Abnormal Pap Smear
Healthy Lifestyle Tips
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cervical dysplasia,19,20,21 and increases the likelihood that mild forms of dysplasia will progress to more severe forms.22,23 Quitting smoking and avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke are essential for this and many other health reasons.
Certain sexual behaviors are consistently associated with cervical dysplasia, such as becoming sexually active at an early age and having multiple sexual partners.19,25 Avoiding these behaviors may reduce the risk of cervical dysplasia. For those who are sexually active, using barrier methods of contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, is associated with reduced risk of cervical dysplasia.26,27,28