The treatment for high grade cervical lesions is to either take out or destroy the lesions. This can be done in a few ways, although the most common ways are:

  • LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
  • Cold knife cone
  • Ablation

A LEEP takes out the piece of your cervix with the lesions on it. Then that piece is sent to the lab for testing to make sure they got all the lesions out. A LEEP doesn’t take very long – usually less than 30 minutes – and can be done in a doctor’s office. Since it’s more convenient, this is usually the treatment that’s used.

A cold knife cone is a surgery that must be done in an operating room. It takes a bigger piece of your cervix out, so it’s usually recommended if you have more, bigger, or deeper lesions. Then that piece is sent to the lab for testing to make sure they got all the lesions out.

Ablation is a procedure that tries to destroy the lesions instead of taking them out. This can either be done by freezing them or burning them. Ablation doesn’t take very long and can be done in a doctor’s office by a doctor or nurse. It’s doesn’t usually work as well as LEEP or cold knife cone, so it’s usually only used when a LEEP or cold knife cone isn’t available.

Which treatment is right for you depends on where your lesions are and how bad they are. It also depends on what your doctor can offer. Your doctor may recommend that you see a different doctor for treatment.

No matter what treatment you get, it’s important to follow up with your doctor. There’s always a chance that the treatment didn’t get all the lesions out, or that the lesions grow back. You may need to get treated again.

 

LEEP ahead of your high-grade cervical lesions!