Patients also find printed material helpful. The optimal timing for the procedure is within seven days of completion of the menstrual period or at least four days in advance of next menstrual period. After cervical LEEP, there may be swelling sufficient to occlude the endocervical canal, and this can lead to hematoculpa with the need to drain the uterus. By avoiding the time of the menstrual period, there is less potential confusion regarding the origin of post-procedure bleeding, and the chance of causing an arc along a blood path is minimized. This timing also minimizes the likelihood that the patient is pregnant.
Patient consent is mandatory, as every management strategy carries with it some element of risk.
An informed consent is predicated on the fact that the patient has received sufficient information from the family physician regarding the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the procedure. The patient record should document the clinician's patient education process. Securing informed consent from a minor is an important task. Among states and geographic regions there is considerable variation about such issues as to who constitutes a minor and what parental consent must be received by the physician before treating a minor. Many states do not require parental informed consent before providing treatment to a minor with a sexually transmitted disease.