Stenosed cervix and healthy womb lining

[tweetypie2]

Hi, I'm getting myself really worked up and hope someone can help. I've had 2 mmc in past 18 months, coth followed by ERPC. After first, my periods never got back to normal then after 2nd they completely stopped. After much badgering of my GP I got a referral and finally had diagnosis of stenosed cervix, where scarring had blocked the entrance to my cervix. Had the scarring removed (ow!), and reassured all would be okay.

3 cycles later, and my periods are still rubbish - really light, dark brown blood, don't even need to wear a tampon. I've got a follow up appointment in September with gynae consultant, but tbh think they don't know what else they can do. We're desperate to conceive again, but really conscious of age (37). Every month I get myself so distraught and I know that isn't helping, but I don't know if my womb lining is healthy enough for implantation. Has anyone had any experience of this or can advise?

hi tweetypie, so sorry for your losses. Ive also had a diagnosis of Ashermans in the past, stenosed cervix is just another name for Ashermans. Its definitely worth you have a look at www.ashermans.org for lots of information and join their Yahoo Group as there is lots of further information available through there, and lots of advise from some great ladies who have been through this.

Please dont give up hope, I needed two operations (with two surgeons regarded as the best at treating AS in the UK) in order to conceive again, but I am currently 36 weeks pregnant, so please let that give you hope.

The most important piece of advise I can give you is to get to see a specialist, Mr Adrian Lower and Mr Geoffrey Trew, are regarded as the best in the UK, but only Mr Trew operates on the NHS. Do you have health insurance by any chance? Or make sure the Dr treating you follows a good protocol, which includes things like no use of heat sources to remove scar tissue but micro scissors instead, use of a coil after surgery in order to prevent the scarring from reoccurring, and prescribing HRT after the operation. Also adequate follow up including an HSG to ensure scarring has not returned. Do you know if your gynae followed such a protocol?

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions or I can help any further, but please dont give up, with the correct treatment there is every chance you will be able to conceive again.

Best of luck x

Thanks Helenlouisey, you have given me hope. The consultant used micro-scissors to remove the scarring, but I wasn't given anything afterwards. In fact the whole thing was a bit confusing. I was booked in for a hysteroscopy for them to investigate (I was sure it was Asherman's but no-one seemed to agree), was not given any anaesthetic then she just started cutting away scar tissue. Afterwards she showed me pics of the scar tissue around the cervix, said that should be it sorted and off I went.

In the follow up appointment with a different consultant, I had another examination and was told the cervix was open so I should be able to conceive. But I just know these 'periods' aren't right. Do I wait until September for the follow up NHS appointment? I've thought about going private, but don't know how I can afford it. Also, do I have to have a referral or can I just turn up?

No you wouldn't need a referral if going privately, you can self refer by ringing up and just making an appointment. Seeing Mr Trew on the NHS is more complicated, I think I posted information on the AS support thread on here some time ago, so I will try and dig that out for you. If you called up either secretary Im sure they could give you an idea regarding costs if you went privately. Difficult regarding NHS follow up, I wouldn't cancel it yet, as is good to have as a back up.

Try and join the AS Yahoo Group, there is an international and UK group and also lists of other good doctors, some of whom you can see on the NHS, and it might also be worth a post on there to ask for recommendations for NHS doctors with a good record for successfully treating AS.

Hi, this was the advise given by one of the Yahoo Group ladies about how to get referred to Mr Trew on the NHS

• Mr Trew practices at a "Fertility Centre" and to be referred to him on the NHS, you have to be referred as a "fertility" patient and must fit the following criteria.

www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-treatment-cost-nhs.html

• If you need NHS treatment and do not have any living children, you can be referred to any NHS Dr for treatment under "Patient Choice" if unhappy with the care at your local PCT and can fit in the previous criteria. IF NOT, then you need to do the following.

-If you have a living child or do not fit in the criteria, you must have your
GP fill in the Request for Treatment. The local PCT then meets and either agrees or disagrees on the approval (whether they want to agree to pay for treatment). If it is declined, you can appeal again to the PCT. Once you are approved you will have a PCT ref number which is the PCT's guarantee to fund the treatment. If the PCT agrees, apparently all other fertility criteria gets thrown out the window.

• If you are not getting the help or treatment that you need, SPEAK TO YOUR MP!!!

Hope that helps x

Thanks so much for all your advice. I think I will look into private and maybe get a bank loan. I feel so angry and frustrated sometimes that I have these problems presumably caused through a careless doctor. It's ruining my life x