Docs removed most my cervix and now I want a baby

[Jilliebean]

Has anyone here managed to carry to term with very little cervix left? I believe the middle bit was removed. Cancer cells were removed along with some cervix during a colposcopy?

That's really tough, op. Can you give us a bit more context? Do you already have children?

Were you awake at the time? I am assuming this was a Lletz.
Multiple Lletz procedures increase the risk of premature delivery but this can be reduced with increased surveillance.
The vast majority of women who have had this will have completely normal pregnancies with vaginal deliveries.
Cancer research patient info

Can you ask your doctor? Did they tell you when they did the procedure? Hope it all works out x

You need to talk to your GP or maybe ask for a referral to the local gynae team, they’ll be able to advise. However you do need a functioning cervix to carry a pregnancy to a viable gestation. They’ll know how much of yours was removed, if there’s enough of it left they could put a stitch in? Did they not talk to you about possible pregnancy when they did it?

Lots of women do. Cervical cerclage is an option if there is threatened early labour. I’d ask your GP to refer you to gynae/fertility clinic to discuss your options with someone who has your medical notes and can advise you further.

I know sometimes when a cervix is weak they can have a stitch in it. I'd talk to your gynae

Thanks for replying!
I have a child Already, yes.
I was awake but it was during the times of covid so nobody removed masks and I rely on lip reading, so I was nodding my head like a bloody thunderbird without really understanding what was being said and it hasn't been until recently I've considered to TTC I've realised it may have consequences.

Thank you for advice 🙏 it's very appreciated x

If it was a LLETZ procedure (and they would have been very remiss to provide you with no information to take away with you about what you'd had done, nor explain it to you in advance), then it's unlikely to have any impact on your ability to carry a baby to term.

Definitely speak to a doctor before becoming pregnant to spare you any potential heartbreak. And remember whatever happens you do have one lovely healthy child.

Hi OP. I had an LLETZ just this Monday just gone. What do you mean by the middle part? Was it your first procedure or have you had one before? In any case, it sounds as if you should have another opportunity to talk to the gynae Dr as you didn't really get the chance to do so due to the masks. If you haven't been discharged already I would contact the hospital and explain the situation and why you need the chance to speak to them about it. The more information you have on your situation the better you can deal with it.

I had a cone knife biopsy and they told me it could cause problems with future pregnancies. In the end I had my pregnancy, they took me in for regular scans slightly more often than normal, and were prepared to put a stitch in if necessary. In the end it wasn’t needed and I went to 38+6 so full term. My baby was born face presentation but I’ve never been told if my cervix was a contributing factor to that. It probably didn’t matter to them to investigate as he was deemed well and I didn’t need a c section. In fact they probably didn’t even know about my cervix as it all happened so fast.

Watching this as I had the lletz procedure and was never told it could effect me carrying a child or getting pregnant.

Hi, I would contact Professor Shennan at St Thomas’ hospital in London. You used to be able to self refer/ask your GP to refer. If you haven’t enough cervix to carry to term you can have a Transabdomiinal Cerclage (TAC) and safely carry a baby to term. There’s a Facebook group UK TAC support if you want more information. A number of women on there have sadly lost babies due to Lletz procedures not leaving enough cervix.

My best friend had cervical cancer and had most of her cervix removed. She has carried two children to term. She was really anxious during the first pregnancy and didn't much leave the house but during the second pregnancy she had a child to look after so wasn't able to rest as much but both babies were delivered by c section at 39 weeks.

You need to find out how much they actually took, maybe talk to your GP in the first instance, or see if you can follow up with the consultant you saw?

Some people are fine after lletz, others need help to carry a baby to term. I didn't have enough cervix left so I had a stitch and am currently at 34 weeks pregnant with all going ok!

It's tricky to say. Do you know if it was LLETZ or a cone biopsy? I am 6w pregnant following a LLETZ procedure 5 years ago. However I believe it's riskiest when you've had several, as opposed to one. I had 1cm depth removed. X

I haven't had any procedure but when I was pregnant my gynae said I had a very short cervix. I ended up with a stitch to stop me dilating too early. I made it to 34 weeks but then labour was rather quick!

I had a LLETZ when DS1 was 5 months old, had no real problems with 2nd pregnancy just had to have a couple of extra scans to check cervical length. Went to full term and then some, DS2 was born 8 days past his due date!

I second this. I had a TAC for my last two pregnancies (many years ago). My situation was a bit different - I'd had a surprise incompetent cervix situation in the previous pregnancy and tore through the emergency stitch so I felt there wasn't much useful left after that, and couldn't trust a regular TVC. The consultant insisted it would be fine. I wasn't convinced, so I used "Right to Choose" to see an NHS TAC specialist when I was pregnant again. I had the TAC fitted at 13 weeks, and I had under 1cm of cervix left at that point - the TAC consultant said it was very lucky I'd come to him as a TVC wouldn't have been enough. Don't take any chances if you feel they've removed a lot, which they may well have done if it was more of a treatment rather than just a biopsy.

Ironically I've had a couple of LLETZ myself now (bloody horrid they are) after CGIN which turned out to be stage 1a2 and ended up with a hysterectomy, taking the TAC out with it of course! Fortunately my family had long since been complete.

I have heard many good things about Professor Shennan. I saw a doctor at Chelsea and Westminster (forgotten his name now) for mine - there were only four NHS TAC specialists in the country when I had mine, but it was nearly 12 years ago now. I hope there would be more by this point! Even if you don't need a TAC, it's far better to see a doctor that can offer that option as well as the more regular TVC option.

Good luck!

I would ask the GP for a print out of the actual procedure you had done, and to explain it. I understand it was covid, but you need to understand what is being done to you OP! Do you sign? You could have asked for someone to interpret BSL, or write down what was happening.

Its your body and you need to be informed OP. I'd get back to your GP as a start- to see if you need follow up for the cells found, a gynae review due to the procedure or can just crack on a TTC again. Best of luck.

I also had same procedure and was fine with twins but I had a lot of cervix left - worth getting a scan to see but they can also put a stitch in to hold your cervix if its shorter than needed.

I had a LLETZ followed by a cone biopsy and was left with very little cervix. Carried two babies to term (and some!). As a pp said, I had regular scans to measure the length of my cervix and mine actually got longer as the pregnancy progressed. Had it shortened further they would have put a stitch in.

I had LLETZ. They took a fair chunk of it. As a result, I had really regular internal scans to check my cervical length. If it had begun to thin, they’d have put in a ‘stitch’ and probably got me on bed rest. Fortunately it held.

I’d advise getting in touch with the secretary of the consultant that performed it and asking for a written explanation of how child bearing may be affected for you following your specific treatment.

Phenomenal advice and kind words, thank you all folks x