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What should I do if it recurs after conization? The root of immunity must be treated.

Conization is known as an effective treatment for cervical dysplasia. However, the relief of "everything getting better after surgery" is temporary, and as time passes, many people appeal for anxiety due to the reappearance of abnormal findings or the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Worries like "Do I have to have surgery again?" or "Is there no way to prevent recurrence?" can significantly lower a woman's quality of life. Dalimchae Clinic pays attention to the fundamental cause to break this cycle of recurrence.

💡 [Key Answer] 3 most common causes of recurrence after conization: ① HPV persistent infection or re-infection / ② Decreased immunity / ③ Lifestyle factors (smoking, etc.) Dalimchae Clinic strengthens immunity, the fundamental cause of recurrence, and improves the uterine environment through constitution improvement.

Conization is a surgery that effectively removes dysplastic tissue in the cervix. However, it is difficult to completely eliminate the risk of recurrence just by cutting out the tissue. One of the main causes is persistent infection or re-infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the main causative agent of cervical dysplasia, and it may remain in the body after surgery or be exposed to a new virus. In particular, high-risk HPV can be reactivated in an environment with decreased immunity, causing cervical cell transformation.

In addition, conization itself brings physical changes to the cervical tissue and may affect the immune environment. If the wound regeneration of the cervix after surgery is not smooth, or if overall physical immunity is weak, resistance to the virus decreases and the possibility of recurrence increases. According to some studies, the probability of abnormal cells reappearing within one year after conization is known to reach 30%.

Cervical dysplasia and HPV infection are closely related, but not all HPV infections progress to dysplasia. This is because our body's immune system plays an important role in removing HPV. When immunity is healthy, most HPV infections disappear naturally without special treatment. However, when immunity weakens, HPV can be persistently infected or re-infected, inducing abnormal transformation of cervical cells.

A systematic review and meta-analysis study published in the international journal "PLOS One" in 2019 suggested that traditional Korean medicine treatment (Detoxification Therapy of Chinese Medicine, DTCM) has a positive effect on improving high-risk HPV infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). This study analyzed data from a total of 1906 patients who participated in 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted from 2011 to 2018. As a result of the study, Korean medicine treatment significantly increased the HPV clearance rate by 2.6 times compared to the control group and 1.8 times compared to the follow-up group. In addition, the regression rate of cervical dysplasia showed a 3.6 times higher improvement rate compared to the placebo group and 1.8 times compared to the follow-up group. The researchers concluded that these results suggest that Korean medicine treatment has a positive effect on the immune response and inflammatory cytokine levels, which are the core of HPV infection. These research data share the same philosophy as Dalimchae Clinic's treatment of cultivating the power of the body to overcome the virus on its own through constitution improvement.

Preventing recurrence after conization should focus on improving the immune environment inside the body beyond simply removing visible lesions. In particular, if you are continuously exposed to high-risk HPV or if your immunity is decreased, fundamental constitution improvement treatment is important.

A systematic review and meta-analysis study published in the journal "Medicine (Baltimore)" in 2020 analyzed the effects of various treatments for HPV infection and cervical lesion patients. This study analyzed data from more than 1000 patients, including 12 randomized controlled studies published from April 2000 to April 2020. As a result of the study, the experimental treatment group, including biological and herbal medicine therapies, statistically significantly improved the HPV clearance rate compared to the control group (RR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.63, 0.80], p < 0.00001), and the regression rate of cervical lesions also showed beneficial results (RR = 0.55, 95% CI [0.39, 0.79], p = 0.001). This suggests that herbal medicine treatment can help remove the virus by strengthening the body's immune system and contribute to the transformation of abnormal cells back to normal.

Based on this data, Dalimchae Clinic aims for constitution improvement to create a body that does not turn on symptoms again rather than simply turning off symptoms temporarily. Cervical dysplasia is caused by a virus called HPV, but our body's reaction to that virus ultimately depends on immunity. Immunity means more than just being in good physical shape; it refers to a state in which each cell and organ of our body performs its role in an organic connection. Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch provides customized Korean medicine treatment that accurately diagnoses the constitution and health status of each individual, improves the immune environment of the uterus, and increases resistance to the HPV virus, rather than a uniform treatment. Korean medicine treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture help promote blood circulation in the uterus and pelvic cavity and activate immune cells to induce abnormal cells to be reduced to normal cells and block re-infection of the virus. This can be a new hope for many people looking for an Incheon cervical dysplasia clinic. If you are considering an Incheon infertility clinic due to HPV re-infection or recurrence of dysplasia even after conization, consult Dalimchae Clinic, which helps fundamentally restore uterine health.

