Efficacy of Cryotherapy in Treatment of Benign and Premalignant Cervical Lesions

Abstract Introduction: Benign cervical lesions, such as cervical erosion and chronic cervicitis, frequently present with symptoms like vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and abnormal bleeding. These symptoms significantly impact women's quality of life, often leading to ineffective outpatient treatments. Additionally, premalignant cervical lesions pose a risk of progression to cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in India. Aim & Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy of cryotherapy in treating benign and premalignant cervical lesions. Methods: An interventional analytical study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at SMS Medical College, Jaipur, from March 2023 to March 2024. A total of 250 women aged 18 to 60 with complaints of chronic vaginal discharge, postcoital bleeding, or dyspareunia, cervical erosion or CIN1 were included. Cryotherapy was done using the double-freeze technique, and follow-up assessments were conducted at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-treatment. Results: The majority of participants were aged 25-35 years (44%) and predominantly from rural backgrounds (60%). A notable 64.8% women had history of treatment taken for pelvic inflammatory disease as an important risk factor and 40% patients had cervical erosion on per speculum examination. Before treatment 87.2% patients reported vaginal discharge, 50.4% experienced pelvic pain, 16.4% had dyspareunia and 13.2% reported backache. There was a significant reduction of vaginal discharge from 87.2% to 6.4% 12 weeks after cryotherapy (p<0.0001). A complete resolution in pelvic pain, dyspareunia and backache was seen at 12 week follow up. Minimal side effects were observed, primarily transient discomfort and watery discharge. Conclusion: Cryotherapy is a highly effective and safe treatment for benign and premalignant cervical lesions, associated with minimal complications. This cost-effective procedure can be integrated into routine outpatient care, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality linked to these conditions.