Women's Health

Cervix Treatments

• Cervical cerclage: In women with cervical incompetence, the cervix can be sewn closed. This can prevent early opening of the cervix during pregnancy, which can cause premature delivery.
• Antibiotics: Medications that can kill the bacteria that causes infections of the cervix and reproductive organs. Antibiotics may be taken orally or given through a vein, or intravenously, for serious infections.
• Cryotherapy: An extremely cold probe is placed against abnormal areas on the cervix. Freezing kills the abnormal cells, preventing them from becoming cervical cancer.
• Laser therapy: A high-energy laser is used to burn areas of abnormal cells in the cervix. The abnormal cells are destroyed, preventing them from becoming cervical cancer.
• Cervical cancer vaccine: To prevent cervical cancer, a vaccine against certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is recommended for most adolescent girls and young women.
• Chemotherapy: Cancer medications that are usually injected into a vein. Chemotherapy is usually given for cervical cancer that is believed to have spread.
• Total Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. If cervical cancer has not spread, hysterectomy can offer a complete cure.
• Cone biopsy: A cervical biopsy that removes a cone-shaped wedge of tissue from the cervix. Because a large portion of the cervix is removed, cone biopsy can help prevent or treat cervical cancer.
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): An electrified wire loop is touched against abnormal cells in the cervix. The electrical current destroys the cells, preventing or treating cervical cancer.
• Radiation therapy: Using radioactive energy to kill cervical cancer cells. Radiation therapy is given as a beam from outside the body or in small pellets implanted in the cervix, known as brachytherapy.