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General health

Cervical erosion - getting cauterised (sp)

27 replies

Florabeebaby · 26/05/2014 15:08

I have erosion and I'm in the process of getting a referral from the GP. Has anyone had the procedure, cauterisation (sp) and if so, what is it like? I have 2 young kids, will it affect every day life much?

I assume it's a day surgery type of thing but if anyone has had it please let me know the reality of it.

OP posts:
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MyLittleFinger · 26/05/2014 21:24

Mine was many years ago done by my GP in the surgery. It wasn't painful and all I can remember is the smell of burning as the cauterisation was taking place. After I left the surgery I just got on with my day.

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minipie · 26/05/2014 21:38

I had it done years ago and like the pp it was a non event as I recall - no after effects.

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morethanpotatoprints · 26/05/2014 21:46

I had it done many years ago, legs in stirrups, a small burning sensation a bit uncomfortable but that was all, sort of smarted a bit.
No problems after this and likewise just got on with my day.
If I remember there were codes of CIN 1,2,3 I think they related to the amount of erosion, mine was 3 and doc said it was quite a bit of erosion but still was fine.
Good Luck OP, I think the thought is worse than the treatment and after all its required for your health.
I'm sure it will be fine Thanks

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morethanpotatoprints · 26/05/2014 21:48

Oh, posted too soon, I have a ps.

The hair never grew back on that part of my fanjo, there's a bald patch, honestly.
Anybody else have this?

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Florabeebaby · 27/05/2014 08:11

Doesn't sound too bad then..I mean I've given birth twice! I jst get a bit weird when I think someone is messing about down there.
Calling the GP today for a referral.
Thank you.

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rabbitstew · 27/05/2014 09:36

Hmm. There seems to be some confusion going on as to what a cervical erosion is. A cervical "erosion" has nothing to do with CIN. CIN is a term relating to cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus - ie pre-cancerous changes. A cervical erosion, also sometimes called an "ectropion" is an overgrowth of cells normally found on the inner surface of the cervix, so that they come out onto the outer surface. These cells are very sensitive, produce more mucous and bleed more easily than the cells normally found on the outer surface of the cervix, which can be annoying, but are otherwise totally harmless. If the cells are causing a problem by, eg, bleeding after sex, then they can be burnt off by cauterisation. Since when treating people for CIN, the area is generally cauterised, the procedure for treating CIN and for treating an erosion is not at all dissimilar - you have to have a speculum inserted (as per a smear test) so that the doctor can get a view of your cervix, the doctor then views your cervix through a microscope (and there is usually a screen in the room so that you can see what the doctor can see), you have a local anaesthetic injected into your cervix (uncomfortable, but no more than any other local anaesthetic injection), then the area of the ectropion is dealt with and cauterised - you can smell the burning and if you are looking on the screen, it doesn't look pretty! Afterwards, you can generally carry on as usual, although the doctor will advise whether you should, eg, try not to lift anything too heavy for a day or two, or whether you should wear a sanitary pad for a day or two, and to be aware that in a few days, you may find little charred bits coming out into your pants... Basically, however, the body recovers very quickly and it shouldn't cause more than a mild aching and if it's just an erosion, not an area of CIN, it is highly unlikely you'll need to change your normal routine at all post-treatment. Also, there is no reason whatsoever why they'd need to do anything to the hair in your pubic area if they are treating your cervix.

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minipie · 27/05/2014 13:55

Yes mine was for bleeding from cervix tissue, not pre cancerous changes. And no interference with my pubic mane hair.

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morethanpotatoprints · 27/05/2014 17:36

Oh sorry, I stand corrected it was a long time ago.
Perhaps it was both then as I do distinctly remember the CIN 3 and the erosion.
My apologies OP, I didn't mean to scare you, obviously you can have one without the other. I presumed they were one and the same.

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morethanpotatoprints · 27/05/2014 17:38

They didn't do anything to my pubic hair, I just noticed a bald patch on the outside in the area where the treatment would have been internally iyswim.

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TheOrchardKeeper · 27/05/2014 18:13

Mine was only painful during the anaesthetic. That stung like hell but lasts 1 second or less.

The worst part was the first few days. I did bleed a lot and have lots of watery discharge so maybe stock up on some super pads as I felt like I'd wet myself all the time for the first few days. But after that it was more of an annoyance than anything else as it wasn't heavy but wasn't light enough for just a pantyliner. It can make you feel a bit wobbly in that next hour or so too.

Good luck. I'm sure it will be fine and it's great to know it's been sorted Smile

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Verynovicegardener · 27/05/2014 19:38

Hi

Just wanted to say I've also had this treatment, long time ago, due to bleeding after sex.

The treatment was as previously described, legs in stirrups, strange slightly unpleasant feeling when local anaesthetic gies in but no pain otherwise. Funny aches mild cramps for rest of day ( I got the bus home!!)

Just to mention I did develop an infection after my treatment, the symptoms came on after 3 ish days and were a very watery copious offensive smelling discharge. Not serious and went almost immediately with some press arise from GP who said infections are fairly common after cauterisation.

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Verynovicegardener · 27/05/2014 19:39

'Press arise'= pessaries!

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annabanana19 · 28/05/2014 18:27

I've had treatment to the cervix twice due to bleeding after sex. 1st time it was frozen & didn't work, then it was cauterized & did the trick for 10 years. Erosion is still there & does bother me a bit but not enough to go to the GP again for referral.

Some cramping was experienced afterwards for a few hours and I took the following day off work but it was nothing major.

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annabanana19 · 28/05/2014 18:28

forgot to add I had it done inder GA in hospital - not requested mind it was just done.

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ProYaffle · 23/04/2016 14:55

Apologies for resurrecting this post, but I have been googling Cervical Cauterisation and this one came up! I was told yesterday that I need to go in to have this procedure done and have made an appointment for the end of May. The question I have is what would happen if I didn't have it done? The only reason I went to my GP was due to slight bleeding after sex, it doesn't bother me and it's not painful, I just knew it wasn't right. Now I find myself being referred to have this procedure done, which quite honestly sounds awful! I asked the Dr if I needed to have it done and he just said yes, but didn't expand upon why. Has anyone got any ideas as to what would happen if I didn't go ahead with it?

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PollyPerky · 23/04/2016 16:57

Crikey- how do you find a zombie thread? Why not just start a new one?

I had this done over 35 years ago, after going on the Pill- hormonal shifts can cause it. I had it done in hospital under a GA but things have presumably moved on since then. My GP did try to treat it first with something like silver nitrate . If you don't have it done, then nothing may happen or the cells may bleed more and I suppose could get infected. If it's not too extensive, some drs are happy to leave it alone and just keep an eye on it. Why not ask your GP and see what they say?

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ProYaffle · 24/04/2016 22:04

I just found it on a Google search - sorry. Thanks for your reply though

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Zedd30 · 28/04/2016 06:26

Hi ProYaffle,
I had my Cervix Cauterisation procedure done today actually.
I went to my Gynaecologist initially as a checkup after my LLETZ procedure but also because I was getting recurrent yeast infections and he discovered that I had a bit of cervical erosion. I had a few checkup appointments with him to keep an eye on the erosion and he eventually said that I would need to get it cauterised. The reason being that is was never going to get better on its own (none do apparently) and also because it was getting bigger and spreading to my vaginal canal. He also said that leaving it meant that I would continue to have yeast infections and it would leave me vulnerable to getting more serious infections through sex. He even said that infections there can easily spread up into the pelvic area!! No thanks!!
So I had the procedure done today and I was terrified too! I had several local anaesthetic injections and I must be sensitive to the anaesthetic, my doc said, because I nearly passed out. It caused me to shake too but I felt no pain other than the uncomfortable stretching with the scope.
It was a rather uneventful procedure and I had got myself all terrified for nothing. Afterwards I have what feels like bad period pain but no bleeding or drainage yet.
I was sent away with both oral antibiotics and antibiotic cream to apply internally.
I hope this helps you. I joined up just so I could reply to your post because I wish someone had told me info like this before mine. Maybe then I wouldn't have been so scared!!
Feel free to ask me more questions and good luck with your procedure in May. Smile

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RebeccaJPye · 28/04/2016 13:18

What happens is you keep bleeding.. it can get worse, and it can cause issues in your sex life etc. I've had an ectropion for the last year and a half, and it's not fun. I had the silver wash 6 months after I started bleeding (took that long because doctors sent me from one to the other) I had an appointment scheduled 3 months later to have it cauterised but as it seemed to have gotten better I cancelled that, only to start bleeding again a few weeks later... long story short, it got worse, and I had the silver wash again 3 months ago. That didn't work at all, so I've had the cauterisation today (hoping this works for me) the only pain I had was when the anaesthetic was injected to my cervix, was a little like having a coil inserted, it makes you a little light headed and your heart races from the adrenaline, but it goes after a minute or so, I couldn't smell any burning per say, but it was an odd smell. I had it done 2 hours ago and currently feeling okay, if not a little light headed. I'd say get it done, living with bleeding is not fun, take my word for it...

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ProYaffle · 28/04/2016 18:17

Thank you so much Zedd30 and Rebecca for your replies, you've really helped :-) I've been googling no end and I don't think that was a good idea! I do feel a lot better about it after reading your posts so I guess I'll just have to learn to be brave as you are right, it's not much fun living with the bleeding and if it won't go away on it's own with the potential to get worse ignoring it is not really an option. Thank you again, I really appreciate it.

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Rudi123 · 15/01/2017 10:51

I just found this post on a google search.

I had the procedure 5 days ago extremely painful during and after. That night I almost took myself to a&e because the pain was almost unbearable. Anyway I'm now bleeding extremely heavily 5 days after, I mean it leaked onto my bed during the night, only a little bit but still it should be protected by a sanitary towel. Has anyone exprerienced heavy bleeding after their procedure? How long does it last

Thanks in advance x

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user1488914565 · 07/03/2017 19:29

Hi wondering if anyone can help me. I had my cervix cauterised 8days ago. It was painful at the time but had no pain since haven't really had any bleeding just a couple of spot on 2 days but the discharge has been horrible. It's very watery and makes me feel like I've wet myself. Should I be worried and get it checked or is this normal?

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QuuenJJ · 10/10/2017 22:54

I have an appointment tomorrow but unfortunately im bleeding. Do you advise fpr me to take medication to stop my menstral cycle. As ive had silver nitrate previously and wasnt successful. Would they carry out treatment of im bleeding?

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JManson · 02/11/2017 16:50

Could anyone help, I’m just looking to see if anyone else has had the same symptoms, I got my cervix’s cauterisation about 7 months ago now, and about an hour after I got it done I started being sick, and since then I haven’t stopped being sick, my doctors are useless they just give me anti-sickness tablets all the time and they don’t work and they said it’s not linked but I’ve had so many tests done and I’ve had an endoscopy but nothing, it’s just to see if anyone’s has anything similar.

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Tsantoro · 23/11/2017 09:30

I went to tye GYN this morning she said the spotting and blood between periods is ectropian cervix. She suggested cauterizing it with silver nitrate sticks. No anaesthetic was used. The procedure wasn't painful at first. I then started passing out, which was pretty scary being by myself. Laying down, water, goldfish, and apple juice helped. I have felt nauseous on and off all day and it has been painful. Yellow discharge mixed with blood and black from the silver nitrate sticks. Not heavy. I cried in my car... wish I had a warning that I might pass out. She said that was normal. It's been 12 hours we will see what happens. She said this should fix it, but with hope. No guarantees and I would hate to do it again. Crossing my fingers.

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