Cancer Cervical Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment How Soon Can You Have Sex After a LEEP? By Jaime R. Herndon, MS, MPH Updated on November 17, 2022 Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD Print After a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), the last thing on your mind might be having sex, but eventually, you may want to be intimate again with your partner. Since LEEP is a surgical procedure, there are some things to be aware of regarding sex post-LEEP. The average time to wait before having sex after LEEP is about four to six weeks. How long you wait depends on how much of your cervical tissue is removed. Generally speaking, the more abnormal the cervical tissue, the more time it will take the cervix to heal fully. Read on to learn more about LEEP, recovery from LEEP, and when it's OK to resume sexual activity. Verywell / Emily Roberts What Is a LEEP? A LEEP helps diagnose and treat abnormal or cancerous conditions in the cervix. A thin wire loop is used during the procedure to remove abnormal cells from your cervix for further testing. The purpose of a LEEP is to prevent cervical cancer. The procedure is typically done after less invasive procedures, including Pap testing or colposcopy. If abnormal tissue is found during Pap testing or colposcopy, LEEP may be done to examine and treat the abnormal cell growth. Colposcopy is a noninvasive procedure using a microscope-like device to view your cervix. LEEP: Everything You Need to Know Sex After a LEEP Most people are advised to refrain from having sex for about four to six weeks after the LEEP. Having sex before your cervix heals can increase your risk of infection. In addition to not having sex, your healthcare provider may instruct you not to douche or use tampons after the procedure. You also need to avoid swimming or soaking in a bathtub until your healthcare provider says it's OK. When to See a Healthcare Provider You should call your healthcare provider if any of the following occurs during your recovery:Abnormally heavy bleeding (heavier than your menstrual flow)Bleeding with clotsFoul-smelling vaginal dischargeFever over 100.4 FAbdominal pain Even if you feel fine and believe your cervix is fully healed, you should follow your healthcare provider's guidance about when it will be safe to start having sex again. Cervical Cancer Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Email Address Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Potential Risks Most people have mild or no complications after LEEP. However, the removal of cervical tissue in LEEP can weaken your cervix, and this can cause several pregnancy complications. Miscarriage: One study has shown that among people who have previously had a LEEP, miscarriages were reported at a rate of about 18% in pregnancies that occurred less than 12 months after the procedure.Preterm delivery: Another study found that people with previous LEEPs had a 7.2% rate of preterm deliveries, whereas the control population had a 4.6% rate of preterm deliveries. The risk of preterm delivery increases in people who have had repeat LEEPs. In pregnancies that occurred 12 months or later after having a LEEP, no significant difference emerged in the rates of miscarriages in people who had the procedure. Some people have reported discomfort during sex after a LEEP, including vaginal pain, dryness, and a feeling of painful pressure on the cervix. Foreplay and heightened sexual arousal may aid naturally occurring vaginal lubrication and help relieve discomfort. Cervical stenosis: The vaginal pain and cervical pressure may be due to the narrowing of your cervix after the procedure; this should improve with time as you continue having sex. Vaginal dryness: The dryness often goes away with time. In the meantime, vaginal lubricants can help. Ensure your healthcare provider says it's safe to use these products before you use them. Pregnancy After a LEEP Procedure: What to Know Summary The standard wait time is four to six weeks after LEEP, but it's best to confirm this with your healthcare provider. Having sex too soon after LEEP can cause serious complications, including infection. Getting pregnant too soon after the procedure may also increase your risk of complications during pregnancy. A Word From Verywell An important aspect of resuming sexual activity when it is safe to do so after LEEP is your readiness. Even if you are physically healed and ready, if you're not emotionally ready, that's OK. You've had a medical procedure, and it's OK to take some time to regroup. Talk with your partner about ways to express intimacy that may not involve vaginal penetration. Frequently Asked Questions How soon can I get pregnant after having a LEEP? Healthcare providers usually recommend waiting six months after a LEEP before you try to conceive. You should have a follow-up with your OBGYN first to be sure the abnormal cells are gone. Learn More Risks for Miscarriage Does having a LEEP affect your ability to have an orgasm? Some research shows that those who have had a LEEP lose some ability to orgasm and have less sexual satisfaction. However, more research is needed to understand how or why this happens and how it can be treated. Learn More What You Should Know About Vaginal Health How much do you usually bleed after a LEEP? Within a day or two after the procedure, you’ll notice some brownish discharge. This may be a combination of the solution used during the LEEP and blood. You may continue to have bloody discharge for about four days. Bleeding can come back and continue as you heal over the next two weeks. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice blood clots or bleeding so heavy you must change your pad every hour or two. Learn More Understanding Blood Clots Is oral sex OK after a LEEP? Oral sex is still sex; after a LEEP, you have open wounds and are still healing. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about abstaining from sex (including oral sex) until you are fully healed. Then, when you see them for your follow-up appointment, check with them to ensure it's OK to proceed with your partner. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Bjørge T, Skare GB, Bjørge L, Tropé A, Lönnberg S. Adverse pregnancy outcomes after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(6):1265-1273. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001777 Ciavattini A, Clemente N, Delli Carpini G, et al. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure and risk of miscarriage. Fertil Steril. 2015;103(4):1043-1048. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.12.112 Heinonen A, Gissler M, Riska A, Paavonen J, Tapper AM, Jakobsson M. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure and the risk for preterm delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;121(5):1063-1068. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e31828caa31 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Fertility and pregnancy after a LEEP. Cendejas BR, Smith-McCune KK, Khan MJ. Does treatment for cervical and vulvar dysplasia impact women’s sexual health? American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2015;212(3):291-297. doi:10.1016%2Fj.ajog.2014.05.039 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About your loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). By Jaime R. Herndon, MS, MPH Herndon is a freelance health/medical writer with a graduate certificate in science writing from Johns Hopkins University. Originally written by Lisa Fayed See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit