Lletz and pregnancy

[CharleyAB]

Hi,

I think I'm about 12 weeks pregnant and just heard something that has really scared me. I had the lletz treatment twice about 5/6 years ago and am really worrying that I have an incompetent cervix as a result.

What should I do to find out? I don't have a 16 week check up booked and to be honest, don't want to wait that long to find out. :(
(I dont have a check up booked as I'm about to move to another area)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

C x

Hi Charley

Don't let it scare you too much but you do need to get it checked out by a consultant. If you're not seeing someone soon, I'd suggest ringing your midwife or the antenatal dept to arrange referral. I believe there is a risk of an incompetent after any loop cone biopsy or after several treatments with lletz.

In the antenatal thread that I'm on (and the other I'm lurking on!) a number of people have had treatment for cin and only a couple of us have required treatment for it.

I read online early in my preg (now 22 weeks) that it might be a problem and spoke to my midwife at booking in. I had never been made aware of and possible complications when I had treatment 6(ish) years ago. She didn't know it would be a problem and didn't feel the need to refer me to a cons. I pressed her to do so and finally after doing a bit of digging about the procedure I'd had (loop cone biopsy), agreed to refer me. I had an appt with the consultant at 13 weeks who said they rarely need to put in a stitch now but after doing an internal scan my cervix was less than 2.4cm in length and he agreed that a stitch would be the best option for me. He wasn't worried that it had to be done immediately and it was placed at 16.5weeks (the day after I got back from honeymoon!). At my 20 week scan my cervix had thinned again to 2.1cm which would be expected and I'll be having regular scans to check its length, with bed rest if it becomes a problem. I also recently found out that a friend of mine was treated with progesterone for a similar problem - she went on to be induced at 42 weeks!

Make sure you push for referral and get this checked out, hopefully, like so many others they can put your mind at rest so you can relax for the rest of your pregnancy and if you do need treatment you can get it sorted I personally feel really lucky that I stumbled upon the information relatively early like you and it prevented finding out I had an issue through a tragedy. I've had 2 mc's (not related to my cervix) before this pregnancy so was so worried about the outcome... But I've got to say that I've relaxed a lot now, try to take it easy, not lift etc and am counting the weeks down now

I hope that you have a sympathetic and informed midwife! Let us know how you get on!

Forgot to add..... You're so worried, I've no doubt you'll be on the phone tomorrow, but I believe that the stitch is usually placed in the early weeks of the 2nd trimester so push for an early referral.

Hi there - I had a LLETZ procedure last year and am currently 26 weeks pregnant. I mentioned to my midwife at my first appt that I was concerned this may have left me with an incompetent cervix so she wrote in my notes that I was to be referred to a consultant for a check up. I had an appt with the consultant at approx 20 weeks and this was just a chat basically. However as I had to go back for a second 20 week scan due to the baby being in an awkward position, they recommended that after the scan they use a hand held probe to check my cervix. The referral to the consultant was not very useful, he just asked a few questions and said he was sure I would be ok, but I would definitely recommend asking them to physically check the length of the cervix just for peace of mind. It only takes a few mins and was easy to tag on after the scan. Luckily I was ok and didn't need a stitch but I'm glad I asked for a referral