When human papilloma virus (HPV) infects the cervix it causes changes in the cells that can be seen on a Pap test or biopsy. The name given to these changes is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Other names used to describe these abnormal cells include: Cervical dysplasia, condyloma, squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) or carcinoma-in-situ. Each condition is further subdivided into low-grade (mild) changes and high-grade (moderate-severe) changes. The distinction between low-grade and high-grade disease is very important. High-grade disease is precancerous and in most cases must be treated to prevent cancer. Low-grade disease has very little chance of becoming cancer and is important only because it is sometimes difficult to tell whether someone with low-grade changes on their Pap test or biopsy really has hidden high-grade disease. Women with low-grade disease must be evaluated with colposcopy but should not be treated. Most low-grade disease will go away by itself without treatment and treatment is not recommended. | 
