Any idea about transvaginal ultrasound results?

[spacechimp]

Really hope someone might have had something similar, so here goes.

I had a transvaginal ultrasound yesterday and was hoping it would make me feel better but it's actually made me more worried. I've been having brown spotting between periods for the last 3 months - usually mid cycle, but not always. I had a similar spell of this March but it only happened during 1 cycle. I'm 36 and wondered whether it was just hormonal and part of normal changes, but I had treatment for CIN3 in 2007 and am a bit paranoid. I'm on annual smears anyway and GP was not concerned but it was niggling me so went to see private gynaecologist last year who did repeat smear and HPV test - both clear. Started taking Vitamin B6 when it happened last year, and didn't have any further problems until this Feb when the current phase of spotting started

Anyway, after worrying myself about it for the last few months I went back to the private gynae who recommended an ultrasound as well as repeat smear. The sonographer said ovaries and uterus looked normal but that she could see fluid - more than she would have expected (this was day 8 of my cycle) and that I should have another scan in 2-3 months. The gynae said the scan was 'within normal limits' and didn't seem that worried about the fluid, but didn't really explain what's going on. If my ovaries and uterus looked ok would that rule out cancer there? I'll get the smear results next week and if that's ok should I just put it down to a hormonal thing? How worried should I be about the fluid? And what could it be?

What kind of treatment did you have for CIN III? If it was LEEP, and if the piece cut out was then analyzed & found clear around the edges (i.e. all dysplasia taken out) then you should have nothing to worry about.

I don't know what liquid means in such an ultrasound scan, but if there was any possibility of cancer having spread from your cervix to your ovaries & uterus, I believe they wouldn't have sent you away and told you to come back in a few months.

Hi, yep it was LEEP/LLETZ and everything's been clear there since 2007. It's just that the spotting is worrying me, and I wonder what else it could be. Everything I read says that bleeding between periods should be investigated, and I guess I am making sure that's done. I just wondered why they want to repeat the scan and what the fluid could be. Forgot to say, the scan did show a fibroid, but it's small and not causing any trouble at the moment, apparently

Well, given that the abnormal cells had not spread beyond the cervix in 2007, they were completely removed as verified by biopsy, and your smear tests since then were clear, I don't see any reason to worry.

Surely there can be other reasons for spotting.

Brown spotting is usually older blood. Possibilities (other than something abnormal) could be:

1. Partial cervical stenosis so not all the blood flows out during menstruation and it gradually leaks out afterwards - what's the usual flow like, and what was it like before
2. As above but perhaps due to the fibroid
3. Endometriosis (can have deposits of endometrial tissue outside the uterus e.g. on the cervix)

Sounds like your gynae is pretty thorough - where was this extra fluid?

Hi, thanks for the replies. The brown spotting has mostly been happening mid cycle, around ovulation (if I'm ovulating, which I'm not certain about). Occasionally it's been pink tinged discharge mid cycle. It looks like the bleeding does at the very start of my period. Since I had LLETZ in 2007 my usual flow has been lightish on the first day, then 2 heavy days, then tailing off. Periods are longer than before I had treatment and cramps last longer. I think the flow is heavier than before but I don't think I'm using more tampons/pads.

Could the fibroid be causing symptoms? The gynae said it's small and its position means it shouldn't cause me problems at the moment. I'm not sure where the fluid is, whether inside or outside the uterus. The sonographer asked if I'd previously had surgery or an infection (not that I know of) but don't know what she saw. The spotting itself isn't too bad but it just frightens me because I'm worried it's due to something sinister.