WannaBMomV

Hi Jenni, I've tried to get more information on this subject too.

I had a LEEP procedure done in July 2007. The doc then told me to expect no problems with fertility/pregnancy. She advised waiting abou 6 months before TTC to allow the cervix time to heal and to get the results from the 6 month follow-up pap.

Fast forward to late summer/fall 2008, when hubby and I started TTC. I thought I noticed some reduction in amount of EWCM since the procedure, but once hubby and I got to business - we conceived pretty quickly. So I don't believe the procedure impaired fertility. (If fact, I was wondering if it left the cervix even more open - and improved fertility?)

Anyway, I switched doctors, and when I saw the new one for my first pre-natal appointment - I was surprised she referred to my 'cone biopsy' as a potential risk. (I said, but I had LEEP? She said, it's pretty much the same thing, just a different technique...) She discussed the risk of cervical incompetence, and brought up the possibility of a preventative cervical cerclage to help ensure the cervix would remain shut.

I was very shocked because my original doc breezed over all of this stuff when I had asked her about it. Anyway, I did a BUNCH of research on the topic - getting my hands on original powerpoint presentations reporting on studies, etc. (I posted what I found in response to the 'Concerned Woman' thread which is now on the Women's Health board, so you can read it there if you like. The Moderator moved it as the content might be potentially upsetting to moms to be on the preg board.) My conclusion was that overall the risk was only slightly higher in women who had previous cervical procedures, and there were more likely to be issues if there had been multiple procedures.

I discussed what I found with my doctor, and she also mentioned that the size of cervix affected is an important factor. If you have the data from your pathology report, that can help indicate how large an area was affected.

In my case, we decided against the preventativev cerclage but instead to do more frequent monitorings of the cervix between 16 and 24 weeks. (Most likely we'll do a transvaginal scan every 2-3 weeks.) In the unfortunate event we would see cervical changes duing these scans, we would try bedrest and/or emergency cerclage to prevent the cervix from changing more. But hopefully that won't be the case, fingers crossed.

So, bottom line - in my personal case, the procedure didn't affect fertlity, and so far it is too early to say how it's affected me. Only difference to my prenatal care is that now at 15 weeks, I'm starting to enter a phase where I will get more frequent screenings to check the cervix.

I hope I've been of some help. I will say in my vast web searching on the topic, I've found plenty of anecdotal information from women in the same boat who went on to have perfectly uneventful pregnancies.

Good luck to you!