If 3 or more of the items below apply, it is a time when immunity management is necessary and active Korean medicine treatment should be considered.

• You were diagnosed positive for HPV again within 1 year after conization.
• After the diagnosis of cervical dysplasia, frequent vaginitis or leucorrhea symptoms are repeated.
• You often feel chronic fatigue, lethargy, or lack of appetite.
• You are vulnerable to stress, and physical symptoms (indigestion, headache, etc.) worsen when stressed.
• You smoke or are frequently exposed to second-hand smoke.
• You usually have a cold body and symptoms of a cold lower abdomen.
• Eating habits are irregular and instant food intake is frequent before and after the diagnosis of cervical dysplasia.
• Experienced sudden weight loss or gain.
• Suffering from chronic sleep disorders or insomnia.

If 3 or more apply: Decreased immunity is suspected. Consider professional consultation and combined Korean medicine treatment at an Incheon Korean medicine clinic for uterine health. If 5 or more apply: Serious imbalance of the entire immune system is concerned. It is better to start precision diagnosis and customized treatment through immediate visit.

Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch proceeds with the following systematic treatment process for recurrence management after cervical dysplasia and conization.

1. Precision Diagnosis: Meticulous consultation and examination are performed to comprehensively identify the patient's constitution, overall health status, uterine and pelvic cavity circulation status, and stress level. We analyze the causes of decreased immunity from various angles to establish the foundation for a customized treatment plan.

2. Customized Herbal Medicine Prescription: We prescribe herbal medicine that improves the uterine environment according to each individual's immunity status and constitution and increases resistance to the HPV virus. It aims at relieving inflammation, removing stagnant blood, promoting cell regeneration, and strengthening blood circulation in the lower abdomen.

3. Immunity Strengthening Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment: Acupuncture treatment is performed on acupoints that improve the immune function of the cervix and pelvic cavity and strengthen overall physical immunity. Moxibustion treatment warms the lower abdomen to improve uterine circulation and help activate immune cells.

4. Uterine Regeneration Pharmacopuncture and Sitz Bath Therapy: Purified herbal medicine ingredients are injected directly into acupoints to help regenerate cervical tissue and reduce inflammatory reactions. Medical sitz bath therapy improves the immune environment inside the uterus and vagina and contributes to the normalization of vaginal acidity to inhibit HPV virus activity.

5. Lifestyle Management and Education: We provide guidance on improving lifestyle habits to maximize treatment effects and prevent recurrence. We help patients protect their own health through practical advice on diet, exercise, and stress management, which are important for immunity management.

Q. When is the best time to start Korean medicine treatment after conization? A. Considering the recovery period after conization, it is usually recommended to start Korean medicine treatment about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. It is important to start immunity management early to recover from damage caused by surgery and prevent recurrence.

Q. Can HPV re-infection also be prevented with herbal medicine? A. Herbal medicine treatment is not about killing the HPV virus directly, but about strengthening the body's immunity to increase resistance to the HPV virus and help natural disappearance. Through this, it can contribute to lowering the risk of HPV re-infection and persistent infection.

Q. Can other sequelae besides recurrence after conization also be managed? A. Yes, Korean medicine treatment can also help manage various sequelae such as bleeding, increased discharge, and risk of premature birth due to cervical weakening that may appear after conization. It helps rapid recovery by improving the circulation of Qi and Blood in the uterus and pelvic cavity.

Q. Can cervical dysplasia heal naturally? A. In the case of low-grade cervical dysplasia (CIN1), many naturally regress through immunity management. However, if there is a possibility of progressing to high-grade or if there is persistent HPV infection, active treatment and immunity strengthening are necessary.

Recurrence of cervical dysplasia is not a problem to be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, the body can respond faster than you think. Bring your anxiety about recurrence as it is. At Dalimchae Clinic, we will find the cause together and create a healthy uterine environment.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Women and Pregnancy Treatment Standards Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Min Jihong (Cervical Dysplasia Column)