Smaller Larger

Cervical Cryosurgery by Editorial Staff And Contributors

Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Definition

The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus (womb) that is located at the top of the vagina. Cervical cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold to freeze areas of the cervix.

Reasons for Procedure

This procedure is done to destroy and remove abnormal cells of the cervix, particularly precancerous cells.

Cervix with Pre-cancerous Growth

Possible Complications

Complications are rare. But, no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have this procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications. These may include:

Dizziness, fainting, hot flashes (during or right after the procedure)
Cramping (during the procedure)
Bleeding
Infection
Scarring or narrowing of the cervical opening

Factors that may put you at risk for complications during this procedure include:

Smoking
Undiagnosed infection
Bleeding disorder
Diabetes
Obesity

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

You may want to plan for someone to drive you home.

Normally, no medicines are needed for this procedure. However, pain medicines such as ibuprofen (eg, Advil), naproxen (eg, Aleve), or acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol) are usually taken. They should be taken about an hour before your appointment. Ask your doctor if this is recommended for you.

Description of Procedure

You will lie on an exam table with your feet in foot rests, as you would for a pelvic exam. A device called a speculum is inserted into the vagina to hold it open. The cryosurgery probe is inserted into the vagina. Nitrous oxide makes the tip extremely cold. The tip is touched to abnormal areas on the cervix. It is held there for a few minutes. You may feel some cramping. The tip is removed. This allows the tissue to return to its normal temperature over the course of 3-5 minutes. This freezing and thawing cycle may be repeated several times for each abnormal area on the cervix.

You will remain lying down for at least ten minutes after the procedure. Some women may feel dizzy and/or flushed after the procedure.

How Long Will It Take?

10-20 minutes

Will It Hurt?

You will probably feel some cramping during the procedure. Some women also describe a burning sensation.

Post-procedure Care

At Home

When you return home after the procedure, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Follow your doctor's instructions .
Wear a sanitary pad to absorb the watery discharge that normally occurs for several weeks following cryosurgery.
If needed, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat discomfort for a day or two after the procedure.
Do not use tampons. Ask your doctor when you can resume sexual relations.
Your doctor will schedule regular pap smears in the near future.
Baths and showers are OK.

The abnormal tissue of the cervix should shed and flow out of the body in a watery vaginal discharge over 4-6 weeks. In some cases, more than one cryosurgery session may be scheduled.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Abdominal pain
Vaginal bleeding other than light spotting, especially if it soaks more than one pad per hour
Any foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Continued pain or cramping not relieved by over-the-counter pain medicines

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

National Cancer Institute http://nci.nih.gov/
Women's Health.gov http://www.womenshealth.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada http://www.sogc.org/
Women's Health Matters http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/

References:

Cryosurgery of the cervix. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated November 2, 2009. Accessed December 19, 2012.
Gay C, Riehl C, Rmanah R, Desmoulin C, Violane B. Cryotherapy in the management of symptomatic ectopy. Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2006;34(3):214-223.
Procedures for Primary Care Physicians . St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book, Inc; 1994.
Sankaranayanan R, Rajkumar R, Esmy P, et al. Effectiveness, safety and acceptability of see-and-treat with cryosurgery by nurses in a cervical screening study in India. Br J Cancer. 2007;96(5):738-743.
6/2/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Mills E, Eyawo O, Lockhart I, Kelly S, Wu P, Ebbert JO. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2011;124(2):144-154.e8.

Last reviewed November 2012 by Andrea Chisholm, MD

All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is accredited by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits. To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.