Cell changes in the cervix - cone biopsy
Most changes in cervical cells are detected by family doctors in connection with regular check-ups. In about 5% of the smear tests taken, abnormal cell changes are found. Cell changes range from atypical cells to cells with dysplasia, which in rare cases can be the early stages of cancer.
Additional examinations
If the smear shows atypical cells or mild dysplasia, taking a repeat test
after 4-6 months is the safe and sensible thing to do. Very often such
changes just disappear, without any treatment.
If the smear shows moderate to severe dysplasia, you’ll need a keyhole examination where we’ll take a sample of the tissue from your cervix. The biopsy will be sent for further analysis at the University’s Department of Pathology.
Recommended vaccination against HPV infection (Human Papilloma Virus)
In theory, any woman who’s sexually active risks being infected with HPV.
The infection is so common that you might call it a sexually transmitted
cold. Often an HPV infection will show no symptoms at all. But chronic
HPV infection can cause severe changes in the cervix, which may in some
cases develop into cervical cancer. Even if you’ve been diagnosed with
cell changes and had treatment, it’s still recommended that you have the
vaccination, as there are several different types of HPV.
Treatment of cervical cell changes – cone biopsy
If a sample of cervical tissue confirms that you have moderate or severe
dysplasia, we advise you to have the affected areas removed. This can be
done in a procedure called cone biopsy. It’s a small procedure but usually
you’ll have general anaesthesia; in some cases, however, we can perform
it with local anaesthesia only. What happens is that we remove a small
cone of your cervix, where the keyhole examination (colposcopy) spotted
some cell changes. This cone is then sent for further analysis at the University’s
Department of Pathology.
Below you can read more about what happens during the surgical procedure.
Below you can read more about what happens during the surgical procedure.
Before the operation
A cone biopsy is a small procedure, which means you can go home 1-2 hours later. But because there may be some side-effects of the anaesthesia, you must have somebody to come and pick you up at the clinic and stay with you for the next 24 hours.It’s important that you tell the specialist before the procedure about any drugs or medicine you take, because some of them are dangerous in combination with the anaesthesia. For instance, if you take insulin for diabetes, you can’t take tablets or inject insulin on the morning of the procedure. But please bring your medication on the day of the operation.
Fasting:
- You are not allowed to eat anything 6 hours before your operation.
-
You are allowed to drink water and juice until 2 hours before your operation.
The operation
Usually you’ll have general anaesthesia for the cone biopsy. We’ll
put an IV line in the back of your hand and give you the anaesthesia through
it. The operation is performed via the vagina and takes 10-15 minutes.
We use a fine loop of wire to remove a small cone of tissue from your cervix.
The tissue is sent to the University’s Department of Pathology for further
analysis, to make sure all areas with cell changes have been removed. You’ll
get the results from the test 8-10 days after the operation.
After the operation
You should take it easy for the rest of the day after the operation. The
next day our nurse will call you at home to check that you’re OK.
Pain
You should expect some period-like pain. The pain will usually lessen
after a couple of hours. You’ll get some pain-killers to take home when
you leave the clinic.
Bleeding
It’s a small surgical procedure, but during the healing process you may
experience a bit of bleeding or brownish discharge for 1-3 weeks after
the procedure.
Hygiene
During this time, in order to reduce the risk of infection, you should
not use tampons. Again, to avoid infection take showers only, and don’t
go swimming.
Sex
Don’t have sexual intercourse until you’ve stopped bleeding.
Activity
You shouldn’t do any hard physical labour and exercise for the first 8-10
days after your operation. Other than that, you can do the things you normally
do from the day after the operation.
Check-up
If all cell changes have been removed, we recommend that you have a smear 3 months later. If this smear shows no abnormal cells, you should have a smear again at your family doctor 6 months and then 12 months later. After that, a smear once a year for the next 10 years is sufficient. About 95% have no cell changes after the cone biopsy.
If all cell changes have been removed, we recommend that you have a smear 3 months later. If this smear shows no abnormal cells, you should have a smear again at your family doctor 6 months and then 12 months later. After that, a smear once a year for the next 10 years is sufficient. About 95% have no cell changes after the cone biopsy.
Side-effects and complications
In very rare cases there may be complications after the procedure. If you experience strong pain, fever or any bleeding heavier than an ordinary period, you must contact the clinic at +45 8612 6121 or 2320 4221.