Common Treatments for Cervical Dysplasia

Cervical dysplasia is a pre-cancerous condition that is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells on the surface of a woman's cervix or cervix canal. It results from an infection of the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV). There are a number of methods for treating this condition. The following are some of the most common treatments for cervical dysplasia.

Cryotherapy

• Cryotherapy, which is also called cryosurgery, is a medical procedure in which the liquid nitrogen is used to literally "freeze" the abnormal cell growths to death. This is done by cooling the tissue to sub-zero temperatures, as low as -295°F, using a cryoprobe. The frozen cells are shed and then eliminated from the body in a watery vaginal discharge over the next three to four weeks. Cryotherapy may be done at a doctor's office or at an out-patient clinic.

LEEP

• Loop excision, or the Loop Electro-surgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) is a medical procedure that involves electro-cautery. This is the use of a painless electrical current to remove the abnormal cervical tissue. It is typically done under local anesthesia and may cause mild cramping. The loop excision procedure is often used to diagnose as well as treat cervical dysplasia. LEEP may also be performed at a doctor's office or at an out-patient clinic.

Laser Ablation

• Cervical dysplasia may be treated using a carbon dioxide laser. The carbon dioxide laser directs a tiny beam of light on the infected area, where it vaporizes the abnormal cell tissue. This medical procedure is done in a doctor's office, but requires sophisticated equipment and specialized training for the doctor. According to Advanced Gynecology Solutions (see Reference 1), laser treatment now shows higher success rates than cryotherapy.

Cone Biopsy

• Cone biopsy, or cervical conization, is a surgical procedure in which the cone-shaped piece of the cervical tissue is removed. It may be used for either diagnosis or treatment purposes. Although it has a higher success rate, it also has a higher rate of complications than either cryotherapy, LEEP or laser ablation. It may, for example, interfere with childbearing. Cone biopsy is conducted either at an out-patient unit or day-surgery unit.

Hysterectomy

• A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the woman's cervix and uterus. It is a treatment option that a woman should only select if she does not want to bear any children in future. A hysterectomy is done either through the abdomen or vaginally under general anesthesia. While it offers the lowest recurrence rate, a hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure.