How long After LLETZ Do You Bleed For (And Why)?

Exact Answer: Up To Three Weeks

LLETZ stands for large loop excision of the transformation zone that is a surgery carried out in the cervix to treat the abnormal growth of cells in the cervix called the pre-cancerous cells and turn into an issue in the future if not detected at an early stage.

The LLETZ process begins with the screening of the cervix and uterus to find any abnormality, and if found, then the surgery is begun whenever the patient is prepared. The procedure takes less than thirty minutes. The surgeon starts with giving local anesthesia to numb out the pain in the cervix. The doctor inserts an electric medical wire that helps cut the pre-cancerous part, so no further issues are made.

How Long After LLETZ Do You Bleed For?

The diseases that LLETZ treats are caused because of the outgrowth of unwanted cells in the cervix. After cutting and completing the surgery, the surgical area is sewed or stitched using a medical stitch so that the skin connects with the cells and the skin fibers. The surgery is minor, but the after recovery can be a lengthy process. When the cells are removed from the cervix, they are further sent in the lab to check if it contains any cancerous properties.

The patient might have cancer, and it is identified in the surgery. If the cancer is detected, the process is treated to tackle cancer with required medical efforts. If the state of cancer is small, then it can be killed with the medication. If no cancer is detected, then the expected recovery is taken place. Still, many activities like heavy cardio, exercises, and swimming can come to a halt for a few weeks.

It is normal to suffer vaginal bleeding after the LLETZ surgery. In some women, the bleeding is light, and it ceases in a week. In contrast, some patients may suffer heavy bleeding from the vagina, which can go on for three weeks and can be very painful.

Why Does It Take That Long After LLETZ To Bleed?

After the LLETZ, the women’s cervix cells are electro-coated and cut to avoid further infection spread. Hygiene products such as sanitary pads and tampons can halt the other activities. Recovery depends most upon the rest factor, and that is the infected area. For instance, if the women’s area of infection is small or minimal, the recovery can occur within a few weeks after the outgrowth is removed. The body can overcome the small cut as the blood vessels can quickly repair and close the skin cutting.

The cramping and pelvic pain, which is the common side effect, lasts over a couple of days to around two weeks, but this is the clear indication of recovery. For most of the patients, it settles down nearly on the third day of post-treatment. The pain reaches the peak in one to two days of the procedure and starts to subside thereby. Then, there will not be any continuous cramping; it may come and frequently go along with mild fever, low energy, the moderate feeling of flu, and nausea. For patients aged forty-five or above, it lasts only for a week. It is necessary to avoid going out for work during these days of recovery.

The bleeding keeps going on for so long because the cells from the cervix are removed, and a soft scab is produced due to it. The bleeding is similar to menstruation but can be heavier than it. It would be good to restrict the traveling for a month or at least until you feel comfortable. After the discharge, bleeding occurs in rare cases. 

Conclusion

Finally, it can be concluded that LLETZ prevents the development of cells into cancer in the cervix. After the operation, you can suffer from pain, bleeding of the vagina, and a change in the discharge from the vagina. But this ends within a few days or weeks. There are no risks after treatment with LLETZ for women who are concerned about getting pregnant after it.

On average, the bleeding after LLETZ stops in a week but can go on for three weeks. The infected area is removed in the surgery. It can form blood clots, itching, and irritation, with many everyday activities coming to a halt. It is imperative to seek medical guidance in case of an emergency.

References

1. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1989.tb03380.x
2. https://europepmc.org/article/med/19583712