LEEP in Jackson & Flowood MS
Guide in Getting a LLETZ Procedure

State-of-the-Art LEEP Procedure in East Lakeland

LEEP is a procedure for removing a type of abnormal tissue growth in the cervix called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). It uses a thin wire loop attached to an electrical unit.

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. The uterus is the muscular organ at the top of the vagina. Babies grow in the uterus, and menstrual blood comes from the uterus, through the cervix.

LEEP is an abbreviation for loop electrosurgical excision procedure. It is also referred to as large loop excision of the transformation zone, or LLETZ.

During the exam your provider may take a sample of tissue (biopsy) for lab tests.

When is it used?

This procedure is done to:

Remove abnormal, precancerous, or cancerous cells from the cervix or the canal of the cervix.
Diagnose cancer.
Try to answer questions not answered by a colposcopy. Your healthcare provider may not have been able to see all of the problem tissue with a colposcope.
Better understand the results of a Pap test.

Alternatives may include:

Cryosurgery (destruction of cervical tissue by exposure to very cold temperatures)
Conization of the cervix with a laser
Interferon medicine
Removal of the whole uterus and cervix (hysterectomy)
Other forms of cancer treatment if you have cancer

You should ask your healthcare provider about these choices.

How do I prepare for LEEP procedure in Jackson MS?

You should avoid sex or douching for 48 hours before the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

It is best to have this procedure just after your menstrual period.

You lie on a treatment table and put your feet in stirrups, just as you would for a pelvic exam. Your healthcare provider then looks at your vagina and cervix through a colposcope, which is like a magnifying glass. Your healthcare provider puts a solution on the cervix to highlight the problem areas on the cervix. Once your provider sees the area where the CIN is, he or she numbs the cervix with a local anesthetic. Your provider then removes the abnormal tissue with the electrical cautery wire loop. The loop is used to scoop out the abnormal tissue in one piece and to seal any bleeding blood vessels. A medicated paste may then put on the cervix to further reduce the chance of bleeding. The removed tissue is sent to a lab for testing.

All you may feel during the procedure is a slight tingling. The procedure usually takes less than 5 minutes.

What happens after the procedure?

You can return to normal work activity or school the same day.

You may have a little cramping after the procedure. You may also have some minor bleeding or spotting the first day or so after the procedure. For about 2 weeks you may have a brownish discharge. This is a normal part of the healing of your cervix. Your cervix should heal completely within a month.

Your healthcare provider may advise that you avoid heavy lifting, tampons, douching, sexual intercourse, and hot tubs for 4 weeks after the procedure.

See your healthcare provider for follow-up visits and Pap tests as recommended.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

- - Precancerous cells can be found and removed. This may help prevent cancer.
  - It may help your healthcare provider make a better diagnosis and determine the best treatment for your problem.
  - The procedure can be done in your provider’s office and does not require a general anesthetic. (If the tissue were removed surgically, you might need to have general anesthesia.)

What are the risks of this procedure?

- - You may have heavy bleeding.
  - Rarely the cervix may become infected. Infection may cause the opening in your cervix to become narrower. The narrowing might make it harder for you to get pregnant.
  - Sometimes healing of the area may cause the cervical opening to become narrower or scarred. The narrowing might make it harder for you to get pregnant.
  - The tissue of the cervix may be weakened. This is called an incompetent cervix and it could lead to a premature birth of a baby if you become pregnant.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your provider right away if:

- - You have a fever over 100.5°F (38°C).
  - You have severe abdominal pain.
  - You have a discharge that smells bad.
  - You have bleeding that lasts more than 1 week.
  - You have heavy bleeding and need to change your pad 2 to 3 times per hour (with or without clots).

Call during office hours if: