What is Cryosurgery?It is a procedure in which abnormal body tissues (sometimes referred to as lesions) are destroyed by exposure to extremely cold temperatures. When is it used? It is used to treat skin lesions such as freckles (for cosmetic reasons), hemorrhoids, warts, and some skin cancers. It is also used to treat skin changes caused by the genital wart virus and precancerous changes on the surface of a woman's cervix. These precancerous abnormalities are usually found with a Pap test. (The lesions are also called CIN, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.) Sometimes freezing is not an option if the abnormal areas are too large. It is not done on the cervix if you are having your menstrual period or if you are pregnant. How do I prepare for cryosurgery? Most likely you will not have to do anything to prepare for it. This is a simple procedure and it is done in a short time in your healthcare provider's office. What happens during the procedure? Your healthcare provider will use a probelike tool to treat the affected areas. A very cold substance, such as liquid nitrogen, is pumped through the probe. This freezing agent makes the tip of the probe very cold. Your provider will touch the tip of the probe to your skin or cervix. Depending on the area being treated, you may feel a burning or cramping sensation while the area freezes and then thaws. Although the procedure may cause some discomfort, an anesthetic is rarely needed. How long your healthcare provider keeps the probe touching the skin or cervix depends on the size and type of the lesion and the type of freezing agent 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 minutes, 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 a crust. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to care for the wound. There are usually no complications from this procedure. However, sometimes women who are having cervical cryosurgery have hot flashes, become dizzy, or faint. If you have cryosurgery of the cervix, you will be asked to stay in the healthcare provider's office for at least 20 to 30 minutes after the procedure. Although it is rare, you may become dizzy or faint more than 30 minutes after the procedure, so it is a good idea to have someone take you home. You may have mild abdominal cramping during and after cervical cryosurgery. You may also have a watery or slightly bloody discharge from the vagina after the procedure. This discharge may last 4 weeks. You should avoid sexual intercourse for 4 weeks. Some abnormal tissues may need to be treated more than once. Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you need to be checked for recurrence or to have another treatment. 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 test, your healthcare provider will tell when you should have your next Pap test. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for checking back for problems, questions, and your next visit. What are the benefits of this procedure? It is very effective and is less expensive than other treatments. It can be done in your healthcare provider's office and anesthesia is not necessary. What are the risks associated with procedure? If you are treated for a cervical lesion, during or after cryosurgery you may experience:
If you are being treated for a skin lesion, you may have:
When should I call my healthcare provider? Call your provider if:
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