Previous LEEP procedure, cervical measurement

[Nadja86]

Hi all,

I posted something similar in the incompetent cervix thread in the gestational complications forum, but I thought I'd ask here too in case anyone has been through something similar.

I had a LEEP 8 or 9 years ago so I just got my cervical length checked at 16 weeks. The doctor said it was 34 mm so she said that was good and that I can get it checked again at my 20 week ultrasound... But silly me, I did some reading online and saw that the average cervical length around 16 weeks is 40-45 mm? Should I be worried or just trust the doctor's opinion? She did not seemed concerned at all. This is my first pregnancy.

Thanks

 

[Nadja86]

I should add that my ultrasound was done abdominally, and I had an empty bladder.

 

[moter98]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

 

[Nadja86]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

Thank you so much. I was worried at first but did some research in medical literature and it confirmed what you just said. It also said that any abdominal measurement over 3 cm with an empty bladder on transabdominal ultrasound is good. I really trust my doctor so I am going to relax. I'll be getting it checked again at my 20 week ultrasound. Thank you!

 

[Marumi]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

 

[moter98]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

That's a good measurement as well. Really no need to give it more thought. Your Dr's know you've had the LEEP, they check cervical length at your 20 week anomaly scan. You are far enough along that were it to cause any problems it would have by now. My Dr told me that if no problems arise by 16 weeks that I was in the clear and didn't have to give it another thought. I've had measurements as low as 29mm and all was just fine. In my case, the scar tissue had to be broken up just before delivery because it had "sealed" the cervix shut and I couldn't dilate till it was broken up, so hey, it was kinda added protection ha.

 

[Nadja86]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

I found a study that said that the average difference between women who hadn't had a LEEP and women who had had a LEEP or cone biopsy was about 6 mm. I think they take a different amount each time. Sounds like you have a good measurement and haven't had any problems though, which is encouraging for me!

 

[xforuiholdonx]

I've had cervical length checks the last two pregnancies and they have always been done by transvaginal wand, so it's interesting that they did it abdominally.
Anywho, if the doc was concerned he'd have said something about it

 

[Marumi]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

That's a good measurement as well. Really no need to give it more thought. Your Dr's know you've had the LEEP, they check cervical length at your 20 week anomaly scan. You are far enough along that were it to cause any problems it would have by now. My Dr told me that if no problems arise by 16 weeks that I was in the clear and didn't have to give it another thought. I've had measurements as low as 29mm and all was just fine. In my case, the scar tissue had to be broken up just before delivery because it had "sealed" the cervix shut and I couldn't dilate till it was broken up, so hey, it was kinda added protection ha.

I had problems dilating due to the scar tissue last time (2011)...at least at 42+ weeks I was only 1cm dilated and no signs of actual labor despite having contractions since 39 weeks. How was the scar tissue broken up exactly?
But good to know that the length of the cervix should not be a problem anymore now!

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

I found a study that said that the average difference between women who hadn't had a LEEP and women who had had a LEEP or cone biopsy was about 6 mm. I think they take a different amount each time. Sounds like you have a good measurement and haven't had any problems though, which is encouraging for me!

My last pregnancy accidentally happened just after the LEEP. I was doing the NFP method to avoid pregnancy then but it seems the LEEP affected my cycle, so when the bleeding from the LEEP stopped we were told it is safe to have sex and I fell pregnant right away. No problems whatsoever during the pregnancy though despite the fresh procedure!

 

[Nadja86]

I've had cervical length checks the last two pregnancies and they have always been done by transvaginal wand, so it's interesting that they did it abdominally.
Anywho, if the doc was concerned he'd have said something about it

Yeah, I was concerned about that because I read that it could be inaccurate... But I found studies saying that they correlate and anything over 3 abdominally is fine. So I'm going to try not to worry.

 

[moter98]

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

That's a good measurement as well. Really no need to give it more thought. Your Dr's know you've had the LEEP, they check cervical length at your 20 week anomaly scan. You are far enough along that were it to cause any problems it would have by now. My Dr told me that if no problems arise by 16 weeks that I was in the clear and didn't have to give it another thought. I've had measurements as low as 29mm and all was just fine. In my case, the scar tissue had to be broken up just before delivery because it had "sealed" the cervix shut and I couldn't dilate till it was broken up, so hey, it was kinda added protection ha.

I had problems dilating due to the scar tissue last time (2011)...at least at 42+ weeks I was only 1cm dilated and no signs of actual labor despite having contractions since 39 weeks. How was the scar tissue broken up exactly?
But good to know that the length of the cervix should not be a problem anymore now!

That is a good measurement, try not to worry. Since you've had a LEEP, you're cervix is going to be shorter than the average because they've taken a small portion of it during the LEEP. I had one too 9 years ago and have had 3 babies with no issues other than cervix being shorter than the "average".

I thought it was just a super thin layer? So a few mm's...

Mine was 39 mm recently but I will keep an eye on it. Had my leep over 5 years ago.

I found a study that said that the average difference between women who hadn't had a LEEP and women who had had a LEEP or cone biopsy was about 6 mm. I think they take a different amount each time. Sounds like you have a good measurement and haven't had any problems though, which is encouraging for me!

My last pregnancy accidentally happened just after the LEEP. I was doing the NFP method to avoid pregnancy then but it seems the LEEP affected my cycle, so when the bleeding from the LEEP stopped we were told it is safe to have sex and I fell pregnant right away. No problems whatsoever during the pregnancy though despite the fresh procedure!

The DR manually broke up the scar tissue. Probably similar to what I've heard some people refer to as a sweep.