Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (“LEEP”) is a minor surgical procedure that may be performed in the office setting using local anesthesia and/or conscious sedation with intravenous medications. A small piece of tissue containing precancerous cells is removed from the outer cervix and sent to the pathologist for analysis.

Follow-up is based on established protocols and greatly decreases the risk of developing invasive cervical cancer. Because “LEEP” may increase the risk of preterm birth, it is no longer used to treat mild cervical changes related to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).