Anxious about risk of incompetent cervix.

[FlashesOfRage]

If you know about incompetent cervix and after reading this post you think I’m worrying about nothing, please do tell me! It’s kind of what I’m hoping for lol...

8yrs ago I had a LLETZ procedure done for CIN3. It was successful and took 10mm of tissue away.

At the time I was very anxious about the whole thing and read lots of stuff about future risks of incompetent cervix... 🤦‍♀️

I am now finally pregnant through IVF and I am carrying twins (wasn’t really expected). I’m 15+3.

The midwife at 12wks said she didn’t know why I was even thinking about it.

The consultant on the phone at 14+3 said she’d spoken with another consultant and they both agreed that a 10mm removal was “lowest risk” for IC. She said that they agreed to do a transvaginal cervical measurement at my 20wk scan. She said that if it wasn’t twins they wouldn’t be doing it at all and she said if I’m found to be 25mm or more then they wouldn’t look at it again.

I feel really anxious about not making it to the 20wk scan and losing my babies before I even get checked. I know this might not be reasonable and I’m hoping some people here can put it in perspective for me 👍

I’ve avoided anything going up there or near my cervix at all because I’m scared lol. But I am aware that my cervix is currently extremely high up and if I can get to it it feels like it’s very short on the outer side, like it’s soft and mostly merged into the vagina wall. If you know about this stuff I’m hoping you’ll tell me an incompetent cervix would be low or something 😅

If you read this far, thanks so much and I would appreciate any comments you have at all xxx

Hi! I had the same procedure done when I was 17.. I’m now 29. I’m 14 weeks and they’ve told me I will also have cervical scans from 20 weeks, so far so good. In my prev pregnancy in 2017(ivf) I wasn’t offered cervical length scans at all, went into a routine app at 36 weeks and was 3 cm and I didn’t know! Baby came shortly after. So honestly I don’t think based on what you have said that it is a massive concern. A lletz is the least worrisome of procedures when it comes to the strength of your cervix or so my consultant says? When I’m examined during pregnancy if I don’t warn them the doctor or midwife will panic as my cervix looks 1 cm open all the time due to the missing cells. So yeah sorry to ramble but I would try not to worry and see what your first scan says! Good luck x

They don't check for it in my area if you've only had one LLETZ. I had one in December 2016. DS was born November 2019 and I had absolutely no bother at all. He was born and 39 weeks by c-section and I think if left to his own devices he would have been there quite a while longer.
Sorry I don't have much to go with that scientifically but I hope my experience might help put your mind at ease.

I had a similar sized amount of tissue taken and had a measurement taken at about 15 weeks and again at about 23 weeks. Both measurements were in the range of normal so no further action taken. I did have my baby at 38w though weighing in at a whopping 9lb 5oz so not sure if that was anything to do with my cervix or just the giant baby I had.

Sorry this is a long reply

I had this procedure done last April for CIN 3 but at the time wasn't aware of how much was removed. At my booking app the midwife refused to refer me as "I hadn't been put to sleep". After speaking to a friend who is a midwife in the same trust I was not happy with the decision and range the Colposcopy dept to check. The consultant said it did not matter whether I was put to sleep or not I should still have a cervical length scan done at around 16 weeks. I spoke with a lovely midwife who discussed with the obstetric consultant who agreed to check everything out and I had the scan done at 14 weeks. Thankfully I did because I was already under 25mm!

Continued...

I had a stitch put in at 15 weeks and also progesterone pessaries. It turns out they had removed 20mm last year!! I'm now 21 weeks and everything is going well.

I believe with twins that you would not be given the stitch if your cervix was short but may be offered progesterone if it starts to shorten. Go with your gut instinct and push to be checked xxxx

Hi - thought I’d add as well but not sure how helpful it will be! Congratulations on your pregnancy.
10mm is right on the edge of where you’d consider any increased risk. 15mm there is increased risk. 10-15mm it depends where you look, but perhaps slightly increased. Have you any other risk factors for preterm birth? Smoking, other surgeries to your uterus (like D&C or hysteroscopy?), other treatments to your cervix, UTI? Uterine abnormalities (like septate uterus for example?). Previous pregnancy losses past 13ish weeks?
The feeling you are having (that it’s short and merged with the vagina) doesn’t necessarily mean that the cervical length is going to be short - there’s a bigger portion of the cervix above the top of the vagina that you can’t feel when checking yourself.
Where I am it would be common to do a cervical length scan at about 16 weeks, and perhaps again at 18 if you’re feeling particularly anxious or there are other concerns. BUT I would stress that your risk is probably only a teeny bit increased if at all.
You could consider paying for a private scan next week to reassure yourself?
The other thing to mention is that with twins, treatment for shortened cervix can be a little more complex so advice won’t always be exactly the same as for a singleton. Obviously with twins your risk of having them prem is higher anyway regardless of any treatment to the cervix.

I was worried about this and had a private scan at 16 weeks to measure cervix length x