Cervical Dysplasia Consultation & Second Opinion

You don’t have to disagree with your current doctor to want another opinion.

If you’ve had an abnormal Pap or HPV test, been diagnosed with CIN2, CIN2-3 or CIN3, or have been told you need a LEEP or another procedure, a second opinion can help you understand the complete picture before deciding what comes next.

Sometimes we recommend something different.

Sometimes we confirm that the plan you’ve already been given is the right one.

Either way, you should understand what your results mean, what your reasonable options are, and why a particular approach is being recommended.

Consultation & Second Opinion — $350

No Hitchcock Family Medicine membership required.

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When the next step isn’t clear

Cervical dysplasia often unfolds over months or years.

An HPV test leads to a Pap result. A Pap leads to a colposcopy. A biopsy comes back as CIN2, CIN2-3 or CIN3. An ECC may show something different. Previous results or treatments may change the significance of what happens next.

By the time someone tells you that you need a LEEP, you may have several reports from different points in that process—but still not feel like anyone has put the whole story together.

That is what a cervical dysplasia consultation is designed to do.

We look beyond a single pathology result and ask:

What do we know?

What is your actual level of risk?

What information might still be missing?

And what are the reasonable options from here?

What do we look at?
UNDERSTAND YOUR RESULTS
Put the pieces together
Pap results, HPV testing, colposcopy findings, cervical biopsies, endocervical sampling and previous treatment records each tell us something different. We review the available information together rather than treating one result in isolation. Sometimes the most important part of a second opinion is simply understanding what all of those results mean when they are viewed as one story.
UNDERSTAND YOUR RISK
Not every abnormal result carries the same risk
CIN2, CIN2-3 and CIN3 are related diagnoses, but they are not interchangeable. Neither are a first abnormal result, persistent high-risk HPV, recurrent abnormalities after previous treatment, or a lesion that extends into the cervical canal. We look at the factors that actually influence risk in your situation.
UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS
Know what is reasonable—and why
Depending on the situation, reasonable next steps may include additional evaluation, careful surveillance, LEEP or another excisional procedure, or—in selected patients—a nonsurgical treatment approach. Not every option is appropriate for every patient. Our goal is to help you understand which options actually apply to you and the tradeoffs involved with each.

A second opinion doesn’t have to produce a different opinion

There is sometimes an assumption that seeking a second opinion means looking for a physician who will disagree with the first one.

That is not how we approach it.

If you were told you need a LEEP and, after reviewing your results and evaluating the cervix when appropriate, we believe a LEEP is the right next step, we will tell you that.

The value of the second opinion may simply be that you now understand why.

And if there is another medically reasonable option worth discussing, we will talk about that too.

The goal is not to find a different answer.

It is to make sure you understand the right answer for you.

What Happens at a Consultation?
  • WE REVIEW THE STORY

    We start with the information you already have.

    That may include Pap and HPV results, colposcopy findings, cervical biopsy or ECC pathology, previous procedures, and previous surveillance.

    We also want to understand what you have already been told and what questions you are trying to answer.

  • WE EVALUATE WHAT MATTERS NOW

    When clinically appropriate, we evaluate the cervix ourselves.

    A careful cervical examination can provide information that cannot be obtained from a pathology report alone, including whether the transformation zone is visible, where the abnormality is located, whether a lesion extends toward the cervical canal, and whether additional biopsy or endocervical sampling is needed.

    Not every second opinion requires repeating a colposcopy or biopsy.

    The evaluation should answer a question — not simply repeat testing you have already had.

  • WE MAKE A PLAN

    Once we understand the history, pathology, and current cervical findings, we talk through what should happen next.

    That might mean surveillance, LEEP or another excisional procedure, additional evaluation, or — for selected patients — discussion of a nonsurgical approach.

    Whatever the recommendation, you should leave understanding what we recommend and why.

What if I was told I need a LEEP?

This is one of the most common reasons someone seeks another opinion.

LEEP is a highly effective treatment for cervical dysplasia and is sometimes clearly the appropriate next step.

But the recommendation should make sense in the context of your actual diagnosis.

For example, clearly established CIN2 can sometimes be managed with careful observation in appropriately selected patients.

CIN3 should be treated.

A pathology report of CIN2-3 or HSIL that cannot be more precisely graded creates a different conversation because CIN3 may not be confidently excluded.

The visibility of the lesion, endocervical findings, previous cervical history, future pregnancy goals and your ability to complete appropriate surveillance may all matter.

Tell us.

