| Treatment |
What It Is |
What To Expect |
What You Should Do |
| LEEP |
LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure)
-
A procedure that uses an electrical current passed through a thin wire loop to
cut away tissue
-
Provides a tissue sample for the lab to study
|
This procedure is usually done in your doctor's office and takes
only a few minutes.
During
Your doctor will:
-
Put a speculum into your vagina to view the cervix
-
Numb your cervix using a small needle
-
Begin the LEEP when the cervix is numb
After
-
It takes several weeks for the tissue to heal and grow back.
-
You may have mild bleeding and a discharge for several weeks.
|
Before
You may have less pain and cramping if you take ibuprofen (brand names include
Advil ®, Motrin®, and Nuprin®) about an hour before the test.
After
It takes several weeks for your cervix to heal. To help prevent infection and
bleeding during this time:
-
Do not use tampons.
-
Do not douche.
-
Do not do any heavy lifting.
-
Do not have sex.
|
| Cryotherapy |
-
A procedure that uses a special cold probe to freeze abnormal tissue
-
The tip of the probe freezes to the cervix and stays attached while a round
piece of tissue is destroyed.
|
This procedure is usually done in the doctor's office and only
takes a few minutes.
During
Your doctor will:
-
Put a speculum into your vagina to view the cervix
-
Insert a special cold probe for about 3 minutes to freeze a controlled amount
of tissue
-
Warm the probe after the tissue has been destroyed and remove it from the
cervix
After
-
It takes several weeks for your cervix to heal.
-
You may have a watery, brownish discharge for several weeks.
|
Before
You may have less pain and cramping if you take ibuprofen (brand names include
Advil®, Motrin®, and Nuprin®) about an hour before the test.
After
It takes several weeks for your cervix to heal. To help prevent infection and
bleeding during this time:
-
Do not use tampons.
-
Do not douche.
-
Do not do any heavy lifting.
-
Do not have sex.
|
| Conization |
-
Uses a knife or laser to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue, located higher
up in the cervical canal
-
The amount of tissue removed depends on the size of the lesion
|
This procedure is usually done in a hospital.
Before
Your doctor will give you anesthesia before performing the operation.
After
-
Stitches are often needed to close the wound.
-
Bleeding may occur.
-
It takes several weeks for your cervix to heal.
|
Before
You may have less pain and cramping if you take acetaminophen (brand names
include Tylenol® and Anacin-3®) about an hour before the test.
After
It takes several weeks for your cervix to heal. To help prevent infection and
bleeding during this time:
-
Do not use tampons.
-
Do not douche.
-
Do not do any heavy lifting.
-
Do not have sex.
|
| Hysterectomy |
-
Surgical removal of the uterus
|
-
This surgery is done in the hospital and usually requires an overnight stay.
-
Your doctor will give you an epidural or anesthesia before performing the
surgery.
-
The doctor removes your uterus either through a surgical incision (cut) in your
abdomen or through your vagina.
-
You will not be able to become pregnant after having this surgery.
|
This is major surgery.
You should discuss follow-up care with your doctor.
|
