 News
14th April 2006
Surgery for abnormal smears could cause pregnancy
risk
Techniques used to remove abnormal cervical cells could
increase the risk of problems during pregnancy according to experts.
But UK experts said women who needed treatment should go ahead, as the
risk of pregnancy complications was small.
Researchers from the Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire, analysed 27
studies looking at various treatments.
if a woman has abnormal smear results she is sent for further investigations
to see if abnormal cells should be removed.
There are a number of ways of doing this including ablation where a laser
destroys the cells or cold knife conisation where a cone shaped wedge
is cut away from the cervix.
The most common method used is LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation
zone) which uses a small tool and electric current to remove the area
containing the abnormal cells from the cervix.
The study, published in the Lancet, found that laser ablation is the
only treatment not linked to any pregnancy related risks
Cold knife conisation increased the risk of giving birth prematurely,
of having a low birthweight baby and of having to have a Caesarean.
LLETZ also increased the relative risk of having a premature or small
baby. But it also raised the chances of a woman's membranes rupturing
prematurely.
Lead researcher Dr Maria Kyrgiou said, "Evidence clearly indicates that
excision of the transformation zone is associated with a small but real
increase in risk of pregnancy-related morbidity.
"This information should be considered when counselling women before
their consent to treatment and lends support to the philosophy of doctors
not treating young women with mild abnormalities."
But Professor Peter Sasieni, a Cancer Research UK expert on cervical
screening, said, "Women in the UK should not be too worried by this report,
as the risk of developing serious side effects during pregnancy is very
small.
"If a woman has been told she needs treatment for any abnormalities of
the cells, it could be essential that she has the necessary treatment
to prevent cervical cancer from developing, but she should discuss all
the options with her doctor."
He added, "It is important to have published information so we understand
more about the side-effects that treatment for cervical abnormalities
can cause.
"Experts in the UK are already aware of these side-effects and are looking
at ways to reduce them."
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