What is cervical shaving?

LEEP and cold conization surgeries are known as cervical shaving. In these surgeries, cervical cancer precursor lesions called CIN, which form on the cervix, are removed. Since the rate of cancerization is high in CIN lesions, it is aimed to remove these tissues from the body.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different methods?

Conization is done with a scalpel. The amount of bleeding is higher than with LEEP. LEEP is done using electricity. While LEEP cuts the tissue with a thin wire, it also reduces the amount of bleeding by applying cauterization. The amount of tissue removed in conization is more. As the amount of tissue removed during shaving increases, the possibility of unwanted consequences such as premature birth and obstruction of the cervix increases. For this reason, conization is not preferred in young patients who want to have children because of the risk of premature birth. LEEP should be preferred in young patients.

How is the LEEP procedure performed?

LEEP stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. With the help of an electric wire, the cervix and part of the uterine canal are removed. Compared to cold conization, the procedure time is shorter, there is less bleeding and the complication rate is low. It is more preferred especially in young patients. The rates of cold conization and LEEP are the same in terms of procedural success. Both procedures have the same probability of preventing cancer and clearing the lesions.

The procedure is performed vaginally. There is no incision in the abdomen. It usually takes half an hour or less. The patient can be discharged the same day. She can go to work the next day.

Depending on the pathology results obtained after the operation, it is decided how to continue the treatment.

What is cervical shaving?