Lletz 14 mm excision... Risk of premature birth?

[Rex2021]

I am 15 weeks pregnant and I've been having some bleeding (dark red). I underwent an LLetz procedure in late 2018 and 14 mm were removed. I read that between 10-14 mm is considered to be a medium excision. Should I worry about a premature birth? Any experiences? Thank you.

[Seb9]

I've had LLETZ treatment and went on to have a normal birth, most woman who have only had one treatment will do, but it's really based on each person's individual treatment. Your midwife should have gone over any surgeries with you at your booking in appointment and would then get your individual treatment checked with a consultant or obstetrician to see if they'd like to check your cervix through your pregnancy. If you've not discussed this with them already, the best thing would be to call them and go through your treatment with them and they can refer you.

[NE90]

I had 2 Lletz procedures in 2017. They hadn't managed to remove it all and had a repeat operation about 4 months after the first.

I've gone on to have 2 premature births, first was 32 weeks and second was 34 weeks. My waters broke spontaneously with both pregnancies and they were both born on the 3rd day after waters went. Both babies now happy and healthy.

I had my cervix measured with both and it wasn't measuring short....still within the range of a normal cervical length.

After the birth of my first, a consultant told me that the Lletz had nothing to do with the prem birth and it was simply just unexplained and can happen to anyone kind of thing. And after my second... I was told that maybe me and my husband put just dont produce full term babies! Hmmmm lol x

[Rex2021 in reply to NE90]

Thank you. Good to know! I am a bit more relieved now. May I ask when (week?) did your cervix measured during the pregnancy?

[NE90 in reply to Rex2021]

I was offered a scan at 14 weeks to measure it. X

[Rex2021 in reply to NE90]

Ok. Intravaginal scan, right?

[Rex2021 in reply to NE90]

Hi! I am going to be measured soon... Did you have to do bed rest or any kind of modified best resting during your pregnancies? Were you able to do regular walks? Thank you.

[Bigblueskies]

Hi I had LLETZ and a 25mm scar from it so on the large side. I was measured at 15-16 weeks and cervix was borderline normal. I went on to give birth at 39w3d and it was a completely normal delivery.

I was very worried about it but my cervix did fine. It seems to depend not only on the size of the scar but on the position and the way it has healed. So I wouldn’t worry too much about it as you won’t know until you actually go into labour.

Keep an eye out for signs of early labour and speak to your maternity triage about a scan by 16 weeks. They should have ordered for you to measure the length of the cervix and then compare it to the length at 20 weeks. It’s these two measurements that can give an indication of whether you are at risk and they don’t always think to order them unless you ask them specifically as I found.

I understood that anything below 20mm was a small risk actually so I wouldn’t worry too much in your case, if you can focus on other things!

[Rex2021 in reply to Bigblueskies]

This reply is very helpful. Many thanks for sharing this. I insisted and I managed to get scan to measure the cervix on the 18th week.

[NicoJono]

Hi,I’ve had 3 LLETZ procedures. 2018,2019 and 2020.

Have granulation scar tissue on my cervix which continues to bleed and have been referred back to colposcopy again due to an abnormal suspicious looking cervix again! 😬 they will do more biopsy’s 2 months after delivery.

I am under a consultant - I have had my cervix measured at 16 weeks and further observation at 24 weeks. And it was just on the limit of a stitch needing to be required. But they decided as first pregnancy, not too.

I am currently 40 weeks and waiting for baby to arrive any day now and I haven’t had any issues.

Consultant told me the same as bigblueskies, I won’t know if my cervix will open at all, or at pace until the actual day! And therefore they recommend delivery suite rather than home/birth centres.

Good luck. X

[Rex2021]

Thank you for sharing your story and wishes. I hope all goes well with your delivery! You are so close!