Colposcopy at 17w4d.

[Robstersgirl]

Has anyone had a colposcopy done whilst pregnant? EPU referred me as I’ve had very bad, heavy, bright red bleeds throughout this pregnancy. I bled heavily during a speculum exam (covered the bed) and they want me to get checked out. I’ve never had one before but have googled and found out it makes you bleed? I’m worried I might have a big bleed given the amount I’ve bled already? Any experience?

The issue here is about where the bleeding is coming from. Colposcopy is looking at the cervix at the top of the vagina rather than inside the uterus. Concerning bleeding in pregnancy comes from the uterus, through the cervix, but it sounds like there may be an issue on the cervix itself that makes it very fragile to touch and so bleeds very easily.
A colposcopy enables the doctor to look carefully at the cervix and find out where the blood is coming from & why. That is important to stop the bleeding you have been having. It won’t cause bleeding that wouldn’t have happened anyway, and at least if you do bleed you will be finding out why and in the right place to sort it out.
Good luck. Hope you get an appointment very soon and all is sorted out.

Hi @Robstersgirl I had a colposcopy when I was 28 weeks. I had some bleeding in pregnancy so they wanted to take a closer look and they found I had ectropian bleeding on my cervix which apparently is normal in pregnancy due to hormones. It was he hottest day of the year when I went - not particularly pleasant but they were lovely. You'll be fine best to get checked xx

About the bleeding - I bled any and every time I ever had an exam by a midwife, not to mention when I had a sweep. I spotted a bit after the procedure but was told it's normal.

Thanks so much for the helpful replies. I’ll be glad to know where it’s coming from. I was having bleeding before PG too so answers will be good.

@Alicia870
That’s reassuring. I’ve bled more than I would not pregnant the past 17 weeks! Fed up with it now! It’s so worrying too as I’ve had 6 MC’s before.

@Sussexmidwife thank you. My appt is tomorrow.

So that definitely wasn’t the news I was expecting. Colposcopy was very painful and I bled awfully. Before the procedure they told me they wouldn’t be taking any biopsies.
He told me he was ‘very worried’ and needed to take a biopsy straight away which he did. He said the amount of bleeding certainly wasn’t normal. He couldn’t see all my cervix (don’t know why?’ but what he could see worried him. The biopsy results will be back within the week. I’m extremely upset and thinking the worst. I did ask was it cancer and he just replied ‘I’m worried.’

What that is awful you poor thing it doesn't sound like the consultant was very professional or supportive. If he has worries you have a right to know why. You must be feeling rubbish!
So sorry it was such a difficult experience. He should be giving you much more reassurance and guidance especially considering you are pregnant! The important thing is you are in the right hands and it was important to have the procedure to check and hopefully you can get your results very soon and move forward with this. Hugs to you!

So sorry you're going through this. May I ask did you have any abnormal cervical smears prior to this pregnancy? When was your last smear?

I'm having colposcopy at the end of March, I'll be 20 weeks at that point. The difference is that I've been waiting for that appointment since November, shortly before I got pregnant, because the smear came back as mild/borderline changes. So we'll see what happens now...

You might have had changes in your cells before pregnancy without even knowing and sadly, pregnancy hormones sometimes aggravate them. The chance are normally quite slow, but pregnancy is a special condition that can change everything.

Fingers crossed for you! There's no point in desperation now. If there are any changes, it's good they've caught it! xx

@Alicia870
He was really nice. I think he was trying to assure me that he was taking the biopsy because he was concerned and normally wouldn’t in pregnancy. I’m pretty sure he was voicing his concern so that I didn’t refuse it. Fingers crossed the results will be within the week like he said.

@Saoirse22
I’m the biggest idiot in the world. Haven’t had a smear since 2004.
Hope yours goes well.

From your initial post I was concerned that this might be what happened today. A very worrying time for you and the next few days are going to feel very long indeed. Sending you love xx

Stay strong OP I'm sure it will be fine and he was just persuading you to have the biopsy as they wouldn't normally do it in pregnancy. They are just covering themselves and the reality is that even if it is the worst I'm sure it will be easily sorted. You are in safe hands.

Couldnt read and leave. Fingers crossed you get a good result. X

Sending love and prayers. Do let us know what happens.

You poor thing, this must be terrifying I really hope it's nothing

Thinking of you. I hope he's just being cautious

They want me in for an MRI on Saturday.

@Robstersgirl

Oh love, don't beat yourself up, you're most certainly not an idiot! Changes happen even to those who had regular and clear smears. I did, and then the abnormal smear just came out of the blue a year after a normal smear. It happens. Don't blame yourself because there's really no way to know what's exactly going on and for how long until you do further tests. You have to concentrate on your healing and baby now, fear and guilt won't do your body any good. Stay strong xx

MRI is tomorrow now. The speed of it is freaking me out a bit. Biopsy yesterday. MRI tomorrow.

Thank you @Saoirse22

Op, stay strong. I'm keeping all crossed for you and really hope MRI tomorrow goes well

Thinking of you today. Unmumsnetty hugs.

I’ve barely slept. Not knowing is so difficult. I know I won’t get any answers today either. Thanks for all the kind wishes.

Wishing you all the best OP. Good luck today xx