Cervical Cone Biopsy

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

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A cervical cone biopsy is surgery to take cells from your cervix. Surgery may be done so cells can be tested for cancer or can be removed before they become cancer.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your surgery:

• Informed consent is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
• An IV is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
• Anesthesia:
  • General anesthesia will keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. Anesthesia may be given through your IV. You may instead breathe it in through a mask or a tube placed down your throat. The tube may cause you to have a sore throat when you wake up.
  • Regional anesthesia may be given to numb the surgery area. You will be awake during surgery, but you should not feel pain.

During your surgery:

• Your surgeon will insert a speculum into your vagina. This is the same tool used during a Pap smear. The speculum allows your surgeon to see inside your vagina to your cervix.
• Stitches may be used to hold your cervix in place during surgery. You may be given a shot of medicine into your cervix to help decrease bleeding. An incision will be made in your cervix to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue. Your surgeon may also use an electrical wire loop to remove the tissue from your cervix. The incision will be closed with stitches. Gauze with a liquid to prevent bleeding may be inserted into your vagina.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

After your surgery:

You will be taken to a room to rest until you are fully awake. Do not get out of bed until your healthcare provider says it is okay. When healthcare providers see that you are not having problems, you may be able to go home.

• A Foley catheter is a tube put into your bladder to drain urine into a bag. Keep the bag below your waist. This will prevent urine from flowing back into your bladder and causing an infection or other problems. Also, keep the tube free of kinks so the urine will drain properly. Do not pull on the catheter. This can cause pain and bleeding, and may cause the catheter to come out.
• Medicines may be given to prevent pain or an infection caused by bacteria.

RISKS:

You may get an infection in the surgery area or urinary tract. You may have pain in your lower abdomen. After a cervical cone biopsy, you may have trouble getting pregnant. You may have a baby who is small or born too early. Your cervix may narrow, making it hard to find problems in the future. After your cervical cone biopsy, you may still have some abnormal cells, or abnormal cells may return.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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