leep procedure

[mary87]

hi a couple of weeks ago i had the colp procedure done and the results came back abnormal. now i need the following step which is the leep. They seem pretty similar. i wanted to know the difference between the two procedures and is it painful? thank you.

[Cagney2712]

I had a LEEP done a few years ago.  Basically the doctor uses an electrode with a loop on the end to remove a segment of the cervix. It can be used to perform a biopsy on suspicious tissue, or can be used to remove tissue that may be pre-cancerous. My gyn did mine in the hospital as an outpatient procedure, and I was under general anesthesia for it.  It only took a short while for the procedure, so I wasn't really under very long, woke up completely alert, and went home an hour later. I was told there might be some bleeding afterwards,  but I didn't have any, and had no pain at all.  I believe they can also be done with just local anesthesia, but I don't know if that would involve any pain at all.  Personally, I liked being totally out for it.  It was over before I knew it.

[rmarie]

I know nothing about Leeps - there are cervical procedures, you might want to try the women's health forum.  Someone there might have an answer for you