Surgery Overview

The loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) uses a thin, low-voltage electrified wire loop to remove genital warts by heating the margin of the area to be removed, which separates the wart from the skin.

LEEP is done in a doctor's office, clinic, or hospital on an outpatient basis. A local anesthetic is injected to numb the area.

What To Expect

Recovery time depends on the location and number of warts removed. Most people can return to normal activities within 1 to 3 days after LEEP.

Avoid sexual intercourse until the treated area heals and the soreness is gone. (This usually takes 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the size of the area treated.)

Why It Is Done

LEEP may be used to treat large, external warts and warts on the cervix.

How Well It Works

• LEEP may be as effective as other surgeries to remove warts, but scarring may occur.
• During LEEP, only a small amount of normal tissue is removed at the edges of the wart tissue.

Risks

Bleeding is the most common side effect. But typically LEEP causes less blood loss than laser treatment.

Scarring of the penis is a possible side effect that can result in problems with urination or erection.

Infection does not occur often and can be treated with antibiotics.