Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Services at Maryland General

A complete list of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at MGH.

Cervix treatment - cryosurgery - Overview

Alternative Names

Cervix surgery; Cryosurgery - female

Definition of Cervix treatment - cryosurgery:

Cervix cryosurgery is a surgical treatment to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue in the cervix.

Description:

Cryotherapy is an office procedure done while you are awake. The vaginal canal is held open so that the doctor can see the cervix. The doctor inserts a device called a cryo probe into the vagina, and places it firmly on the surface of the cervix, covering the abnormal tissue.

Freezing cold compressed nitrogen gas flows through the instrument, making the metal cold enough to freeze and destroy the tissue.

An "ice ball" forms on the cervix, killing the abnormal cells. For the treatment to be most effective, the freezing is done for 3 minutes, the cervix is allowed to thaw, then the freezing is repeated for another 3 minutes.

Although you may have slight cramping, cryosurgery is relatively painless.

Indications:

Uses of cryosurgery include:

Your doctor will help you to decide if cryosurgery is right for your condition.

  • Reviewed last on: 2/19/2008
  • Peter Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
     
Physician Directory

Physician Specialties

Medical Glossary

Guide for Patients

Guide for Visitors

    
About Us     ·     Contact Us     ·     Phone Listing     ·     Residency Programs     ·     Site Map     ·     Site Search     ·     Links     ·     FAQs

© 2008 Maryland General Hospital, All Rights Reserved   ·   827 Linden Avenue,   Baltimore, MD 21201   ·   410-225-8000
Commitment to Compliance   ·   Privacy Policy   ·   Terms and Conditions of Use   ·   Disclaimer   ·   JCAHO Public Notice