If a Pap test is abnormal, the doctor must decide whether to simply follow up with a repeat test in four to six months or do a colposcopy. A colposcope is an instrument equipped with a magnifying glass and a light. The physician uses it to closely examine suspicious areas on the cervix. It can be done in a physician's office or in a hospital on an outpatient basis. Usually, no anesthesia is necessary.
Cauterization is considered very safe.
However, occasionally it causes scarring that makes future Pap smears difficult to interpret. Cryosurgery destroys tissue by application of extreme cold in the form of liquid nitrogen. This procedure can also be done in the physician's office. Laser surgery uses a high-energy beam of light to burn away the dysplasia. There is little or no damage to surrounding tissue, and the area heals quickly.