| Will I be able to have children after surgery? Do I have | | | | surgeries, I had a baby five years later. I was terrified |
| to have a hysterectomy? These are both natural | | | | that I would suffer from preterm labor because all the |
| questions women ask when they're told they have to | | | | doctors warned about that due to the dreaded |
| have surgery for cervical cancer. The answer to the | | | | "incompetent cervix." That is when your cervix won't |
| second question is: it depends. It depends on how early | | | | stay closed to keep the baby inside. It can happen |
| your cancer was caught. If it's still just local and smaller | | | | because your cervix is shorter after the surgeries, but, |
| than 2 cm (which is a little less than an inch), then you | | | | interestingly, the length of your cervix may still be long |
| should be able to avoid a hysterectomy. The answer | | | | enough. An "incompetent cervix" is more likely to |
| to the second question is: it depends, but probably yes | | | | happen to women who are born with short cervixes |
| as long as you don't have a hysterectomy. | | | | or who have a genetic defect in the shape of their |
| Surgery to remove a small, localized cervical cancer | | | | uterus. |
| will require one of these surgeries: LEEP, cone biopsy | | | | Nobody can guarantee that you won't have premature |
| or trachelectomy. Sometimes you may have more | | | | dilation of your cervix, so you will go see a |
| than one, like a LEEP followed by a cone biopsy. The | | | | perinatologist once you get pregnant, and the doctor |
| reason for two surgeries is because you may have a | | | | can measure your cervix length on ultrasound. The |
| LEEP to remove severe dysplasia, and they find a | | | | doctor will see you once a month once you're about 3 |
| small tumor in the tissue. Then you may have a | | | | months pregnant, and if your cervix looks like it's |
| followup cone biopsy to make sure it was all removed. | | | | shortening, you may need a cerclage to keep it closed. |
| Okay, now your surgery is over, you have waited 6 | | | | A cerclage is a fancy word for a stitch in the cervix. |
| months to a year to heal, can you have children? | | | | Literally, they put in a stitch to close the cervix. That |
| Provided you don't have any other reason to be | | | | stays in until about 2 weeks before you're due to have |
| infertile, you should be able to, but you might encounter | | | | the baby. I think the important thing to know is that |
| a few hurdles. These hurdles are cervical stenosis (or | | | | there is life after cervical cancer, and it can include |
| stiffness of the cervix), decreased cervical mucus, | | | | having children if you catch the cancer early. Go to |
| blocked fallopian tubes and incompetent cervix. You | | | | your doctor for regular Pap smears and pelvic exams! |
| may not have any of these, or you may have all of | | | | Whether or not you have children later is something |
| them. | | | | that you should get to decide, not have cancer decide |
| I had micro-invasive cervical cancer, and after 3 | | | | it for you. |