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When performing cervical cryotherapy, it is important to protect the lateral walls of the vagina from the freezing effects of the cyroprobe.

Procedure:

• Insert and position the speculum to visualize the cervix
• Open the blades of the speculum wide enough so that the vaginal tissue does not touch the cervix, secure in place
• Insert a tongue blade into the vagina to compress the lateral wall. Repeat on the opposite side
• Insert and apply a well lubricated cryoprobe to the cervix
• Push each tongue blade into space on either side of the cervix and hold while treating the cervix
• Remove and discard tongue blades after cryoprobe is removed

Spring 2003

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I became frustrated when I began working with my current gynecologist because he could always dilate a cervix when I failed. I finally realized that his exam rooms were equipped with a different set of dilators than the ones in my rooms. I had brand X (which he had previously abandoned) and he used Pratt and Hank dilators. Both of these types have a more gradual size graduation from the apex to the base of the dilator. Typically I’m using only the smallest set of dilators as I’m usually preparing for an endometrial biopsy with a Pipelle. The smallest Pratt dilator is a 9/10 (French calibration signifies circumference) and the smallest Hank dilator is a 4.5 (diameter). Complete sets of the dilators become fairly expensive, so we’ve just stocked each of our rooms with individually wrapped dilators of the smaller size.
Autumn 2002