We performed a retrospective analysis of 204 patients who underwent large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) to determine whether women who have a negative LLETZ (no cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) present) are at a lower risk of developing further abnormal cytology or CIN than women whose LLETZ is positive (CIN present). Overall 69 of the LLETZ samples were negative (34%) and 135 were positive (66%). The mean duration of negative cytology during follow up was 25.4 months (negative LLETZ) and 21.2 months (positive LLETZ) (P=0.03). In the negative LLETZ group, cytology did not miss any cases of persistent CIN at the 6-month follow-up visit and 39 repeat punch biopsies were all negative. There were 3/69 cases (4.3%) in the negative LLETZ group and 13/135 (9.6%) in the positive LLETZ group of persistent disease (CIN diagnosed at or as a result of the 6-month follow-up). Following a negative 6-month review, one woman developed an abnormal smear in the negative LLETZ group (1/66=1.5%) compared with 10 women (10/122=8.1%) in the positive LLETZ group. Recurrent CIN (CIN subsequently diagnosed following a negative 6-month review) was seen in 0/69 cases (0%) in the negative LLETZ group and 4/135 (3.2%) in the positive LLETZ group. We conclude that women who undergo a negative LLETZ may represent a low-risk group for developing further cytological and histological abnormalities.