Ablation Therapy for Vaginal Precancer
Ablation therapy is the use of focused light and heat to destroy abnormal tissues. It might be used to treat vaginal precancer, also called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN).
When is ablation therapy used?
Ablation therapy might be used to treat VaIN if the entire area involved can be seen clearly and vaginal cancer has been ruled out.
Ablation therapy typically is not a treatment for invasive cancer.
How ablation therapy is done
In ablation therapy, a laser beam is used to destroy abnormal tissue. These procedures are usually done with local numbing medicine (local anesthesia) in a healthcare clinic. You¡¯re able to go home the same day.
Possible side effects
Side effects can include:
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding
- Cramping similar to menstrual cramping
For more information on ablation and the use of lasers, see Lasers in Cancer Treatment.
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- References
Developed by the ÌÇÐÄTV¹ÙÍø Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the ÌÇÐÄTV¹ÙÍø Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Holschneider CH, Berek JS. Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/vaginal-intraepithelial-neoplasia on September 8, 2026.
Kesic V, Carcopino X, Preti M, et al. The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD), and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) consensus statement on the management of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2023;33(4):446-461. Published 2023 Apr 3.
National Cancer Institute. Vaginal Cancer Treatment (PDQ). Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/vaginal/hp/vaginal-treatment-pdq on September 8, 2026.
von Gruenigen VE, Gibbons HE, Gibbins K, Jenison EL, Hopkins MP. Surgical treatments for vulvar and vaginal dysplasia: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;109(4):942-947.
Last Revised: October 23, 2026
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