Is LEEP considered surgery?

A small electrical wire loop is used to remove abnormal cells from your cervix. LEEP surgery may be performed after abnormal cells are found during a Pap test, colposcopy, or biopsy.

How serious is a LEEP procedure?

A LEEP is a very safe procedure. Some people may experience mild abdominal cramps and bleeding during recovery. In rare cases, other risks include: infection.

How long do you have to be off work after a LEEP procedure?

You can go back to work or school 1 or 2 days after your procedure. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) or ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®) if you have any discomfort.

Does a LEEP procedure mean I have cancer?

A LEEP is a preventive treatment in which a doctor uses a heated wire loop to remove abnormal cells from the cervix before cancer develops. “A LEEP is a really important procedure because it prevents cervical cancer,” says gynecologic oncologist Kathleen Schmeler, M.D.

Do you need anesthesia for LEEP procedure?

The procedure is performed under a light General Anaesthetic or Local Anaesthetic in the Day Surgery Unit, which is on the 3rd floor of the hospital. If it is performed under local anaesthetic, the anaesthetic will be injected into the cervix. This will anaesthetise the area and help to control any bleeding.

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) to Remove Abnormal Cells - SLUCare OB/GYN

Why am I being put to sleep for LEEP procedure?

LEEP allows your healthcare provider to locate and remove precancerous cells. It can be done in y our provider's office and does not require a general anesthetic. If the tissue were removed surgically, you might need to put to sleep with a general anesthetic.

Can you drive yourself home after LEEP?

You will be able to drive yourself home after this procedure. You may bring someone to drive you if you would like. You may experience cramping. You can take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol.

Can you get cervical cancer after LEEP?

No. But a LEEP can get rid of the abnormal cells that form in response to an HPV infection so that they never become cervical cancer. Depending on your situation, your provider may recommend more frequent Pap smears or HPV tests to ensure no new abnormal cell changes become cervical cancer.

Can cancerous cells come back after LEEP?

A LEEP procedure is exceptionally effective at removing any abnormal or precancerous cells from your cervix. However, depending upon your individual situation, it is possible that abnormal cells will return again, which is why we want to have follow-up appointments and regular cervical cancer screenings with you.

Why do I still have HPV after LEEP?

Despite the removal of the entire lesion by cone excision, with negative margins, the HPV infection can persist in some cases. Studies investigating the clearance/persistence of HPV infection after LEEP have reported that age, lesion grade, and margin status are risk factors for HPV persistence.

Why can't I exercise after LEEP?

You should not use them for four weeks to ensure a healthy healing process for your cervix. If you are a swimmer, then the bleeding after the LEEP can affect your exercise. Similarly, if you do high impact exercises like running or aerobics, avoiding them for one week will reduce the chances of excessive bleeding.

What not to do after a LEEP procedure?

Light spotting and staining is expected for roughly 10 to 14 days after surgery. Use a sanitary pad during this time. DO NOT use tampons. If you experience heavy bleeding with large clots, call your doctor's office.

How many times can you have a LEEP done?

In conclusion, repeat LEEP could be safely performed 4-12 weeks after the first procedure without any impact on pathological specimen examination.

Is pregnancy after LEEP high risk?

The bottom line. The LEEP is a safe and effective way to remove abnormal cells from the cervix, which could turn into cancer. There is rarely an impact on fertility and pregnancy after a LEEP.

Does LEEP damage cervix?

Possible complications following LEEP include cervical stenoses and miscarriages. Cervical stenosis is the narrowing of the cervix, which can make getting pregnant difficult or cause problems with passage of fluids like menstruation.

How much cervix is removed during LEEP?

For example, ectocervical LEEP sampling removes only the distal 8 to 10 mm of cervical tissue, limiting complications in patients who need no further exploration.

How serious is CIN 3?

CIN 3 is not cancer, but may become cancer and spread to nearby normal tissue if not treated. Treatment for CIN 3 may include cryotherapy, laser therapy, loop electrosurgical procedure (LEEP), or cone biopsy to remove or destroy the abnormal tissue. CIN 3 is sometimes called high-grade or severe dysplasia.

What happens if LEEP doesn't work?

If LEEP doesn't remove all of the abnormal cells, you may have to have LEEP again, or your doctor or nurse may recommend more tests or a different treatment.

How effective is LEEP for CIN 3?

Previous studies showed 73% to 99% cure rate of CIN by LEEP [5, 6].

Can you have kids after LEEP?

Yes, pregnancy after LEEP is highly possible. However, in some instances, patients may experience complications during pregnancy. Namely, the complications that can occur are preterm birth and cervical shortening. Remember, LEEP procedures do not make getting pregnant more difficult.

What kills cervical cancer cells?

Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays of radiation to kill cancer cells. You may have radiotherapy for cervical cancer: as the main treatment if the cancer is large or has spread. after surgery, usually with chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy), to help stop the cancer coming back.

What can you not do before a LEEP procedure?

Take a bath or shower before you come in for your procedure. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish. You may want to take a pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), 30 to 60 minutes before you have the procedure. This can help reduce any cramping pain.

Will LEEP get rid of HPV?

Results: LEEP can effectively eliminate HPV infection. Most patients cleared HPV infection within six months. The persistent HPV infection rates were 44.6%,10.6%, 5.7%, and 2.1% after three, six, nine, and 12 months, respectively.

Does cervical dysplasia come back after LEEP?

Most of the time, cervical cell changes (abnormal cells) don't come back after treatment. However, sometimes they do and may need further treatment. These cell changes are also called persistent or recurrent cell changes.

What happens if you have positive margins after LEEP?

A positive margin after LEEP (defined as a histopathological finding of CIN along the specimen margin regardless of the CIN grade) is a well-defined predictor of persistent/recurrent disease [4, 11, 12, 14].