LEEP Procedure in Silver Spring and Germantown, MD

What is Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure?

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a common practice used by gynecologists to remove abnormal cells from a patient’s cervix.

Women with these abnormal cells may be at risk for serious conditions such as cervical cancer, making LEEP a very important part of the diagnostic and cancer prevention process.

The board-certified OBGYNs at Capital Women’s Care have extensive experience performing in-office procedures including LEEP. Call (301) 681-3400 to request an appointment at our OBGYN office in Silver Spring or Germantown today.

LEEP Preparation

Before the procedure, patients are given a set of instructions from your OBGYN’s office. This usually includes guidelines on what the patient is allowed to eat or drink before the procedure, and to arrange for a ride home after their treatment is complete.

Anesthesia will be given to help the patient feel comfortable during the LEEP, which can inhibit driving abilities afterward.

Before the procedure begins, make sure that you address any questions or concerns with your OBGYN. It is important to fully understand the reasoning why a LEEP is being performed, and what sort of follow-up care will be needed once it is complete.

Patients should also inform their physician of any medications they are currently taking that may impact their treatment, such as blood thinners.

About the Procedure

The LEEP procedure is simple and performed under anesthesia in the OR.

The patient will be positioned just as they would do at a routine gynecologic appointment. Once positioned, your OBGYN will insert a speculum to widen the opening of the vagina enough to get a clear visual of the cervix.

The device used to extract the cervical cells consists of a thin wire with a loop around the end. Your OBGYN will treat any abnormal cells by wrapping the loop around them, and then using the electricity that’s passed through the wire to remove these cells.  Your OBGYN will have the removed cervical cells analyzed at our lab facility to determine if further diagnostic testing or treatment is needed.

After the procedure, patients are relocated to their own private room to recover after their procedure. This time also gives them a chance to recuperate from the effects of anesthesia or other sedatives used during the LEEP.

LEEP Recovery Process

The entire procedure takes approximately 10-20 minutes, after which time patients are allowed to return home and continue with regular activities with some pelvic restrictions.

What to Expect After LEEP

LEEP is a very safe and effective treatment option. Patients generally return home within the same day as their treatment.

It is common to experience a mild amount of discomfort within the first few hours after their LEEP procedure. This discomfort typically includes a bit of cramping in addition to light spotting.

Common symptoms that women should be aware of following their procedure include:

• Bleeding: Wearing absorbent pads can help to manage small amounts of bleeding after treatment, though if you continue to bleed, or are bleeding excessively (>2pads an hour), please contact Capital Women’s Care right away.
• Cramping: It is also common for the muscles in the pelvic to contract after LEEP, leading to mild cramping.
• Discharge: Women are likely to experience a watery discharge that is pink in color.
  Along with excessive bleeding, patients should contact our office immediately if they experience clotting, fever, or severe pain.