LEEP Treatments?

So I had a LEEP Treatment fro abnormal cells 4 yrs ago, and have had everything be normal since then. Well now I am 16 weeks pregnant, (1st time since the treatment) and amworried that I could end up w/ incompentant cervix. This is around the time it can be diagnosed, but usually by miscarriage during the 2nd trimester. I am having my 16 week appoint on Wednesday so I am going to have them check my cervix to see if everything is fine, and normal.

My question to you ladies is, have any of you had this procedure done and than gotten pregnant afterwards? If so, did you have any complications, or end up w/ a cerclage? How long did you wait to get pregnant after the procedure?

I had abnormal cells a couple of years ago and refused the LEEP treatment. The whole thing just scared me and I knew I would be having children within the next 5 years.  This is a good question though because with HPV, these are becoming more and more common.

I had a LEEP a little over 2 yrs ago. I'm 23 weeks pregnant now and I haven't had any problems.the doc just checks my cervix at every appt , but so far everything is fine

I had a LEEP done -wow probably 7-8 years ago now- at my first pregnancy visit they checked my cervix and I was told that if they hadn't have read my medical documents they never would have been able to tell I had the procedure done, that my cervix looks good! no scar tissue, etc...
so the body can heal itself  

What do they do durning the LEEP procedure? I had the cryosurgery, not the LEEP. Can anyone tell me the difference?

Well, first of all, LEEP is a small electric wire that cuts out small portions of tissue and burns as it goes to prevent bleeding. I had one about in 2004.

I am 20 wks now and they have done an ultrasound of my cervical length to check it twice now. It is fine. It's just like a regular ultrasound but with a small vaginal probe. It only takes a minute and helps ease your mind and your doctor's. So, far I have had no problems. This is my 3rd baby but the first since the surgery. I was told that it only causes problems in about 3% of women.

Well so far I fell a lil better reading your responses, Hopefully when I ask them to check everything will be tip top shape... So far they haven't even mentioned anything about it, orreally checked it out. (No ultrasoundsyetduring my pregnancy), and I made sure that they knew I had one done.

I had a LEEP and a Cold Knife Cone BX in 2005.Up until May 2007, when I got pregnant,my husband and I always used BC.The risk of IC depends on several factors. The amount of tissue removed, how deep the HPV invaded the cervixand the individual person. Since I had 2 surgeries, the amount of tissue removed was more than normal. My cervix started out roughly at 3cm. The normal cervix is roughly 4-4.5cm. And every woman can be different....a woman may have a short cervix but it might not be weak....resulting in a normal pregnancy. It could also be long and not as strong resulting in IC. Everyone is different.

My doctor started checking my cervix at 8 weeks, 11 weeks and then at 15 weeks where it showed that it had started to shorten and I had spotting. I was at 2cm. My doc decided to do the cerclage. I got a double stitch McDonald and then stayed on some form of bedrest from 15weeks-37.5 weeks.

A cerclage is usually done betweek 12-16 weeks. The earlier the better but can be placed later if need be... If it is noticed that the cervix is shortening after 15 or so weeks a rescue cerclage could then be attempted. A rescue cerclage placement is not without risk. Rescue cerclages can carry a higher chance for infection and rupture of membranes from the advancing growth of baby.

Success rates with cerclages are as high as 85-90 percent with preventatively placed cerclages between 11-14 weeks. Depending on which type of cerclage suture placed, they may either be removed at or around 37 weeks to allow for vaginal delivery or stay in place which requires a c-section delivery. For further descriptions on types of cerclages see www.geocities.com/incompetentcervix.

As they say---You are your baby's best advocate!Proper diagnosis and careful examination of ones history is crucial.

Here are 2 sites to visit:
http://groups.msn.com/IncompetentCervixSupport/explanationofanincompetentcervixii.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/IncompetentCervixSupport/explanationofincompetentcervix.msnw

Here is a thread from another member yesterday....basically in a similar situation. It has info too: http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about195959.html