Experience with progesterone pessaries - incompetent cerbix

[MintGreenLife]

I posted earlier this week about my cervix measurements - at 20 weeks was measuring 2.8cm on Monday just gone, reduced by 7mm since 18 weeks when it was 3.5cm.

Midwife told me this was fine and they would just check again in two weeks. I've just spoken to the consultant who wants me to start progesterone pessaries as a precautionary measure. Am feeling upset and worried after being told it was fine, and now the consultant believes it's not so good that it's reduced so much and has decided to treat.

Was wondering what your experience of progesterone pessaries are? Did they work for you? Thanks in advance

I had one per day but as previously poster said I would double check with the doctor!

Just 1 for me at 400mg cyclogest xx

@Daffodil21 @Glitterheart @LuckygoLucy great thanks, seems to be a bit of a mix what people have anyway. The prescription says one per day and that’s what he told me in person too, so must just be one a day for me x

Those of you that had an 'incompetent cervix' how did you know that's what you had?

Hi @Daffodil21 I was told I needed scans due to having a lletz procedure prior to pregnancy and that's how I discovered mine was shortening. Xx

@Daffodil21 same situation with me - I had a LLETZ about 6 years ago, although saying that I wasn’t going to be scanned to check initially. It’s only when I moved 100-odd miles away that the consultant here was of a different opinion x

@Daffodil21 after having my 1st at 28 weeks, with no normal signs of labour, I research ic and knew that's that I had, and after making them scan me early this this was found to have sort cervix x

Thank you all. @MintGreenLife @LuckygoLucy does that procedure make you make you more likely to have issues with your cervix?

I'm just panicking a bit as I'm about to stop taking the progesterone I was taking because of first trimester losses. I had my 20 week scan today and she mentioned my cervix and I asked if she could see if it was ok. She questioned why I was asking so I explained that I was about to stop the progesterone. She said if I'd had a second trimester loss it would be something she would be checking, but because they were first trimester she didn't need to. I wanted to scream at her did she want me to wait until I had a second trimester loss?? But I didn't, I just said that I had never got that far before.

I've got enough progesterone left to take one a day until 23.5 weeks so maybe I'll just keep taking that and hope for the best. I might see if I can get it checked privately if that's an option

@Daffodil21 I really don't know if I'm honest the thing is I had the lletz done in 2017 a month later had normal pregnancy and gave birth in 2018 (same hospital) its only since moving and using a different hospital that they raised this so it could have had no effect what so ever or I was just really lucky.

Are you consultant led, as it may be worthwhile chasing them rather than the sonographer/midwife and seeing if they can book you in for a trans vaginal scan xx

@Daffodil21 the LLETZ procedure removes part of your cervix, making it shorter, which can put you at risk of preterm labour.

My local private scan place do cervix length checks, so might be worth going to put your mind at rest. Could you speak to your consultant about your concerns? You shouldn’t have any reason to worry about your cervix length, but that being said some women do have an incompetent cervix without having had any previous surgery etc, although I think that’s rare. From my reading I think having a D&C can put you at risk of cervical incompetency, not sure if that applies? I wouldn’t worry about it too much, but well worth having a chat with your consultant and maybe a private scan to give you a bit more confidence? Xx

@LuckygoLucy thank you for your help. Midwife I think? I'm not really sure tbh. I spoke to a consultant early on to discuss treatment for recurrent mc but nothing since.

Yeah I think I will ask my midwife at my next appointment in a couple of weeks, but I'll keep taking the progesterone in the meantime just in case. I have no reason to think this is an issue for me, but I'm certainly not going to wait to find out if it is. I've just had a look and there's a couple of private places that will check it so if I don't get anywhere with my midwife then I'll just go private

@MintGreenLife thank you for your message. All my mcs happened at home so I haven't had D&C. I've just been looking on the Tommy's website and none of the risk factors apply to me at the moment, but I really do not want this to be a second trimester loss or preterm birth. I'll speak to my midwife but I'm expecting a no tbh, but otherwise I will definitely go private just for some peace of mind

@Daffodil21 I think it would be well worth it to have it checked just to give you a bit more confidence ☺️

I should have updated you all actually - I went to the GP with a UTI Monday and got antibiotics, but I also had backache and was worried the UTI was related to using the pessaries, so contacted my consultant and because of the backache he wanted to get me in to be checked. Had another cervix length scan and was 32mm, so much bigger than last time! He said the previous scan was probably either an anomaly or the pessaries are doing the job. Either way things were better. Next scan is next Tuesday, so I’m hoping for another positive outcome ☺️

I had the pessaries for an IC, from when I found out I was pregnant right up to when I had a c section, alongside a cervical stitch put in at 13 weeks. I knew I had an IC after two previous losses at 4/5 months when my cervix opened. I was already under a consultant for fertility treatment so he diagnosed me. No previous LLETZ treatments etc just a naturally crap cervix it seems! I only had 1 pessary a day, which I did at night once I was in bed, no applicator. I also had cream with an applicator twice a week which I think was to keep the stitch infection free.

@MintGreenLife that's great!! So pleased it's all going well!

@HariboHippo so sorry to hear you had two losses at 4/5 months. That's awful. Thank you for your info

[quote Daffodil21]@MintGreenLife that's great!! So pleased it's all going well!

@HariboHippo so sorry to hear you had two losses at 4/5 months. That's awful. Thank you for your info [/quote]
Thank you @Daffodil21. I now have my rainbow DS, (albeit he was a 33 week preemie due to preE!) So the stitch etc does it’s job if needed! I remember having a private scan with that second pregnancy for peace of mind early on and they measured my cervix length as standard so that’s always an option for peace of mind.

@MintGreenLife good to hear all is going well lovely x

Hello!

I also have been given a prescription of progesterone!

I take 1x200mg morning and 1x200mg in evening.

I had my son at 28 weeks 9 years ago for no reason at all, they said it could be because I have an incompetent cervix so I had a scan at 16 weeks- 34mm,

It was 34mm at 18 weeks this week too!

I am in again at 19weeks and 20weeks.

She said I'll be on the progesterone until 36 weeks as a precaution.

@HariboHippo so pleased for you but sorry to hear all that you've been to to get to this point.

I spoke to my midwife today, she said I was 'suitably anxious enough' for her to refer me to a consultant 🙈 I'm half expecting a fob off but at least I know I can go private if necessary.

@Glitterheart Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m so glad you made it to 39+ weeks! Our first baby came at 25+6 weeks! It was a 100+ days of terror but he is thankfully healthy and thriving! Though no tests or investigations were carried out as to why I just went into ‘spontaneous labour’.... pregnant with baby #2, My cervix was found to be funnelling at 22+ weeks , I had to have an emergent stitch placed the next day... on the day the spinal procedure failed 3 x so I was just put to sleep with GA. Due to bending over for almost an hour whilst they tried to do the spinal procedure, I had been putting even more pressure on my cervix! By the time the consultant went on to do the procedure my cervix was measuring 1cm and the membranes bulging already 😥... Thankfully the consultant managed to use a catheter bag to delicately push the membranes a bit further to allow for some more cervix to stitch 🙆🏽‍♀️ Now on progesterone pessaries prescribed to use 1 at night... I am praying to get to 37 weeks 🙏🏽 I was yet to see anyone with funnelling past 20weeks which is why I had to reply to your post!

@MintGreenLife how is it going?

How did it go for you?