Urgent Gynaecology Advice Needed

[Hoohoohelp]

Please help. I'm going out of my mind with worry. In October I had a colposcopy because I'd had post coital bleeding. They found a cervical ectropion and CIN2. The CIN was treated with loop biopsy. From that point my post coital bleeding stopped. It restarted again a month or two later. I went to the GP who said that it would just be the ectropion bleeding and that CIN2 after clear margins would not have returned. I'm really paranoid now the bleeding is horific. I'm worried either:

• The CIN or worse is back
• What they said was an ectropion was actually cancer that has been missed and has now got worse.

How likely are these posibilities?

Anyone??

hoohoo didn’t want to read and run, but at the very least contact you need to contact your gp. Do you have any follow up with the surgeon or a number for your consultant to contact?

The GP just said there was no need for panicking yet. I have a smear test in a month which will pick anything up. And they got clear margins from the CIN so it was all removed.

I'd speak to another GP if only to put your mind at rest. If you have a look on the Jo's Trust website there's lots of information on there, and plenty of people who have had CIN2 who will have better advice x

Is it possible that the ectropion which as far as I know was not removed because it didn't stain with the dye thing, was actually cervical cancer? Google (I know it's bad to google) suggests there's no difference in appearance between early cervical cancer and an ectropion. Maybe they found the CIN and missed the cancer. Does anyone know how possible that is? I think I just baffled my GP when I asked about it. She just said the CIN had clear margins. But what if there was cancer as well??!

I've recently had a lletz for CIN 2. I really think that any cancer would have been picked up during the colposcopy and lletz. CIN after all is precancerous cells so surely actual cancerous cells would have come up too, if you had them.

If the bleeding is very bad you need to get it checked out. I had my lletz three weeks ago and am still bleeding a bit, it probably takes a while to settle down and is different for everyone. Do have a look at Jos trust, there's loads of good advice. I really wouldn't worry

I hope so. I know the ectropion wasn't removed via the LLETZ. I'm so scared that I've had untreated cancer all this time. I have 2 very young children and I'm terrified. :(

I had cancerous cells under similar circumstances. I had just given birth to my first child.
It was totally removed by colposcopy. Nobody told me about the cancer until the results of my second colposcopy.
I have been clear since, and have 3 children. I feel blessed for never needing to panic at the time.

I'm glad your cancerous fells where removed throwaway the panic is the worse bit.

Does anyone know if/ how they would have been sure the ectropion was not cancerous on the basis of the colposcopy?

an ectropion - otherwise known as a cervical erosion- is not cancer and nothing to do with cancer. It's a common condition where the cells from the cervical canal migrate to the neck, outside.

But why would it stop bleeding after the procedure only to come back worse than ever 3 months later?
My bleeding today is awful. Bright red and huge clots. It never used to be this bad

Does anyone know if an ectropion can cause prolonged heavy bleeding after sex/ bm?

Ive been treated with silver nitrate for ectropion cells last year and within 4/6 months began bleeding again. It hasn’t even been as heavy as to have clots but has been quite significant after sex and often happens after BMs as well. Enough to need a pantyliner.
I didn’t like the silver nitrate treatment so I have decided just to put up with the bleeding. It’s worse if I am due on my period (up to 5 days before).

I meant to also say I would ask for a referral back to the gynae even if just to discuss it all. No offence to the GP but you need specific knowledge and advice that will reassure you.

OP Have you had a read online about an ectropion so you understand how they occur?

They are usually but not always caused by a hormonal change such as using the Pill, pregnancy etc.

The amount of bleeding you are having- huge clots etc- is not a symptom of an ectropion; I had very slight spotting and it was sorted with cauterisation under a GA ( almost 40 years ago now.)

How do you know your bleeding is the ectropion? Has your GP examined you and seen your cervix recently? It may have come back but it doesn't normally cause clots. Could it not be a period coming at an odd time?

You need to see your GP and ask for a referral to a gynae for another examination.

Isadora tmi question but did you find the ectropion caused bleeding for a few days after sex?

Polly yes it not being typical of an ectropion is what is worrying me. Before the bleeding after intercourse was a tiny amount of pink discharge the next day. This is at least 3/4 days of really heavy bleeding every time I have sex. The GP did examine me and says she can see an ectropion, but it looking similar to early cervical cancer is what is causing me to panic. Especially as the ectropion I had in December was never biopisied. It obviously didn't look suspicious during the colposcopy. But is this enough to rule it out?

An ectropion is the cells from the cervical canal migrating to the outer cervix. These cells are not 'supposed' to be there and they are harmless, but they are the type of cells that have a rich supply of blood so will bleed when there is contact because normally they are inside your body not outside.

They won't do a biopsy on them.

The procedure you had was to remove the pre cancerous cells- they were PRE cancerous, not even cancerous.

You can't have got full blown cervical cancer since October when that area of pre cancerous cells was zapped.

You need to go back to your GP. No one here can see what's going on so your GP should refer you to a gynae- ask them to.

but it looking similar to early cervical cancer is what is causing me to panic.

How can you see what your ectropion is like?

(You can't.)

How do you know it looks like early cervical cancer ? (You can't)
You are looking at online images , and adding 2+2 to make 5.

Sorry not being unsympathetic but this sounds like a health anxiety.
See your GP!

I think you're right Polly I am anxious after the CIN and my GP didn't help. When I asked him what to do about the heavy bleeding after sex he said to stop having sex!

he sounds helpful

Yes, to be fair I think he meant until the ectropion healed, but who knows how long that could be? If at all.

Also and this might make me sound even more paranoid I don't want to let myself believe it's nothing if it turns out to be really serious. Feels like the shock would be worse. :(

Do you have this kind of mindset and anxiety over other things? Or is this a one-off? Maybe something like CBT could help if you do- what you are doing is known as catastrophising. Thinking the worst before it's happened.

Why not assume it's something minor unless it's proved otherwise? You seem to have lost your perception. Treatment for CN1 less than 6 months ago is not going to suddenly become advanced cancer in a few weeks.

Have you made another appt to see your GP?