Stenotic Cervix & TTC

[MissM]

Hi There,

So after my lap results and letting it sink in, it got me thinking ... If I have a textbook 28 day cycle have normal cramping (dont even need pain killers) and bleed for an average of 5 days, how come we havent been able to conceive naturally?

I was reading on another site:

I read the same thing about having a period but my RE said it is different because blood is so microscopic and it is coming in a different direction than the sperm trying to get "up" through the scarring.

So if MY cervix was VERY stenotic - what does this mean? closed completely? How could you get a period if this was the case?

I get a bit confused with my body lately!



Thoughts?

[MissM]

Anyone?

[onthefly]

I'd never heard of this before and just did a google search. Has your doctor talked to you about it yet?
I guess it can't be completely closed if you bleed normally.

[MissM]

Not Yet, he seen me briefly after my lap was done but asked me to make an appoint in 2-4 weeks.

Google has kind of helped me understand a little. Something about a narrowed cervix, sometimes scar tissue possibly from giving birth, blocks the cervix which can cause infertility.

I couldnt understand either if it was completely closed how I would get a 'normal' period, but then i found a post somewhere else that said it was easier for blood to come down rather than sperm going up? Google sometimes isnt very friendly LOL I was scaring myself reading about how if pregnant some women's cervix will not open up therefore require a c-sect - possibly getting way ahead of myself here but anyways (I in no way mean to offend anyone who has had a c-sect and if needed I would hve one )

Once I see my Gyno, I will update my post JIC someone needs to know anything later on

[onthefly]

You know it's possible it's always been like this and it's just that noone ever checked before.
Google is rarely reassuring unfortunately!
Do report back, it might help someone else one day

[MissM]

It very well could have been. Not too sure if it makes a difference or not, but with DD my labour was only 3.5 hrs from the first contraction. **Just talking out loud here** wouldnt I have had issues giving birth? ... Might ask the Dr these quessies!

Will def report back

[MaggiePie]

Hi Naenae, I am glad you are getting some answers. I was just thinking that 3.5 hours is pretty quick for first bub. Maybe if you have a quick labour there is more risk of a tear and more scarring??? Not based on anything just thinking out loud like you. Hoping you get some answers soon, when is your appointment?

[MissM]

Hey MP,

I am so stoked at finally getting some answers. I will be calling tomorrow to make an appt - ran out of time today unfortunately. I guess it is a possibility of having a fast labour that i ripped and scarred myself - honestly though, how are we really to know iykwim? It would explain why I didnt fall after DD too (honestly, not a bad thing LOL) but now that we want another baby its frustrating.

I will definately update this post once I do have more answers tho

[Indadhanu]

I've been debriefing my birth, and had a probable cervical stenosis.

I can't really help with TTC, we had to use a clinic anyway, and we did IUI. Which was painful for me, trying to get the catheter thing in through my cervix, though I didn't know why at the time. I had a lap also, the dye didn't pass though when they did the tests. There was question about my tubes but when I had a HSG it took an hour and /i needed a SCREW to hold my cervix open enough to get the dye through. Once that happened it was smooth sailing through the HSG. Guess I should have picked up on a problem. Maybe my FS should have? Who knows.

For me, it ended in a c/s. Not for failure to dilate (although that took a long time, and was probably helped by the numerous vaginal examinations I had, one after the other, done by different doctors, trying to work out what the problem was), but dilation took so long that I think I was just too exhausted to keep going, add in the oxytocin drip and epidural, being on the bed for 12 hours, and she ended up the wrong position for birth.
Anyway, my point is that it DOESN'T mean c/s, if you are aware it is a problem. I have read and been told a few things that suggest that cervical massage during labour (ie. the numerous VE's that I had) can really help break down the blockage/scar tissue and encourage dilation.

[MissM]

Hi Leasha,

I had a lap done and it revealed I had a very stenotic cervix. My gyno spoke very briefly to me and said basically it can happen during labor.

I just wanted to know more info on what it was and if anyone here had experienced it before, as google really didnt have much info at all about it.

Basically all I can really find and to my understanding, is that a cause of cervical stenosis *may* be caused by labor (tearing) or by trauma to the cervix, from what I have read in google, you dont necessarily have the give birth to have cervical damage (read a story of a 15 y.o)

In my case, my gyno assumes it is from labor.

Cervical stenosis - basically a narrowing of the passageway & can cause infertility as the sperm cannot pass through. I did read online that you can still get a normal period, however it is harder to conceive as the period travels down, is easier to flow through rather than sperm try to swim up? Not sure how correct this is, its on my list of questions for the gyno

It is a possibility you may also have a stenotic cervix - I have read it can be painful attempting to get up into the cervix.

The gyno stretched mine to 7mm - hopefully this helps us ttc! LOL

[MissM]

I hope that post made sense?

[CharlieBrownGirl]

Found your post
Hope your specialist can provide you with the answers you are looking for and move closer to your bfp.

[MissM]

Thanks CBG

[MissM]

Seen the gyno today, he thinks we can conceive on our own, if in 3-4 months we are still not preggers I will go back to see him

There really is no clear answer to why I had a closed cervix, but now that the endo is gone, the cysts are gone and I've had a clean out FX for this 2WW!

[*Ash*]

Fingers crossed, good luck

[MissM]

Thanks Ash, I am really feeling positive this month, and will be for the next few months. Here's hoping tho! It is well and truly time for that long awaited BFP (tho it doesnt feel so long compared to some women here, but its been almost 2 years!)

[MaggiePie]

Have my fingers crossed for you. I was just thinking, I tried a product called Concieve Plus by the company sasmar. It's a lubricant that mimics CM so makes it easier for the sperm to swim. I did fall preg the first month I used it but it may or may not have anything to do with that. Was just thinking that if they have a bit extra liquid to help them swim through the cervix it might help the sperm.

Anyway, baby dust to you for this month I hope you have good news soon....

[MissM]

Thanks MP! Us too! We used Preseed this month so hopefully that helps At least we know we actually have a chance these next few months!

I was saying to DP last night - the last 18 months have been a waste really, but at least we have now (hopefully) resolved the issue and we get out long awaited BFP