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Cervix treatment - cryosurgery - Overview

Alternative Names

Cervix surgery; Cryosurgery - female

Definition of Cervix treatment - cryosurgery:

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

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 for 5 minutes, then the freezing is repeated for another 3 minutes.

Although you may have slight cramping and flushing in the face, cryosurgery is relatively painless.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Uses of cryosurgery include:

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

  • Reviewed last on: 2/21/2010
  • Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faulty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 99: management of abnormal cervical cytology and histology. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:1419-1444.

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