Hi - I'm sure you will get various answers on this. And I would guess that there are degrees of 'healing'. For instance do you mean how long does it take to heal before you can use a tampon again, have intercourse and swim? Or how long does it take to 100% heal as if nothing was ever done?
One reason why you will get various answers is because everyone heals at different rates and each leep might also be done differently - meaning more of the cervix is removed on one person then another.
I can only offer you my experience - - I had my leep done on June 4. I had no bleeding after, and the only evidence I saw was the solution they used to stop the bleeding came out a week later in small amounts.
4 weeks to the day I returned to my gyncological oncologist. For 4 weeks I could not use a tampon, take a bath, go swimming or have intercourse. He re-examined me and said I was healing very very well and I had the green light to resume all previous activities.
I was nervous to have intercourse at first as I had read stories of women saying how much it hurt - well I saw NO difference whatsoever after the leep and continue not to feel any pain during intercourse.
I'm guessing my cervix is not 100% 'healed' but it has healed enough for me to go back to my normal way of life.
I agree with Mel, you'll get a wide variety of answers.
I didn't have a LEEP, but I had a cold knife cone biopsy. I was told 2 weeks without anything in the vagina. At my 2 week exam the doctor said 2 more weeks. I was bummed (and so was hubby!).
Like Mel said, there are also different levels of "healed." Kind of like after a bad cut, it takes a while before you can go without a bandaide and worrying about the cut opening, then it takes quite a while for the red (and later pink) mark to go away and be flesh colored.
When I had the Leep procedure done my Dr. put my restrictions at 6 weeks. I don't know if the time was longer than others because I had just delivered a baby about 4 months before. I think it really depends on your Dr. and how severe the procedure was.
I had this procedure done when I was 27 due to precancerous cells on the cervix.It took a few minutes for the procedure.I was groggy the rest of the afternoon,but back to work the next day.It doesn't hurt.
The biopsy caused more discomfort.
Good luck to you.