Your preferences are relevant to medical decision-making.

Not wanting a LEEP does not automatically mean that avoiding one is medically appropriate. There are situations in which excisional treatment is the safest recommendation, and we will tell you when we believe that is the case.

But if preserving cervical tissue is important to you, we can determine whether another reasonable approach exists.

Depending on your diagnosis and cervical findings, that conversation might include observation or, for selected patients, a nonsurgical treatment such as imiquimod.

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Consultation & Second Opinion

$350

Your cervical dysplasia consultation may include:

  • Review of available Pap and HPV results
  • Review of cervical biopsy and pathology reports
  • Review of colposcopy and endocervical sampling results
  • Review of previous cervical treatment
  • Discussion of future pregnancy goals when relevant
  • Assessment of your individual risk factors
  • Cervical examination or colposcopy when clinically appropriate
  • Discussion of reasonable management and treatment options
  • A clear recommendation for what should happen next

Additional biopsy or pathology fees may apply if tissue sampling is needed.

You do not need to be a Hitchcock Family Medicine member.

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Traveling for a Second Opinion

You do not need to live in Chattanooga to seek a cervical dysplasia consultation.

Some women travel because they want another opinion before undergoing a procedure. Others have recurrent or persistent abnormalities, are interested in a treatment option that is not readily available near them, or simply want a more focused cervical dysplasia evaluation.

We do not believe you should travel unnecessarily for routine care that can be provided appropriately close to home.

But when an in-person second opinion could meaningfully affect a treatment decision, traveling may be reasonable.

Our office is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with convenient access from much of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and the surrounding region.

TRAVELING TO CHATTANOOGA
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral for a cervical dysplasia second opinion?
No. You can contact us directly. If you already have Pap, HPV, colposcopy, biopsy or previous treatment records, having those available can help us understand the complete history.
Do I need to have CIN2 or CIN3 to schedule a consultation?
No. You may contact us after an abnormal Pap or HPV result, before or after colposcopy, after a diagnosis of cervical dysplasia, or following previous cervical treatment. Sometimes the question is simply understanding what should happen next.
Will you repeat my colposcopy?
Not necessarily. If your previous examination and pathology provide the information needed to answer your question, repeating testing simply for the sake of repeating it may not be useful. In other situations, examining the cervix ourselves may provide information that materially affects the recommendation. We decide based on what information is actually needed.
Can you review my pathology?
We review the pathology reports that are available as part of understanding your cervical history. In selected situations—particularly when distinguishing CIN2 from CIN3 could meaningfully affect management—formal review of the actual pathology slides by another pathologist may also be worth discussing.
Can I get a second opinion if my LEEP is already scheduled?
Yes. Scheduling a procedure does not prevent you from asking questions or obtaining another opinion beforehand. Sometimes the second opinion changes the plan. Sometimes it confirms that LEEP is the appropriate next step. Either result can be valuable if it helps you make the decision with greater confidence.
Do I need to have all of my records before scheduling a second opinion?
No. If you already have copies of your Pap results, HPV testing, colposcopy report, biopsy or ECC pathology, or records from previous cervical procedures, those can be very helpful. But you do not need to have everything assembled before contacting us. Start with the information you already have, and we can help determine what additional records may be useful before your consultation.
Can I receive treatment with you after getting a second opinion?
Yes, when appropriate. A second opinion does not obligate you to transfer your care, but if you decide you would like to continue your cervical dysplasia care with us, we can discuss what that would involve. Depending on your diagnosis and individual situation, that may include surveillance, follow-up colposcopy, an excisional procedure, or—for selected patients—a nonsurgical treatment approach. You may also choose to take our recommendations back to your current physician and continue treatment closer to home.
Does getting a second opinion mean I have to transfer my care?
No. A second opinion can simply provide additional information. You may choose to continue care with your current gynecologist, receive some or all of your cervical dysplasia care with us, or coordinate follow-up between practices depending on your situation.

Written and medically reviewed by Matthew Hitchcock, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician
Last reviewed: August 26, 2026

Colposcopy Second Opinion Imiquimod CIN2-3 Traveling

Have cervical dysplasia results and not sure what comes next?

You do not need to know exactly what kind of appointment or treatment you need before contacting us.

If you have an abnormal Pap or HPV result, need a colposcopy, have been diagnosed with CIN1, CIN2, or CIN3, have been told you may need a LEEP, or want a second opinion about your options, start with the results you already have.

Our team will review your request and help you understand the appropriate next step.

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