Gynaecology · UK
Private LLETZ treatment in the UK, by a BSCCP-accredited colposcopist.
A fifteen-minute outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic that removes abnormal cervical cells and cures CIN in around 95 per cent of women - with an honest conversation first about whether treatment is needed at all.
Indicative pricing
What private LLETZ treatment costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner gynaecology clinics.
In short
LLETZ under local anaesthetic: £1,200–£2,200, and home within the hour.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colposcopy consultation | £250–£450 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Colposcopy with punch biopsy | £400–£700 | 30 min | 1–2 weeks |
| LLETZ under local anaesthetic | £1,200–£2,200 | 15 min | Same day home |
| See-and-treat (colposcopy + LLETZ) | £1,500–£2,600 | 45 min | Same day home |
| LLETZ under general anaesthetic | £2,500–£4,000 | 30 min | Day case |
| Test of cure smear + HPV test | £150–£300 | 10 min | 1–2 weeks |
Prices vary by clinic, by whether colposcopy and treatment are combined in a see-and-treat visit, and by whether histology and the test of cure smear are bundled. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme delivers colposcopy and LLETZ to a very high standard and free of charge, usually within a few weeks of an abnormal result - we will say so when that is the sensible route.
The problem
Abnormal cells are not cancer. The treatment stops them becoming it.
Around one in twenty screening smears shows cell changes, and the overwhelming majority never become cancer. LLETZ exists to remove the small proportion that might - which makes deciding who needs it as important as doing it well.
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Told you have abnormal cells?
CIN describes how deep the changes go, not cancer. CIN 1 usually resolves alone; CIN 2 and 3 are the grades that warrant treatment.
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Worried about future pregnancy?
A single shallow LLETZ has a small effect on preterm birth risk. Depth and repeat procedures matter far more than the fact of having had one.
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Want it done and finished quickly?
See-and-treat combines colposcopy and LLETZ in one visit. Fifteen minutes, local anaesthetic, and you drive yourself home.
When it helps
When LLETZ is the right treatment.
The findings that lead to treatment, the ones better watched, and the symptom that means urgent assessment rather than a routine appointment.
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CIN 2 or CIN 3 on biopsy
High-grade changes affecting two-thirds or the full thickness of the cervical surface layer. These are the grades LLETZ is designed for.
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Persistent CIN 1
Low-grade changes usually clear on their own within two years. Treatment is considered only when they persist beyond that or the woman prefers it.
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High-grade dyskaryosis on smear
A moderate or severe dyskaryosis result with high-risk HPV, referred straight to colposcopy and frequently treated at the same visit.
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Glandular abnormality (CGIN)
Changes in the glandular cells of the cervical canal. These need a deeper, cylindrical excision than standard LLETZ and careful margin assessment.
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Incomplete transformation zone
Where colposcopy cannot see the whole transformation zone, often after the menopause, excision serves as both diagnosis and treatment.
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Persistent high-risk HPV with abnormality
Ongoing high-risk HPV infection alongside cytological change, where the risk of progression justifies removing the transformation zone.
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Recurrence after previous treatment
Abnormality returning after a previous LLETZ. A repeat excision is possible but depth and cervical length need careful thought first.
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Red flag: bleeding after sex or between periods
Persistent bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after the menopause needs assessment quickly - that is a symptom to investigate, not to screen for.
Treatment options
LLETZ is not the only way to treat CIN.
What each option involves - and which cervical abnormality it fits.
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LLETZ under local anaesthetic
The UK standard. A wire loop removes the transformation zone in under fifteen minutes, in the outpatient clinic, with local anaesthetic only.
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See-and-treat colposcopy
Colposcopy and LLETZ at the same appointment where high-grade change is evident. It removes a second visit and weeks of waiting.
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LLETZ under general anaesthetic
Offered where the lesion is large, the cervix difficult to access, or the woman would rather be asleep. A day case rather than an outpatient visit.
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Cold coagulation (thermal ablation)
Destroys rather than removes abnormal cells with a heated probe. Suitable for some low-grade disease with a fully visible transformation zone, but yields no specimen.
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Cone biopsy (knife cone)
A deeper cylindrical excision, usually under general anaesthetic, for glandular disease or suspected early invasion where a clear margin matters most.
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Watchful waiting with repeat colposcopy
The right answer for many women with CIN 1, and for CIN 2 in women under 25 or planning pregnancy, where spontaneous regression is common.
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Hysterectomy
Reserved for women who have completed their families and have recurrent high-grade disease, or other gynaecological reasons for surgery.
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Colposcopy and second opinion only
An honest review of whether the abnormality needs treating at all. Under-25s and women planning pregnancy benefit most from this conversation.
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
LLETZ cures around 95 per cent of high-grade CIN in a single treatment and takes fifteen minutes. What deserves discussing beforehand is bleeding, the small effect on future pregnancy, and the follow-up that has to happen.
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Bleeding and discharge for weeks
Light bleeding and a brownish or watery discharge for two to four weeks is normal and expected. Heavy bleeding or an offensive smell means infection and needs review.
