short cervix after LLETZ, anyone else?

[LittleB]

I had Lletz last nov (09) to remove CIN3 cells, consultant removed the whole transformation zone to a depth of 1.6. I mentioned that I wanted to try for a baby and he said I shouldn't wait long (6wks) as at my age (33 then) and after treatment it could take a while. Thankfully it only took a few mths and I'm currently 18wks pg. I had my cervical length scan (due to Lletz treatment) earlier this week and it was 2.6cm which is borderline. I understand that 4 is normal and below 2.5 is a concern. They are going to scan again at 20wks and see if it has reduced in length, if so they might do a cervical stitch. I've read up about this and really hope I don't have to have it due to limitations once you've had it and the risks of the procedure. Are there other people out there who have had normal full term pregnancies with shorter cervixes? From what I understand my cervix might not be incompetant, merely short, but I'm worrying, about the stitch or having a premature baby etc. and could really do with hearing from others about their experiences.
Thanks

I had loop diathermy for CIN3 in May 2004 and I was told very similar to you about having a baby relatively quickly although not offered any explaination why. I got pregnant in the July and had my DS at 36 weeks in Feb 2005. I am quite short (4ft 10!) and everybody including me assumed his slightly early appearance was mainly because there was literally no where for him to go and I was offered no extra scans at all during my pregnancy and it was only afterwards that I discovered it may have been down to the treatment I had.

Im currently pregnant again (16 weeks) and got sent to see consultant when I had my 12 week scan but nobody seemed to know why-it was all very cloak and dagger lol! When I saw him it was to do with the fact that DS was born slightly early and me having treatment for CIN3 and they wanted me to take part in a clinical trial called Optimum which is going ahead nationwide.

Apparently they do a test at 22 weeks which is like a smear test and measures the amount of fibrogen (prob spelt wrong!) at the cervix and if the test comes out positive you can be part of this trial where you are given progesterone pessarys for the remainder of the pregnancy...however you don't know if you are given the pessary or a placebo and although they know the effects of progesterone on pregnancy they haven't yet managed to do enough research on what it does to the baby-probably absolutely nothing bad at all but I decided I wasn't strong enough to take that risk so Im not taking part but it might be worth you finding out if they are doing the trial at your local hospital and having the first part done (you then don't have to have the pessarys if you don't want to).

Without being dim how on earth do they scan your cervical lengh because I would quite like to have that done...at least that way I might have more of an idea if DS came early due to my size or because of the treatment I had done.

If DS had been born very premature then I might have thought about it more seriously but although he was tiny (under 5lb) he was absolutely fine and had no problems at all.

Thanks for telling me about your experience, that sounds good to me. I had read that they are more likely to be born term but 2-3 weeks early and dd was a week early before I had treatment. What I'm really worried about is the stitch or a premature baby, to be honest 2-3 or even 4 weeks early wouldn't worry me.
The consultant referred me for a cervical scan and they have to do it internally, but its fine, not as bad a as a smear, not really uncomfortable, just a little awkward. I got to see the baby again though which was lovely. They're going to do it again at my 20wk scan when they do the anomoly scan.
Does sound like that could be why your son came a little early. Was the birth ok? I've heard it can cause your cervix to not dilate properly due to scar tissue and lead to a c-section?
No body has mentioned anything about a trial to me although I had heard that progesterone pessaries can help some people.
I would ask about an internal scan, it might be helpful.

I have had several lletz procedures and have and imcompetant cervix to show for it - 2.2cm and funneling at 22 weeks with my DS.

Both my DC were premature, DD was a 32 weeker after prom at 30 weeks (which we thought was just one of those things) and DS was born at 27 weeks after prom at 22 which was caused by the stitch procedure. If i have any more DC which is highly unlikely then I have to have an abdominal suture.

Both DC are fine now but it was a bit hairy at the time. Poor management on the hospitals part was imo to blame for what happened with my DS.. I should have been offered the stitch at 13 weeks because of my history and I was refused progesterone even though research has shown that to be as sucessfull as the sticth in cases of borderline short cervix.

I hope you haven't minded me posting, I know you were lookign for more positive stories and thankfully the majority are positive but do not be fobed off by any medical professional saying "we'll wait and see" because lletz is a major cause of babies being born significantly early.

Do the reaserch and don't be afraid to quote it at them, If you have a short cervix and are offered the stitch ask for the progesterone too.

Yes the birth was absolutely fine and I literally had no problems at all until my waters went really suddenly the night I finished work for my maternity leave...how gutted was I lol?! I got to 7cm really quickly and then sort of stalled there for a few hours and they got me to have an epidural because I had to have a drip to try and speed things up. DS was eventually born by ventouse but that was only because his heart rate kept dropping and I was literally at the point of delivering.

Arseholio(great name btw!) crikey that must have been scary for you-am so glad they are ok now.I am actually really surprised they suggested this trial without even seeing if I actually do have a short cervix which is one of the reasons I have said no for now...would be much happier if I had the scan first and then if it comes back short I could then consider the trial. Did you have the scan done on nhs cause no one has even suggested that to me? Hmm I have got mw appointment next week so will be having a chat with her then I think.

For some bizarre reason the thought of a stitch doesn't bother me as much as taking the progesterone...which is probably completely daft I know!

You have to poke the progesterone up your bum that's why !

I badgered my consultant to get the scan but I should gave been offered it routinly.

I was offered the internal scan to measure the cervical length as routine - I'd defo push for it. According to my sonographer they can measure your CL via a normal scan (ie. through the tummy) but she did a second check internally to make sure.

OP, i'm sorry that's not very helpful. My CL was below normal but not near the borderline, so they think my next scan will put me back on the normal track.

Thanks. I am really worried about it all! The stitch concerns me as there can be a risk of infection or bringing on premature labour, especially if it is done later in pg, usually done 14-16wks, why mine wasn't checked then I don't know, apparently alot of places won't do it after 24wks. Would rather have progesterone, don't care about the method really after what I had done last year! but my consultant hasn't mentioned this. I will ask about it though.
They did say that they could measure the cervix from a normwl scan but much more accurate from internal and it wasn't anything to worry about, esp after LLetz!
Let me know how you get on.