Cauterization of radio wave erosion: cauterization procedure and doctors' recommendations

Cervical erosion is one of the most common pathologies among the fair sex during reproductive age, which can occur as a result of the presence of many factors (childbirth, surgery, intense sexual intercourse) or with the progression of various diseases in the body. This disease is characterized by the appearance of an ulcerative wound of small or large diameter on the mucous membranes of the uterine cervix. As a rule, symptoms during the progression of such a disease are absent or manifest themselves in such a way that many women simply do not pay attention to them. Most often, such a pathological process can be detected only during a routine examination by a gynecologist. Knowing about these features of gynecological diseases, every girl should pay attention to any disturbances in her body (pain in the lower abdomen, unpleasant smell of secretions, failure of menstruation) and, if there are even minor deviations, she should immediately contact a qualified doctor.

If the gynecologist discovers erosion during the examination, he will refer the woman to detailed examination procedures, as a result of which the cause of the ulcerative wound, its nature, size and degree of neglect will be clear. Based on the results obtained, the doctor prescribes the most appropriate (conservative or surgical) therapeutic method.

One of the most common methods that effectively copes with the elimination of emerging pathology is considered to be radio wave treatment of erosion on the cervix. This method has a small number of contraindications, has a minimal risk of complications, is completely painless and highly effective, and does not leave any lesions on the mucous membrane of the cervix.

This article will not contain information about the disease itself, so we are giving you a link to a detailed article about erosion:

The essence of the method

Radiosurgical coagulation is a new and highly effective method of therapy used to quickly and safely eliminate the wound area. During this procedure, the resulting wound is cauterized using the Surigton device, which emits radio waves. A qualified medical professional directs the active beam of the instrument to areas affected by erosion, and this area is heated to high temperatures, which soon provoke the soldering of injured capillaries and significantly accelerate the process of restoration of damaged tissue. The use of such therapeutic tactics to eliminate the pathological process is not accompanied by pain, hemorrhages from the vaginal cavity and the formation of scars.

Benefits of radio wave treatment:

is completely painless;
does not provoke postoperative bleeding;
famous for the absence of hemorrhages at the time of surgery;
after using radiotherapy, no lesions (scars, scars) remain on the mucous membrane;
a fairly short recovery period after removal of erosion.

Benefits of radio wave surgery

The main feature of this method is the rapid rehabilitation of damaged uterine tissue. Today this procedure is extremely in demand in gynecology.

Main advantages:

speed of the operation (5-10 minutes);
absence of bleeding and pain;
absence of injuries, scars and burns;
reducing the risk of re-formation of erosion;
absolute control of the depth of wave impact;
Trauma to nearby tissues is excluded;
the method is suitable for all women, including nulliparous women;
no adverse reactions.

The absence of trauma after surgery promotes rapid healing, and the minimal incision will not lead to the formation of surgical scars. No stitches required.

Contraindications

Despite the safety and effectiveness of this technique, radiosurgical therapy has the following contraindications:

periodic uterine hemorrhages;
suspicion of the presence of a malignant neoplasm;
the presence of chronic diseases that are at an acute stage;
period of bearing a child;
presence of implanted metal products;
progression of various inflammatory diseases that affect the genitourinary system.

Indications

The radio wave cauterization method is prescribed if a female representative has:

pseudo-erosion;
endocervicosis of the cervix;
cervical erosion;
violation of tissue integrity in combination with inflammatory diseases caused by chlamydia, staphylococci, candidiasis, etc.;
cervical dysplasia.

This technique can only be prescribed by the attending physician, who will conduct the necessary diagnostic examination and take into account all the existing individual characteristics of the female body.

What are the dangers of erosion?

Erosion is dangerous because it is asymptomatic for a long time. Only in the later stages can a woman feel discomfort in the lower abdomen and spotting. Cervical erosion is a benign disease, but with improper, delayed treatment and the presence of certain conditions (mechanical damage, infections or trauma), the formation of a malignant pathology is possible. Therefore, it is important to start treatment in a timely manner.

There are many methods for treating cervical erosion today, each of them has limitations and advantages. Before choosing a treatment method, the patient undergoes a full examination to exclude or confirm the presence of malignant tumors. The most accurate diagnosis today is a biopsy.

