SO your Pap smear came back abnormal. You did the biopsy, which was a quick, in-office and relatively painless procedure. The results show low-grade precancerous changes. Naturally, your first question is: “Now what? What’s the next step ?”

If you’ve been diagnosed with CIN1 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1), your doctor may recommend a treatment called cervical cryotherapy — a safe, in-office procedure that gently freezes and destroys abnormal cells before they progress into something more dangerous.

What are low-grade precancerous cells?

These cells aren’t cancer — but they aren’t normal either. CIN 1 means the outer layer of the cervix has some early changes, usually caused by persistent high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus). For many women, these changes clear up on their own, but for others, especially when HPV persists, treatment helps prevent the progression to more serious cervical disease — cervical cancer.

This process can take 12-20 years if remained untreated.

Cryotherapy is one of the easiest, most effective options to rectify this process and prevent progression.

What is cervical cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy, as the name suggests, literally means “cold treatment”. In gynaecology, it involves applying a super-cooled metal probe to the surface of the cervix to freeze and destroy abnormal cells.

The process:

•Takes about five–10 minutes

•Is done in the office with no anaesthesia needed

•Feels like mild pressure or period-like cramps for most women

•Involves no cutting, no stitches, no bleeding.

It works by forming an ice ball at the tip of the probe that penetrates a few millimetres into the cervical tissue, targeting the area affected by CIN 1. The body then sheds the dead cells over the next few weeks and replaces them with healthy new ones.

What should I expect after?

Most patients go home and resume regular activities the same day. However, you may notice:

•A persistent watery, brown vaginal discharge for up to two to four weeks (as the tissue heals)

•Mild cramping for a few hours

•No sex, tampons, or douching for six weeks to allow proper healing

•No swimming/hot tubs for two weeks.

Depending on the doctor, you may be issues a short course of antibiotics post procedure.

Follow-up: Why it matters

The whole aim of cryotherapy is to treat the current abnormal cells caused by HPV and to completely irradiate them. However, HPV can linger, and recurrence is possible. That’s why close follow-up is critical.

Typical follow-up includes:

•Repeat Pap smear or HPV test in six-12 months with combined HPV testing (co-testing)

•Colposcopy only if abnormalities persist

•Continued screening as part of your regular well-woman visits

•HPV vaccination if younger than 45 years old and unvaccinated.

Women who’ve had cryotherapy should maintain routine cervical cancer screening even if everything appears normal afterwards.

A powerful tool for prevention

In Jamaica, where HPV and cervical cancer are still major public health issues, cryotherapy is an affordable, accessible, and effective intervention that can be performed in clinics — no hospital admission, no surgery, no delay.

Cryotherapy is available not only privately, but at most public hospitals, such as May Pen Hospital, The University Hospital of the West Indies, and Spanish Town Hospital.

It’s particularly ideal for:

•Young women with persistent CIN 1

•Women who can’t easily access hospitals for surgical procedures

•Patients who need a low-cost, low-risk alternative to excisional treatments.

Cryotherapy may sound intimidating, but, in reality, it’s one of the simplest ways we can stop cervical disease in its tracks. If you’ve been diagnosed with low-grade precancerous changes, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either.

Talk to your gynaecologist. Ask about cryotherapy. And stay committed to your follow-up care. Because when it comes to your cervix, early action equals long-term protection.

Your health, your choice. And we’re here every step of the way.

Dr Daryl Daley, JP is a cosmetic gynaecologist and obstetrician and women’s health advocate. He is located at 3D Gynaecology Limited, 23 Tangerine Place, Kingston 10. Feel free to contact Dr Daley at ddaley@3dgynae.com.

Dr Daryl Daley.