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Infection in around 1 in 20
Presents as heavier bleeding, offensive discharge or pelvic pain, usually in the second week. It responds well to antibiotics but needs assessing rather than waiting out.
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Effect on future pregnancy
A single shallow excision raises preterm birth risk modestly. Deeper excisions above 10 to 15 millimetres, and repeat procedures, carry more weight - which is why depth is minimised.
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Cervical stenosis
Narrowing of the cervical canal affects a small percentage, most often after deeper or repeat excision. It can make future smears difficult and occasionally causes painful periods.
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Incomplete excision at the margins
Around 10 to 20 per cent of specimens show involved margins. It does not automatically mean repeat treatment - the test of cure smear usually settles it.
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Recurrence and the test of cure
Roughly 5 to 10 per cent of women have persistent or recurrent disease. The six-month HPV test of cure is what catches it, and skipping it is the real risk.
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Nothing in the vagina for four weeks
No tampons, swimming, baths or sex while the cervix heals. This is the instruction most often ignored and the commonest cause of bleeding and infection.
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Anxiety is common and under-acknowledged
The gap between an abnormal smear and a histology result is genuinely stressful. Knowing that CIN is not cancer, and that treatment is highly effective, helps.
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Red flags after treatment
Bleeding heavier than a period, passing clots, offensive discharge, fever or worsening pelvic pain - contact the clinic the same day.
Reading your histology report
Your histology report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever route you took - see-and-treat, a planned LLETZ or a cone biopsy - the histology report that follows keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Pathology language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the report before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and referral cytology
Why the treatment was done - the smear result, HPV status and colposcopic impression that led to excision.
- 02 Technique
What was removed
The excision type and dimensions, particularly the depth in millimetres, and whether it was taken as a single specimen or in fragments.
- 03 Findings
Grade and margin status
The CIN or CGIN grade confirmed on histology, whether the ectocervical, endocervical and deep margins are clear, and any evidence of invasion.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up and test of cure
Read this first: whether the treatment is considered complete, when the test of cure smear is due, and when you return to routine screening.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for colposcopy and LLETZ is usually funded when medically indicated, since an abnormal smear is an acute presentation rather than a chronic condition. Routine screening smears themselves are generally excluded, because the NHS Cervical Screening Programme provides them free.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about LLETZ.
Quick answers on whether it hurts, what CIN grades mean, effects on fertility and pregnancy, and what happens at the test of cure.
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Does LLETZ hurt?
Most women describe it as period-type cramping rather than pain. Local anaesthetic is injected into the cervix first, which stings briefly, and the excision itself takes under a minute. Taking ibuprofen or paracetamol an hour beforehand helps. The majority drive themselves home and return to work the same or the next day.
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What do CIN 1, 2 and 3 actually mean?
CIN describes how far abnormal cells extend through the thickness of the cervical surface layer. CIN 1 affects the lower third and usually resolves without treatment. CIN 2 affects two-thirds and CIN 3 the full thickness - these are the high-grade changes that LLETZ treats. None of them is cancer, and treatment is precisely what stops progression.
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How much does private LLETZ cost in the UK?
LLETZ under local anaesthetic runs £1,200–£2,200, and a see-and-treat visit combining colposcopy and treatment £1,500–£2,600. Under general anaesthetic it rises to £2,500–£4,000. Colposcopy alone is £250–£450 and the test of cure smear £150–£300.
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Will LLETZ affect my ability to get pregnant?
It does not affect fertility. What it can slightly affect is pregnancy itself - a single shallow excision raises the risk of preterm birth modestly, and deeper or repeated excisions raise it more. This is why colposcopists keep the depth to the minimum needed and why unnecessary treatment is avoided in younger women.
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Is LLETZ the same as LEEP?
Yes. LLETZ - large loop excision of the transformation zone - is the British term, and LEEP, loop electrosurgical excision procedure, is the American one. The procedure, the equipment and the outcomes are identical.
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How long is recovery and what can I not do?
Bleeding and discharge continue for two to four weeks. Nothing should go into the vagina during that time - no tampons, swimming, baths or sex - while the cervix heals. Most women return to work within a day or two and to normal exercise within a week.
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What is a test of cure?
A smear with high-risk HPV testing six months after treatment. If HPV is not detected, the treatment has worked and you return to routine three-yearly screening. If HPV is still present, you go back to colposcopy. This single test has replaced years of annual smears and is the most important appointment after treatment.
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Do I still need smears after LLETZ?
Yes, always. Beyond the six-month test of cure, routine screening continues on the national schedule. Treatment removes the abnormal area but does not remove the possibility of new changes developing, so screening remains part of your care indefinitely.
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Can abnormal cells come back after treatment?
In roughly 5 to 10 per cent of women. Recurrence is more likely if the margins were involved, if high-risk HPV persists, or if you smoke - stopping smoking measurably reduces the risk. The test of cure smear at six months is designed to catch recurrence early.
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Should I have this on the NHS instead?
Often, yes. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is a well-run service, and referral from an abnormal smear to colposcopy usually happens within a few weeks at no cost. Private care is most useful when you want a specific consultant, a faster appointment, or a second opinion on whether treatment is warranted at all.
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