LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?
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LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?

posted at 4/11/2009 11:43 AM GMT
Total posts: 1290
First post: 18/5/2005
Last post: 4/11/2009
Hello all,
I had my 2nd LLETZ biopsy 3 weeks ago.  I have had one before a few years back that went without any hitches - I can barely remember it...
Anyway, after having an abnormal smear in March, followed by a Colposcopy in July I have just had the LLETZ biopsy again.  Anyway this time the bleeding doesnt seem to want to stop.  Well, i had it done on 14th Oct and didnt have any bleeding for a week.  My period started a week afterwards and now 2 weeks later shows no sign of stopping.
Has anyone else had this?  Is it normal?  I saw my GP yesterday about something else but mentioned this and he said to go back in a week or so if I was still bleeding.  Not sure what he's going to do then?  He seems a bit useless and think I need to find another GP!
I'm hoping its nothing to worry about and will stop of its own accord?
Cheers all
Blonderella
x

Re: LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?

posted at 4/11/2009 12:09 PM GMT
Total posts: 828
First post: 18/2/2008
Last post: 20/11/2009
I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that you can bleed for up to 6 weeks afterwards (the NHS website unhelpfully says 'several weeks', but I believe it's about 4-6 on average. The reason it takes so long is because the treatment has been carried out in a moist area not exposed to the air, and so takes long to heal. I've had numerous cervical biopsies which take far less tissue than LLETZ (literally a piece the size of a pin-head) and it's taken up to 10 days for the bleeding to stop even with this, so it makes sense that with LLETZ it can take much longer.

Unless the bleeding is very heavy, or you have symptoms such as a high temperature which could indicate an infection, I wouldn't worry. Avoid using tampons, and avoid any form of vaginal penetration inc intercourse until the bleeding stops; it can also be a good idea to avoid baths and stick to showers as baths can encourage infection.

Hope that helps x

Re: LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?

posted at 4/11/2009 12:19 PM GMT
Total posts: 1290
First post: 18/5/2005
Last post: 4/11/2009

Thanks for that.
The doctor who did the biopsy said I might bleed for 1 to 2 weeks!  And when I didnt bleed for the 1st week I was nicely surprised.  Then when I relaised my period was not stopping I guessed it had something to do with the biopsy.  I havent used tampons or had sex and have only had one bath.  I've also stopped swimming.  What a pain.  Oh well, it's all in a good cause!
I have been going a bit hot and cold of late but i've put that down to the ear and throat infection i have at the moment...
oh well, i think i'll live.  Just have to be patient and wait it out I guess...
thanks again
x

Re: LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?

posted at 4/11/2009 12:45 PM GMT
Total posts: 828
First post: 18/2/2008
Last post: 20/11/2009
Did you have a biopsy or LLETZ? The two are different. LLETZ involves using a hot wire to cut away a large section of cervical tissue, is done under local anaesthetic, and take about 5-10 minutes. This procedure is used to treat abormal cells. This can take several weeks to heal.

A cervical biopsy is where they take a small sample of tissue (about the size of a pin-head) from the cervix for closer analysis. This won't be done under anaesthetic unless you request it, and takes seconds. This is a diagnostic procedure and is not a method of treatment. Bleeding/discharge lasts on average 1 week, and sometimes up to two.

Sometimes a biopsy will be done at the same time as LLETZ, before the procedure, so you could have had both, but there's no such thing as a 'LLETZ biopsy'. It could be that you just had a biopsy, in which case the nurse would be correct saying 1-2 weeks, and in which case it might be worth getting checked out by your GP in case you've developed an infection.

Hope that helps x

Re: LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?

posted at 4/11/2009 4:42 PM GMT
Total posts: 1290
First post: 18/5/2005
Last post: 4/11/2009
Oh okay, it was LLETZ.  I had local anaesthetic (the painful part!) and she said the size of the area she removed was about 1cm.
Thr first time I had it done I saw it happening on a screen so I know what happens.  (Just not the right name - oops).  But I really cant remember bleeding for this long afterwards.  Oh well, maybe the area removed was bigger this time round...
I'll give it a few more weeks and hopefully I'll have healed by then.
Thanks for the clarification.
x

Re: LLETZ Biopsy - anyone had one and what was your experience?

posted at 4/11/2009 8:09 PM GMT
Total posts: 1782
First post: 13/5/2008
Last post: 18/11/2009
Hi Blonderella
I have had 2 procedures. At the time they called them cone biopsys I think, similar to Lletz but using laser.   I had them both under general anaesthetic because I had other procedures done as well.
I only bled for 1 -2 weeks for the first one and then it was light.  THe second one had to be more drastic because the first one didn't take all the abnormal cells.  That bled a lot and I had to have internal stitches in the end.
I really think you should see your GP /gynacologist to get checked , I don't want to worry you at all but it is best to be sure
xx.

ETA  since the 2nd procedure in 1998 my smears have been perfectly normal x

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