What is Cryosurgery?

Cryosurgery is a procedure in which abnormal cells (sometimes referred to as lesions) are destroyed by exposure to extremely cold temperatures.

When is Cryosurgery used?

Cryosurgery is used to treat skin lesions such as freckles ( for cosmetic reasons ), hemorrhoids, warts, and some skin cancers.

It is also used to treat abnormal cells, genital warts, and precancerous changes on the surface of a woman's cervix. These precancerous abnormalities are usually found from a Pap Smear. The lesions are also called CIN, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Sometimes freezing is not an option if the abnormalities are too large.

How do I prepare for Cryosurgery?

Most likely you will not have to do anything to prepare for cryosurgery. It is a simple procedure and it is done in a short time in your health care provider's office.

What happens during the procedure?

Your health care provider will use a probe like tool to treat the affected areas. A very cold gas, usually nitrous oxide, is pumped through the probe. The gas makes the tip of the probe very cold.

Your provider will touch the tip of the probe to the affected area. You will feel a burning sensation while the area freezes and then thaws. Although you may experience some discomfort, an anesthetic is rarely needed.

How long your provider keeps the probe touching the skin or cervix depends on the size and type of the lesion and what type of gas is being used. For some abnormal tissue, such as genital warts, the procedure works best if the tissue is frozen quickly, allowed to thaw for a few minuets, and then frozen again.

What happens after the procedure?

For skin lesions such as warts, a small blister will form. The blister will later become a scab or crust. Your health care provider will tell you how to care for the wound.

There are usually no complications from this procedure. However, occasionally, women who are having cervical cryosurgery have hot flushes or faint. If you have cryosurgery of the cervix, you will be asked to stay in the health care provider's office for at least 10 minuets after the procedure. Although it is rare, sometimes women faint more than 10 minuets after the procedure, so it is a good idea to have someone take you home. Many women also have a watery discharge from the vagina after the procedure for up to several weeks.

Some abnormal tissue may need to be treated more than once. Your health care provider will tell you how often you need to be checked for reoccurrence or retreatment. You will need a follow-up visit to check healing and to see if any abnormal tissue still remains.

If you have cervical cryosurgery for an abnormal Pap Smear, your health care provider will tell you when you should have your next Pap Smear.

Follow your health care provider's instructions for checking back for problems, questions, and your next visit.

What are the benefits of Cryosurgery?

Cryosurgery is very effective and is less expensive than other treatments. It can be done in your health care provider's office and anesthesia is not necessary.

What are the risks associated with Cryosurgery?

If you are being treated for a cervical lesion, during or after cryosurgery you may experience :

• Fainting
• Hot Flushes
• Lower abdominal cramping.

• Discoloration of the treated area
• Damaged hair and sweat glands in the treated area
• Minor scarring.

• The treated area is bleeding or not healing for more than 2 weeks.
• The lesions reappear.
• The treated area develops symptoms of infection.
• You have abdominal cramps after cervical cryosurgery that last longer than 24 hours.
• You have a foul - smelling vaginal discharge after cervical cryosurgery for longer than you doctor told you to expect.