17 weeks pregnant and had previous LLETZ treatment that the hospital hadn't picked up!!!!!

[123nellyc]

Hello, i am 17 weeks pregnant and have just discovered the problems of having LLETZ treament in the past can cause. I had the treatment back in 2004 for CIN 3.

I mentioned it to my previous midwife at my booking appointment and she never said anything about it or go into any other details. I am now with a new midwife as i have just moved surgeries. Nothing was mentioned at my 12 wk scan or at my 16 wk midwife appointment (i only found about the problems it can cause in the lsat couple of days) I have just spoken to my midwife and she says i should have had a consultant appointment as she did send a referral off. She has said she will chase it up with the hospital next week. I am worried as i am feeling like this should have been picked up on alot sooner. Has anyone else been through this process?? Should i have had an internal examination at an earlier stage or something?

Thank you for your help

Hi I had a loop excision biopsy in 2002, with DD I had my cervix measured, was after the 12 week scan and nearer to 20 week when it was done but can't remember exactly. I had swabs taken at 27 weeks and I was given steroids for babies lungs on that day and the following day as my cervix was soft. DD came at 39+1.

I first saw my consultant at 12 week booking in and scan appointment, but this was more due to a cyst found on an early scan rather than the Loop, I was seen very regularly throughout my pregnancy by a consultant for both this and cyst.

I am sorry I can't be more accurate with my dates, but I am pregnant again and I have baby brain.

If any help this time round I was referred for my first consultant appointment at 16 weeks, was discharged to midwife care only as my cervix has proved it is okay by surviving the full pregnancy last time.

I had my cervix measured at the 12 week scan and had a consultant appt at 20 weeks. She just looked at my notes and saw cervix length was fine so released me from her care

I personally don't think anything needs to be done other than have a note of it in your records. In my experience as a midwife it is only when you go into labour that particular attention is paid to the cervix dilating. Can be a problem with scarring but often isn't.

What problems previous loop excision has OP discovered, has anyone figured it out?

I had it in 2003, then went on to have two babies with no problems. Curious to hear OP's problem.

Lletz can cause an incompetant cervix but it's rare.

Both of my babies were premature because of cervical scarring due to Lletz.

At 17 weeks?

LLETZ can also cause the cervix to be scarred up so it doesn't let out menstrual blood or dilate in labour.

Hence an emergency cs for me (and a planned cs with DC2). It's very rare though.

Well no not at 17 weeks but both of mine were significantly early. My cervix was opening at 22 weeks with my DS.

Again: At 17 weeks? No menstruation or labour at 17 weeks.

I assume the OP is worried that they haven't checked her out in case it causes a problem as the pregnancy progresses.

Don't you get internal examination at every mo they visit to check cervix? We do here in France.

monthly visit.

Haven't had time to read all answers s sorry if I repeat.

I had an extensive LLETZ procedure about 18 months before I got pregnant for CIN 3.

Told midwife, and was put under consultant. First appointment at 22 weeks to see how cervix was coping with pressure of baby, it was fine and didn't need to go again.

It can cause incompetant cervix, which I think they can solve with a stitch. Hope all goes well

Ps I had an internal scan at same time so saw baby a lot more clearly so maybe something to concentrate on if you're worried

No, I never had one internal while I was pg. And that was after some hefty LLETZ treatment a year before.

I mean wih a finger, not with an ultrasound device.

No, nothing at all with either pregnancy.

With my first pregnancy just a scan at 20 weeks and consultant care as I was underweight. Not once were they worried about my cervix.

Second pregnancy, they knew my cervix wasn't going to budge so again no internals and a planned cs to get the baby out.

I only had one internal, at the same time as the swabs at 27 weeks, the next internal was to check when I was in labour, don't think cervical checks are done on a monthly bases here unless history suggests a need for it.

It has been linked to incompetent cervix, which has caused late miscarriages i.e. after 12 weeks I believe it is quite rare but this is why they check the cervix length and later to see if there is early softening.

It also increases the risk of infections which is why they take swabs, this is what I was told.

I dilate very quickly when in labour, not sure whether that was linked to the surgery or not though.

By internal I mean finger check. I had an internal scan to measure cervix, but as I said earlier memory shot and can't remember when it was done sorry.

I thought it was the old cone biopsies that could cause an incompetant cervix.

I was told [only when I asked] that my two previous loop excisions wouldn't affect pregnancy but could affect labour in some cases due to scarring but this was unlikely.

I think cone biopsies are higher risk, I was told it is unlikely that a loop would go deep enough but they like to monitor to be on the safe side.

Wonder why they didn't monitor me after two then? They didn't even mention it it was me who asked. Maybe it's different consultants.

Quite possibly, like I said earlier I was sent to the consultant about an ovarian cyst, it was only when he read my notes that he asked about it and got a copy of the consultant letter from my GP, that he started doing tests and checks, maybe there was something in the letter I really don't know. Also the internal scan showed that my cerix was slightly shorter so that might have caused a bit more concern.

Internals each month are the norm in france but not in the uk

should I request swabs?

I was told there is an increased risk of infection with any procedure on the cervix (mine came back with thrush only). This time round I have been told I don't need the swabs or any cervix monitoring at all.

It is entirely up to you, but it doesn't have to be a consultant who does your swabs I believe a midwife can do them too, so maybe chat with your midwife when you next see her.