Alice,
I've read the information in the archives on dysplasia and have a few
questions. I had an abnormal Pap and was then scheduled for a colposcopy,
which came back as severe dysplasia. My doctor's first available appointment
for a LEEP is four weeks away. Is it safe to wait that long? What should
I expect during the procedure and how long will it take to recover? After
my biopsy, it took me two days to feel good again so I'm thinking it might
take even longer this time. Thanks!
Lori
Dear Lori,
A loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) involves the use of
a low-voltage, high frequency radio wave that is run through a thin loop
of wire. With this instrument, it's possible to remove dysplastic tissue
from the cervix in a very effective and efficient manner. After your doctor
"scoops out" the abnormal tissue, the sample is sent to a pathology
laboratory in order to detect the presence of any cancerous or pre-cancerous
cell activity. Usually, the procedure is done using a local anesthetic.
It can cause discomfort, to varying degrees, for some women. On average,
cervical healing takes about one month after the LEEP is performed. Some
women experience cramping, tenderness, bleeding, and/or discharge during
this period of healing. Alice wants to stress that she is describing the
general case involving a LEEP. Your experience may be similar to
this, or it could be vastly different.
Also, Alice cannot say if it's safe to wait for four weeks. In most
cases, four weeks would not be too long to wait. However, only your doctor
(who has read your lab reports and knows your case well) can decide if four
weeks is an appropriate amount of time to wait before doing the LEEP for
you.
Alice understands your concern, and realizes that this can be a source
of anxiety. However, it is impossible for Alice to say how long your recovery
will take, or if this procedure will be painful for you. Will the LEEP
be done with anesthesia? Will you take any pre-operative medications?
How do you gauge your threshold of pain? Alice encourages you to talk to
your doctor about the questions and concerns that you may have. Only
s/he can answer your questions and help you prepare for the procedure, because
s/he has the knowledge of what your case involves and how s/he plans to
carry out the LEEP for you. Why not call your doctor and discuss these
issues with him/her. This could be beneficial for both of you. Your doctor
will gain a sense of what you're going through; and, s/he might be able
to tailor the treatment to your needs and concerns.
Best of luck!
- Alice
Related Q&As
- When is it okay to start having intercourse after a LEEP?
Go Ask Alice! is not an emergency or instant response service. If you are in an urgent situation, please click here to view a list of 24 hour support services and hotlines.
Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
