Colposcopy treatments are either:

  • Cryotherapy (freezing) which is to treat a cervical ectropion to reduce associated irregular bleeding or discharge, or to treat mild abnormalities such as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) 1.
  • A large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ), which is to remove pre-cancer changes under local anaesthetic. This is a preventive treatment to remove changes which may persist or become more serious over time, usually following an abnormal cervical screening test or biopsy result, such as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) 2 or 3. 

These procedures are carried out in the colposcopy clinic. In a small minority of cases, LLETZ will be performed under general anaesthetic and this will take place in either East Surrey Hospital or Crawley Day Surgery Unit.