What is a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) procedure like?
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center has a complete explanation of the LEEP on the web. The Greater Carolinas Women’s Center has a picture of the instrument used to perform a LEEP. Please also check our Web Resources section for more Internet sites with information on this procedure. Susan C., California, USA: I had a LEEP last summer (followed by surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for cervical cancer, stage 1b1). The purpose of the LEEP was to get a large, deep cervical biopsy in order to stage cancer discovered through colposcopy. LEEP is an acronym for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. The gynecologist uses a wire loop attached to an electric machine. The loop is pulled around the cervix, burning and extracting a large, deep piece of tissue. It’s kind of like peeling an apple and taking a lot of the white part along with the red skin. I had my LEEP done in the doctor’s office with only local anesthesia, but I know that some people have this done under general an
