Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a gynecological treatment used to freeze and destroy abnormal cervical cells. Cryotherapy is not a treatment for cervical cancer; cryotherapy treats only pre-cancer.
During the cryotherapy procedure, a speculum is inserted into the vagina so that the cervix can be seen. At the tip of the cryo-unit is the cryo-probe.
During cryotherapy treatment, the cryo-probe is inserted into the vagina and placed over the abnormal area of cervical tissue. The cryo-probe reaches a temperature of approximately -50 degrees Celsius, which is cold enough to destroy abnormal cervical tissue. The most common method of applying cryotherapy treatment is referred to as the “3-5-3” method, in which the freeze is applied for three minutes, followed by a 5-minute thaw, followed by the final 3-minute freeze.
Cryotherapy has an overall cure rate of approximately 85-90%, indicating that cryotherapy is as effective as other treatment methods. Cure rates are typically lower for large lesions or lesions that are higher grade. Success rates of cryotherapy depend on the length of freeze and type of refrigerant used.
Cryotherapy is an excellent treatment option because it can be used immediately after any screening test that yields immediate results, allowing providers to deliver screening and treatment in a SINGLE VISIT. Programs in which screening and treatment occurs in the same visit are referred to as the single visit approach, or screen-and-treat. These systems have been successful in low-resource settings because they target populations that may be lost to follow-up appointments in a multi-visit Pap smear system.
CRYOTHERAPY: What gas to use? Both nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are used for cryotherapy treatment. CO2 is less expensive and more readily available than N2O in many countries around the world. BHI is currently working on research that will compare the effectiveness of N2O and CO2 for treating high-grade cervical pre-cancer (CIN2/3). This information is crucial to build effective treatment programs in areas of the world where morbidity and mortality from untreated cervical pre-cancer are high.