Uzm. Dr. Ertan Özen
GynaecologyVerified
- 36+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Gynaecological Procedures
Cervical cryotherapy
What cervical cryotherapy is, how a cold probe destroys abnormal or inflamed cells on the surface of the cervix, which lesions it can treat and which need an excision instead, what the evidence says, what to expect from the watery discharge and recovery, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, risks and how to check a clinic.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Gynaecological Procedures
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 2
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Cervical Cryotherapy
2 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Zehra Neşe Kavak
GynaecologyVerified
- 36+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Cervical cryotherapy in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Cervical cryotherapy is a short gynaecological procedure that treats the surface of the cervix, the neck of the womb, by freezing it. A metal probe cooled by compressed gas, usually nitrous oxide or carbon dioxide, is pressed against the cervix. The extreme cold turns the water in the surface cells to ice and destroys them; over the following weeks the damaged layer sheds and new, healthy cells grow back. The treated tissue is destroyed rather than removed, so no sample is available for pathology. It is performed without a cut and without general anaesthesia, normally in about fifteen minutes in a gynaecologist's treatment room in a hospital or clinic in Turkey.
This guide explains when cryotherapy is chosen, how it works, what the evidence says, what recovery and watery discharge are like, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany and how to check a clinic. It is general information, not a diagnosis. See our overview of gynaecology treatments in Turkey for related procedures.
What is cervical cryotherapy used to treat?
Two groups of women are treated. The first are those with a benign problem on the surface of the cervix, mainly an ectropion (the soft inner cells visible on the outside), chronic cervicitis, or contact bleeding after sex, when infection has been excluded and a screening test is normal. The second are women with low or moderate cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), the abnormal cells found through screening, in services where excision is not available. The World Health Organization recommends cryotherapy for this purpose in screen-and-treat programmes, provided the abnormal area is fully visible, does not extend into the canal and covers a limited part of the cervix.
In many European hospitals, loop excision is preferred for high-grade changes because it gives a tissue sample. If you have been told you have CIN 2 or 3, ask the doctor why freezing rather than excision has been recommended.
Does cervical cryotherapy work, and what does the evidence say?
For its proper uses it works. Cryotherapy cures most low-grade and many high-grade lesions that meet the criteria, and for a symptomatic ectropion it reduces discharge and spotting in most women. Randomised comparisons with loop excision found similar cure rates in suitable lesions, and WHO guidance accepts either; the difference is that cryotherapy gives no tissue to examine and works less reliably when the lesion is large, extends into the canal or when the colposcopy cannot see its edge. That is why a colposcopy before treatment matters more than which device is used. Cryotherapy does not treat the HPV infection directly and does not protect against future infection, so follow-up screening remains necessary.
Cervical cryotherapy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for the procedure and consultation, not hospital quotes. They depend on whether colposcopy, a smear test and swabs are included, the type of equipment and the hospital's day-case charges. Each hospital confirms its price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €150 – €700 |
| United Kingdom | €300 – €1,300 |
| United States | €600 – €2,500 |
| Germany | €300 – €1,100 |
The main price drivers are whether the preliminary tests are bundled, whether a biopsy and pathology are added, and whether a follow-up visit is included. Because the procedure itself is short and inexpensive, the practical question is whether the trip is worth it for this alone; many women combine it with other gynaecological checks or treatment. Ask for an itemised list in writing and check that the colposcopy is included.
Freezing, burning or cutting: how does cryotherapy compare with cautery and cone biopsy?
All treat the cervix, but they do different jobs. Cryotherapy freezes, cervical cautery burns with heat, and cervical conization (cone biopsy) removes a cone of tissue for pathology. The right choice depends on the finding, not on the instrument.
| Treatment | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Cryotherapy | Ectropion; small, fully visible CIN lesions | No tissue sample; heavy watery discharge; limited depth |
| Cautery | Symptomatic ectropion, contact bleeding | Surface treatment only; burning smell, scabbing |
| Cone biopsy | High-grade CIN, glandular changes, unclear findings | Removes more tissue; can affect later pregnancies |
Who is a good candidate for cervical cryotherapy, and who is not?
Suitable candidates are non-pregnant women whose cervix has been examined by colposcopy, whose abnormal area is small enough, fully visible and does not extend into the canal, and who have no active pelvic infection. Cryotherapy is not suited to women with a lesion that goes up the canal, a large area, suspicion of glandular disease or invasive cancer, or with bleeding that has not been investigated; these need a biopsy or excision. Treat any infection first, because freezing an infected cervix increases the chance of pelvic inflammation. Tell the doctor if you might be pregnant, are breastfeeding or take blood thinners.
What happens during cervical cryotherapy, step by step
You lie as for a smear test. The doctor inserts a speculum, cleans the cervix and usually examines it with a colposcope, which may include a stain to show the abnormal area. The probe tip is chosen to cover the area and pressed to the cervix. A common technique is a freeze of about three minutes, a thaw of about five minutes and a second three-minute freeze (the double-freeze technique recommended by WHO). You may feel cramping and a cold sensation; local anaesthetic is not always needed but can be used. The probe is removed once it thaws, and you can usually get dressed and go home within about an hour of arriving.
What does it feel like, and what is recovery like?
Cramping similar to period pain lasts a few hours, occasionally a day, and simple painkillers normally control it. The distinctive effect is discharge: for two to four weeks most women have a profuse, watery, sometimes pink or blood-tinged discharge as the frozen layer sheds. It is not a sign of infection unless it smells foul or comes with fever. Use sanitary pads, not tampons, and avoid sex, swimming and baths for about four weeks, until the doctor confirms the cervix has healed. Many women return to work the next day. Two to three nights in Turkey cover the procedure and a quick check; the discharge can be managed at home, but plan how you would reach the clinic if bleeding became heavy.
What results should I expect after cryotherapy?
You will not see a visual change. A successful treatment for ectropion means less discharge and spotting once the cervix has healed, which takes about four to six weeks. If cryotherapy was used for abnormal cells, results are measured by follow-up: a repeat HPV test or smear, usually about six months later, shows whether the cells have cleared, and the pathway should be agreed before treatment. Symptoms of ectropion can come back, particularly on the combined contraceptive pill, and treatment can be repeated. A clinic that tells you the treatment is permanent, or that you will not need screening again, is not being straightforward.
What are the risks and side effects of cervical cryotherapy?
The common effects are cramping, a long watery discharge and light spotting. Less common are infection, heavier bleeding when the frozen layer separates, and narrowing of the cervical canal (stenosis) that can cause painful or missed periods. Cryotherapy can also leave the lesion partly untreated, and since no tissue goes to the laboratory, a more serious change can be missed; this is the reason for a thorough colposcopy first. Guidance from the NHS and WHO stresses that treatment should follow examination, and that you should report heavy bleeding, fever or foul-smelling discharge promptly. If you are planning a pregnancy, ask about the effect on the cervix.
How to choose a gynaecologist and clinic, and what to ask
Choose a registered gynaecologist who offers colposcopy, a licensed clinic with the proper equipment and a clear plan for follow-up in your home country. Red flags include cryotherapy offered without an examination, no mention of a smear or HPV test, claims that it prevents cervical cancer, quotes without a breakdown and pressure to book. Read how our process works and ask for a plan through the free quote page. For related examination see colposcopy, and if fibroids are suspected see hysteroscopic myomectomy.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Will you do a colposcopy first, and is it included in the price?
- Why freezing rather than loop excision for my result?
- How long will the discharge last and what is abnormal?
- What follow-up test do I need, and when?
- Who can I contact in English if something is wrong after I travel home?
Hospitals with Gynaecology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Cervical cryotherapy freezes the surface of the cervix with a cold probe cooled by gas, destroying abnormal or inflamed cells. The surface heals with new cells over a few weeks. It is done in about fifteen minutes without general anaesthesia.
For a symptomatic ectropion and for small, fully visible low or moderate-grade lesions it works in most women. It is less suited to large lesions or those extending into the cervical canal, which need excision.
Approximate ranges are €150 to €700 in Turkey against about €300 to €1,300 in the UK. The price depends on whether colposcopy and swabs are included, and the hospital confirms it in a written quote.
Most women feel period-type cramping and a cold sensation during treatment, and the cramps last a few hours. Local anaesthetic is sometimes used, and simple painkillers are normally enough afterwards.
A heavy, watery, sometimes pink discharge is expected for two to four weeks. Foul smell, fever or heavy bleeding are not normal and should be reported to the doctor straight away.
Most women return to work the next day, while healing takes four to six weeks. Sex, tampons, baths and swimming are usually avoided until the doctor confirms the cervix has healed.
It is a long-established procedure with a low rate of serious problems when done after proper examination. Risks include infection, heavier bleeding and cervical narrowing. It should never be used for unexplained bleeding.
Both are accepted for suitable lesions with similar cure rates. LEEP gives a tissue sample for pathology and is preferred for high-grade changes, while cryotherapy suits small, visible lesions and benign problems.
Most women have normal pregnancies afterwards. Because freezing is shallow it is thought to have less effect than deeper excisions, but you should tell your midwife or doctor about the treatment.
Two to three nights usually cover the examination, the procedure and a quick check. The watery discharge settles at home, so agree in advance how to contact the clinic if bleeding becomes heavy.
Patient stories