Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | Women's Health | General Gynecology

Cervix treatment - cryosurgery

Definition

This is a surgical treatment to freeze and destroy abnormal surgical tissue (cryosurgery). It uses instruments called cryo probes and extremely cold temperatures.

Alternative Names

Cervix surgery; Cryosurgery - female

Description

Cryotherapy is an office procedure done while the patient is awake. The vaginal canal is held open so that the cervix can be seen. The cryo probe is inserted into the vagina, and placed firmly on the surface of the cervix, covering the abnormal tissue.

Compressed gaseous nitrogen (temperature approximately -50 degrees Celsius) flows through the instrument, making the metal cold enough to freeze and destroy the tissue.

Although some slight cramping may occur, cryosurgery is relatively painless, and produces very little scarring. An "ice ball" forms on the cervix, killing the superficial abnormal cells. For optimal treatment, the freezing is done for 3 minutes, the cervix is allowed to thaw, then the freezing is repeated for an additional 3 minutes.

Indications

Appropriate uses of cryosurgery include:

• Treatment of cervicitis
• Treatment of cervical dysplasia

Your doctor will help you to decide if cryosurgery is appropriate for your condition.

Risks

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Other risks include:

Cervical stenosis (scarring), which may make it more difficult to get pregnant, or cause increased cramping with menstrual periods.

Expectations after surgery

The surgery is effective at a minimum cost. A repeat Pap smear or biopsy should be done at a follow-up visit to ensure that the operation was successful in killing abnormal tissue.

Convalescence

Almost all normal activities can be resumed immediately after surgery. Avoidance of sexual intercourse, as well as douching, may be recommended for several weeks. For 2 or 3 weeks after the surgery, there will be a profuse, watery discharge caused by the sloughing of the dead cervical tissue.

Sometimes a woman will feel light-headed immediately following the procedure and may faint. If this happens, lying down flat on the examination table will prevent fainting, and this sensation will go away within a few minutes.

Review Date:6/6/2006
Reviewed By:Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.