Symptoms of uterine erosion:

vaginal discharge;
lumbar pain;
discomfort during and after coitus;
the presence of genital warts on the external genitalia.

Preparation

In order to begin radiotherapy of the affected area in the cervix, the following preparation rules should be observed:

undergo a full gynecological examination;
submit a smear from the vaginal cavity for microflora analysis;
undergo a diagnostic procedure - colcoscopy;
take a general and biochemical blood test;
get tested for the presence of diseases such as HIV, syphilis, HPV or hepatitis;
undergo bacteriological and cytological examination;
conduct research on tumor markers;
polymerase chain reaction assay.

Sometimes preparation for a therapeutic procedure also involves taking antibacterial agents a day before radio wave exposure, which will help prevent the occurrence of inflammatory processes after the operation is completed.

How is the treatment carried out?

Before the start of the therapeutic procedure, the vaginal cavity is anesthetized with an anesthetic; this will help protect the girl from discomfort and pain during removal of the lesion.

Cauterization of cervical erosion with radio waves is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor using a special device - a colposcope. Thanks to it, a qualified medical worker has a complete overview of the affected cavity and can control the procedure without affecting healthy soft tissues with radioactive radiation.

Radiotherapy is a non-contact therapeutic method; it consists only of the impact of rays emitted by the device (frequency - 3.8-4.0 MHz) on the affected tissues, which, as a result, heat up and provoke the evaporation of pathogenic cells and the healing of injured capillaries.

Reasons why you should not self-medicate

Treatment of cervical erosion is mandatory; in no case should you resort to self-medication. The use of folk remedies not only does not eliminate the disease, but also due to a long absence of medical intervention, erosion can reach larger sizes.

It is known that the mucus produced by the cervix contains immunoglobulins, which protect the body from various types of infections. This mucus forms a mucus plug, which prevents bacteria and viruses from entering the uterine cavity. In turn, erosion that occurs on the cervix is a source of infectious and inflammatory processes, thereby negatively affecting the antimicrobial properties of mucus: it reduces its effectiveness. In addition, any attempts to treat other gynecological inflammatory diseases may not yield any results.

The presence of cervical erosion also negatively affects the process of childbirth: the cervix dilates poorly and ruptures easily. It is quite difficult to sew up a defective torn cervix. An unsuccessfully sutured cervix does not perform its protective function well, allowing bacteria into the uterine cavity, and in the event of pregnancy, it is unable to hold the fetus.

That is why doctors recommend taking care of your health, not allowing diseases to develop, and seeking help in a timely manner. Cervical erosion detected and treated in time will not cause any problems in the future. Moreover, now doctors have an effective method for treating cervical erosion with radio waves, which allows treatment to be carried out quickly and without possible complications. Radio wave destruction of the cervix is suitable even for nulliparous women, since thanks to radio waves, damaged cells are carefully removed, scars do not appear after cauterization, and possible problems associated with cervical disease in future pregnancy and childbirth are eliminated.

This article is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice. Always trust your doctor first!

Postoperative period

After radio wave treatment of cervical erosion, discharge may occur (for more details, see the article about discharge after cauterization of cervical erosion), which will contain yellowish or brownish ichor elements. This phenomenon is considered completely natural. After 14 days have passed since the surgical intervention, the fair sex needs to visit her doctor and undergo the necessary diagnostic tests to make sure that the operation brought positive results and did not provoke the occurrence of all sorts of consequences.

During the rehabilitation period, which lasts for a month, it is prohibited:

enter into intimate relationships;
perform vaginal douching;
perform intense physical activity;
visit the bathhouse, sauna, swimming pools and beaches;
use tampons.

Restoration of the mucous membrane of the uterine cervix should take place under the strict supervision of a qualified physician. If a sick patient experiences pain or other symptoms that worsen the quality of her life, an experienced specialist should immediately prescribe her pharmacological agents that eliminate the unfavorable signs present.

Advantages and disadvantages of radio wave treatment

Radio wave treatment is a modern and promising method of treating many gynecological diseases, including cervical erosion, which has a huge number of advantages:

non-contact method, all manipulations are carried out using high-frequency waves;
complete absence of blood and minimal pain;
minimal or complete absence of destruction of underlying intact tissues;
smoothing existing scars on the cervix and restoring local immunity;
the absence of postoperative scars and scars, which makes it possible to carry out this procedure for nulliparous women;
the antiseptic effect of radio waves, which completely eliminates further infection and allows you to refuse to take special antimicrobial drugs;
To obtain the desired positive effect, only one procedure is necessary;
easy and doctor-controlled tissue dissection under the influence of radio waves;
the possibility of simultaneous excision of pathological tissues in different places;
The duration of the procedure takes several minutes;
rapid healing of tissues, with complete preservation of the structure of the cervical muscles;
minimal, close to zero, risks of re-development of the disease;
the possibility of obtaining samples for histological analysis;
the possibility of carrying out the procedure in a clinic with or without local anesthesia.

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There are significantly fewer disadvantages of the rvx treatment method and these include:

high cost of treatment (price in different medical institutions varies depending on the size of the lesion from 3 to 10 thousand rubles, excluding the price of preliminary tests and medications needed in the postoperative period);
not used in all medical institutions (this is due to the high cost of special equipment).

Radio wave treatment of cervical erosion is the latest, high-tech, safe technology for treating the disease with a low probability of possible complications and minimal tissue trauma.

The healing period of erosion after cauterization with radio waves

Female representatives who are considering the option of radio wave therapy for cervical lesions are often interested in the question: “How long does it take for a pathogenic wound to heal?” Radiosurgical treatment of erosion has many advantages that make it the most popular among similar analogues. The complete healing period of the wounded surface is no exception. Healing of the victim occurs within several weeks, when the process of regeneration of the affected tissues is completely completed. As a rule, the approximate rehabilitation period is 4 weeks.

Symptoms after the procedure

As a rule, intense discharge after radio wave cauterization of erosion on the cervix, which is sometimes accompanied by a slight odor, a change in its consistency and color (to a yellowish-brown color), is considered normal postoperative symptoms. But sometimes after this therapeutic procedure the following signs appear, which indicate the need to immediately visit the nearest medical facility:

strong and sudden increase in body temperature (more than 38 degrees);
the appearance of intense hemorrhages from the vaginal cavity;
the occurrence of severe pain in the lower abdomen.

If, after radio wave coagulation, you discover the above symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor, who, in case of serious problems, will give useful recommendations and prescribe effective medications to stabilize your health.

Equipment for the procedure

To treat the cervix using the radio wave method, medical devices “Surgitron” (American brand) and “Fotek” (Russian) are used.

"Fotek" and "Surgitron" - devices used in radio wave surgery, allow you to gently remove pathological formations on the cervix.

A little history
At the end of the twentieth century, the most common method of treating cervical pathology was the destruction and removal of the altered epithelium, which was achieved using cryotherapy, electrocoagulation and other similar manipulations. It is no secret that these methods were traumatic, they were accompanied by a large number of complications and caused deformation of the cervix, undesirable for nulliparous women.
In addition, the unpleasant consequences of using these methods were profuse watery vaginal discharge, prolonged wound healing (from 30 to 60 days), frequent relapses of the disease and the need for repeated cauterization. All this had a negative impact on the quality of life of patients in the postoperative period.
Taking into account these problems, in 1987 a device for radio wave surgery was developed in the USA, combining ease of use, treatment effectiveness, rapid healing of the wound surface and a low rate of complications.
In Russia, the Surgitron device has been used since the end of the twentieth century and is widely used to treat complicated cervical erosion in young nulliparous women who need to preserve reproductive function.

The electrosurgical device developed by the Russian company also meets modern requirements.

It is also useful to read: Important aspects of treating cervical erosion in nulliparous patients

Radio wave medical devices have several modes of operation (incision, coagulation, cauterization) and a large selection of electrodes for operations: in the form of a needle, loop, ball, sail, hook, knife. The electrode is inserted into a special holder connected to the device. Radiosurgical devices have found wide application in gynecology. With their help, you can take a biopsy from a suspicious area of the cervix, treat not only background processes, but also papillomas and condylomas of the genital organs of any location, polyps of the cervical canal, Nabothian cysts and vaginal cysts, and cauterize bleeding vessels. In this case, there is no gross scarring of the cervix.

The effect on tissues of “Surgitron” and “Fotek” is exactly the same. The difference lies only in the manufacturer and the cost of the devices (the price of an American device is higher than that of a domestic one).

Consequences

Cauterization of erosion can lead to the following consequences:

the appearance of intense uterine and ectopic hemorrhages;
introduction of pathogenic bacteria and infections into the genitourinary organs;
the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the cervix or uterine cavity;
sharp and periodic pain syndromes localized in the lower abdomen, which cannot be eliminated with painkillers.

Such complications are possible when the doctor is poorly qualified or inexperienced, as well as when he does not adhere to the rules of sterility of the room and the instrument used. If such symptoms occur, you should immediately contact a medical facility, where experienced specialists will do their best to eliminate the adverse consequences.

Visitor reviews

Reviews of nulliparous and parous representatives of the fair sex about the therapeutic method of removing erosion on the cervix using the radiosurgical coagulation procedure:

Maria, 25 years old:

At the age of 18, during a routine gynecological examination, I was diagnosed with a small ulcerative wound, which was advised to be treated immediately to prevent the development of adverse consequences. After passing all the necessary tests and instrumental diagnostics, my doctor recommended a medication method. After the entire course of using vaginal suppositories, I went back for examination and was told that the medications did not bring any results, which greatly worried and upset me. But after a secondary consultation, they suggested trying radio wave treatment for erosion, which, as I was told, is a highly effective way to eliminate it. I read a lot of responses on the Internet and was a little scared because girls were writing about their subsequent inability to get pregnant. I came to the hospital and reported my fears to the attending physician, who said that this method of therapy did not affect reproductive function in any way. I agreed, underwent training, and had such an operation. The procedure turned out to be painless and quick, and two months later, when I underwent a diagnostic examination, the gynecologist was pleased that the erosion had completely disappeared. Fortunately, there were no side effects or unpleasant complications, and after 2 years I was able to get pregnant. Now my baby is already 4 years old, I gave birth to him naturally and there were no problems with pregnancy. Based on personal experience, I can strongly recommend this type of treatment to all women with this disease and assure that it is absolutely safe for nulliparous girls.

Anastasia, 32 years old:

I was diagnosed with erosion six months ago and immediately prescribed radio wave therapy, since its diameter had already reached a significant size. After all the preoperative manipulations, I underwent this procedure and was scheduled for a re-examination after two months. At a scheduled gynecological examination, it turned out that the affected area was completely healed, without leaving a single trace or any consequences. This method is really very fast, painless and effective. By the way, I am now pregnant and my doctor says that the pregnancy is progressing normally and no danger to the baby has been detected.

Katerina, 23:

Recently they found an erosion located on the walls of the cervix and offered to eliminate it using radiosurgical coagulation, which cost 5,000 rubles. After they found out that I was a student from out of town, due to my financial insolvency, I was offered electrocoagulation therapy, warning that it negatively affects the girl’s reproductive function and there is a high probability that in the future I will not be able to have a child. This statement did not make me very happy, and I decided to earn money in any way for radiosurgical treatment of erosion. After some time, I collected the required amount and went to the doctor, who gave me recommendations and scheduled an operation for the next day. After the procedure to remove the ulcerative lesion was performed, I began to experience unnatural vaginal discharge and my menstrual cycle was disrupted, but soon such unpleasant symptoms disappeared on their own. After visiting the gynecologist again, he reported that the erosion had completely healed and no complications were found. I am very glad that I chose this treatment, even though it hit my wallet hard. But now I am completely confident that in the near future I will have a baby, and I will be able to carry him without any problems.

Reviews

Doctors' recommendations and timely examination are, of course, very important and necessary, but any woman, before going to a gynecologist with any problems, will first of all “ask” the Internet for advice. Of course, in this matter it is important to have at least some practical idea of treatment, which can be compiled by numerous opinions of those who have cauterized erosion with radio waves. It is recommended to study reviews before the procedure.

Especially so that we don’t have to search the Internet for different opinions, we have studied them all and made certain conclusions. In general, patients note the speed of the procedure after cauterization of erosion with radio waves as a positive aspect. Even if there is pain, it will pass quickly.

There are also women who are afraid that they will not be able to have children after this operation. We cannot refute or confirm this information; such questions must be clarified with doctors. However, there is no evidence that radio wave surgery affected infertility.

As for the cost, most patients note that it is not a pity to pay money for such a procedure and with all the tests it costs on average 6000-7000 rubles. Nulliparous women who have cauterized cervical erosion with radio waves leave good reviews, they were satisfied with the result, some of them who gave birth after this do not feel any special changes, including the re-formation of erosion.

There is nagging pain in the lower abdomen and long-term discharge is observed in many women.

Pregnancy and childbirth

It is prohibited to perform a radiosurgical coagulation procedure during pregnancy, as it can damage the unformed embryo and negatively affect its future health and development.

And if a female representative has not yet become a mother, then you should not be afraid that it is impossible to get pregnant after cauterization. This is a very common myth that has nothing to do with radio wave therapy for erosion. Medical workers from various continents have conducted many studies that have confirmed that pregnancy and normal childbirth are quite possible after cauterization.

Periods after

The first menstruation after cauterization of cervical erosion may change significantly; most likely, they will become more abundant, and their consistency will contain clots of ichor or blood. Such manifestations are considered completely natural and do not require medical advice. Also, after radiosurgical coagulation, a slight disruption of the menstrual cycle or an increased duration of the period of bleeding is possible. Such changes in the female body are not dangerous, but only indicate that some pathologies or pathogenic disorders have recently occurred in the body.

As a rule, the above changes disappear on their own after 4-6 months (the period is individual for each girl). If deviations in women's health do not disappear within six months, you should consult a qualified gynecologist who will conduct a thorough examination and determine whether this disorder is dangerous and, if so, will explain what needs to be done in this case.

Description of the method of radio wave treatment of cervical erosion

The main instrument for the procedure is the modern Surgitron device, made in the USA, which generates high-frequency radio waves from 3.8 to 4 MHz, under the influence of which tissue incision and coagulation occurs. The device itself resembles a pen with a metal tip (the so-called radio wave knife) and is a very thin electrode that is connected to a source of radio waves.

The procedure is usually carried out from the 5th to the 10th day of the menstrual cycle, since it is during this period that the body produces a large amount of estrogen, which promotes rapid tissue healing. In the case of a small area of affected tissue, complete healing of the wound occurs by the beginning of the next menstrual cycle. The procedure itself takes on average no more than 15 minutes (depending on the size of the damaged tissue) and does not require further hospitalization.

The woman sits in a gynecological chair. Before starting cauterization, the doctor inserts vaginal speculum, treats the cervix with a special disinfectant solution and administers an anesthetic. Only after this the doctor directs the radio wave knife to the damaged tissues without touching them.

Under the influence of radio waves, damaged cells heat up until they completely evaporate. In this way, not only the excision of damaged cells occurs, which are subsequently sent for histological analysis, but also thermal coagulation of the tissue: a thin film is formed that prevents bleeding and ensures rapid healing. No scars or cicatrices are formed at the cauterization site, making it possible to treat erosion even in nulliparous women. The radio wave knife does not heat up throughout the entire procedure. With its help, the doctor can make incisions of different depths without suturing. It is possible to remove many other formations at the same time.

Bloody discharge after radio wave treatment

Bleeding after radio wave treatment is an extremely rare occurrence, since during such manipulation the most gentle radiation effects are used, which heat up the cells of the mucous membrane as much as possible and literally glue them together, without affecting the integrity of small capillaries and nearby tissues. However, in quite rare cases, the appearance of bloody discharge is still possible. They may occur for the following reasons:

there was mechanical damage to small arteries in the cavity of the uterine cervix;
the woman has a concomitant disease of the genitourinary organs (genital endometriosis, dysplasia or endocervicitis);
damage to the part of the scab that covers the ulcerative wound after surgery (usually this occurs after intimacy, the use of hygienic tampons or a careless gynecological examination);
with a sharp increase in blood pressure, which occurred due to a stressful situation, elevated body temperature or the use of a certain group of medications;
progression of malignant tumors that were not identified during preparation for radiotherapy.

If, after all, blood appears after radiosurgery, then in order to properly eliminate it and prevent adverse complications, you need to visit an experienced specialist.

How is radio wave treatment performed?

It is advisable that before starting therapy, the woman receives as much information as possible about this method. Therefore, we will tell you in detail how the manipulation is performed.

Destructive intervention must be carried out on the 5-7th day of the menstrual cycle. This reduces the risk of developing cervical endometriosis and promotes better tissue healing. Before the next menstruation begins, tissue epithelization will have time to occur, and menstruation will pass over the healed surface.

For treatment the following can be used:

Superficial exposure to radio waves (cauterization);
Excision (deep removal of affected tissue) of the cervix;
Conization (excision of tissue in the form of a cone).

The photo shows radio wave excision: using radio waves passed through a wire loop, the affected area of the cervix is removed, then, if necessary, the area is coagulated using another electrode.

The volume of intervention is determined by the doctor based on the results of colposcopy, cytology and histology tests. For uncomplicated erosion, leukoplakia or chronic cervicitis, superficial radio wave destruction of the pathological focus (cauterization) is performed. For dysplasia and ectropion of the cervix, excision or conization is more often used.

The procedure is carried out in an outpatient clinic or antenatal clinic, in a small operating room, and takes no more than 10-15 minutes. Considering the short duration of the procedure, the simplicity and painlessness of the procedure, hospitalization of the patient in a hospital is not indicated.

An important question is how much does it cost to treat the cervix with radio waves? It all depends on which clinic the patient chooses for treatment. Thus, in elite clinics in the capital, the price of the procedure ranges from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles, not counting the examination preceding the operation. In the regions of the Russian Federation, the cost of the service is much more modest - about 3,000 rubles. Radiotherapy can be performed free of charge if the patient has an insurance policy and the antenatal clinic at the municipal clinic has a Surgitron radiosurgical device.

It is also useful to read: About congenital erosion of the cervix in nulliparous women

No special preparation is required before treatment, except perhaps sexual abstinence the day before and a hygienic shower in the morning.

Operation stages:

A woman is on a gynecological chair;
A neutral electrode (a special plate made of conductive rubber) is placed under the woman’s buttocks or lower back as close as possible to the operation site. The skin should be dry and clean. To avoid burns, there should be no pads, diapers, sheets, etc. between the patient’s body and the neutral plate;
Speculums are used to open the vagina and expose the cervix;
Depending on the area of the lesion and the size of the lesion, the doctor selects the desired electrode and determines the scope of the operation;
After the manipulation, the woman can go home, her health does not suffer, her ability to work is not impaired;
A visit to the gynecologist and control colposcopy is scheduled after 3-4 weeks.

Other treatments

Radio wave cauterization of uterine erosion is not the only way to eliminate it. There are a number of other methods that can also cope with the ailment that has arisen:

electrical coagulation is the most dangerous method, which implies that the woman will not be able to have children in the future;
chemical coagulation - exposure of the resulting wound surface to chemical elements (carried out when the diameter of the erosion is small);
Cryodestruction is also a common and safe method, during which the wound is exposed to liquid nitrogen.

In addition, if the pathology is small in size, it is possible to use specialized pharmacological drugs that promote accelerated wound healing. It should be remembered that self-medication during the progression of such a disease is highly not recommended, since such an activity can only aggravate the already unfavorable state of your health.

Surgitron device

Surgitron radio wave surgery device is the latest equipment. The device is manufactured in the USA. To influence the affected areas, waveguides of various shapes are used - loop, triangular, ball, scalpel-shaped.

If we compare this device with laser equipment, there are a number of advantages:

minimal area of influence;
does not disturb the mucous membrane, therefore the cervix does not lose elasticity and opens normally during childbirth, which makes it possible to use this technique for nulliparous women whose mucous membrane is tender;
there is no pain, but local anesthesia can be used at the patient’s request;
there is no swelling of tissues after surgery;
short wound healing period and no risk of infection;
According to surgeons, it is easier to operate the device.

The consequences for women after radiosurgical coagulation cannot be compared with the consequences caused by cryodestruction.

Radio wave coagulation of the cervix with the Surgitron apparatus is an expensive procedure, but if you are planning a pregnancy in the future, then it is worth considering all the advantages of this method.