Treatments for Cervical Changes - Cryosurgery/cryotherapy
Cryosurgery, also known as cryotherapy, isn't used so much these days as a treatment for cervical cell changes since it isn't quite as effective at destroying the abnormal cells found during your smear test as other methods.
However, if it is used you will again be operated under local anaesthetic as a day procedure and the procedure will attempt to destroy abnormal cells by freezing them. As with cold coagulation, the doctor places a probe on your cervix, although whereas with cold coagulation the probe is hot in cryosurgery it is extremely cold.
The probe will remain in place for 2 to 3 minutes and may be repeated to ensure the abnormal cells are completely destroyed.
Related Smear Test Articles
Treatments for Cervical Changes
Cervical Cancer and Human Papilloma Virus
Resources
For further information about HPV visit NHS Cancer Screening Programme.
Further information about Colposcopy and invasive illness is available from the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology.
