What is it?

Cervical carcinoma in situ is (CIS), or Ta, is the earliest stage of squamous cell cancer of the cervix. In this early stage, the abnormal cells are found only in the outermost layer and have not yet invaded the deeper layers of the cervix. From this stage, the disease can progress to invasive carcinoma, if left untreated. Risk factors may include smoking, HPV infection, unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases, weakened immune system, starting having sex at a young age, and using birth control pills. There are more aggressive HPV strains, which are more likely to develop into malignancies compared to more benign strains that tend to cause genital condyloma.