Optimal Timing for Performing Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure According to Different Menstrual Phase: Which is Best?

Cervical precancerous lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) are frequently diagnosed and treated in women of reproductive-aged [1]. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is the standard surgical treatment in CIN 2 or 3 [1]. This procedure is an inexpensive, easy to learn and provide specimens for pathological examination with the least major surgical morbidity [2].

Although LEEP is a safe procedure, complications such as postoperative bleeding have been reported. These haemorrhages make patients anxious, undergo unnecessary follow-ups, additional procedures to stop bleeding and interfere in patients daily activities. Various interventions have been attempted to prevent and/or reduce perioperative and/or postoperative haemorrhage after LEEP including vasopressiın, tranexamic acid, Monsel's solution, or local hemostats (TochoSil or Tisseel), but have failed to show a definite advantage over routine practice [2-4].

A hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle is known to affect hemostasis [5] and the blood flow of the genital organ [6,7]. A systematic review of the literature through PubMed, OvidSP, Google Scholar, and Scopus identified only one previous investigation of menstrual cycle period affect blood loss during the LEEP procedure. The authors showed that women had less perioperative bleeding during the follicular phase than during the luteal phase [8]. Two retrospective studies have also demonstrated rhinoplasty and mammoplasty caused more bleeding during the luteal phase and menstruation than during the follicular phase [9,10]. In contrast, other retrospective studies have shown no relation between operative blood loss and the menstrual cycle for hysterectomy, myomectomy, and ovarian cystectomy [11-13] To answer this clinically relevant question, the investigators performed a randomized study comparing perioperative and postoperative bleeding between patients underwent LEEP procedure during the follicular or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.