervix to help it keep closed during pregnancy.

Ultimately, you need to talk with your doctor about your cervical dysplasia if you have concerns about becoming pregnant, or if you are already pregnant.