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Cervix treatment - cryosurgery

Cervix treatment - cryosurgery

Definition

Cervix cryosurgery is a surgical treatment to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue in the cervix.

Alternative Names

Cervix surgery; Cryosurgery - female

Description

Cryotherapy is an office procedure done while you are awake. The vaginal canal is held open so that the doctor can see the cervix. The doctor inserts a device called a cryoprobe into the vagina, and places it firmly on the surface of the cervix, covering the abnormal tissue.

Freezing cold compressed nitrogen gas flows through the instrument, making the metal cold enough to freeze and destroy the tissue.

An "ice ball" forms on the cervix, killing the abnormal cells. For the treatment to be most effective, the freezing is done for 3 minutes, the cervix is allowed to thaw, then the freezing is repeated for another 3 minutes.

Although you may have slight cramping, cryosurgery is relatively painless.

Risks

Risks for any surgery are:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection

Other risks include:

  • Scarring (cervical stenosis), which may make it more difficult to get pregnant, or cause increased cramping with menstrual periods. However, cryosurgery causes very little scarring.
Review Date: 2/19/2008
Reviewed By: Peter Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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