LEEP Procedure and Pregnancy: Safety Concerns & FAQs

Question
I had a leep procedure when I was pregnant and did not know. I still got my period in my first month of my pregnancy, so I did not realize that I was preganant until after the procedure. Would that harm the baby in amyway? I am worried that it will affect the pregnancy...

Answer
A LEEP procedure merely snips off the outer edge of the cervix (where it meets the vagina). It will not cause harm to a pregnancy or interfere with the fetus in any way.  However, sometimes, after a LEEP procedure, the cervix develops stenosis (tightening) and, when you go into labor, there may be difficulty in dilatation of the cervix. YOu may need a cesarean section to deliver the baby if the cervix does not dilate to 10cm. In other cases, a LEEP can lead to cervical incompetence (shorter cervix) which can, sometimes, cause preterm labor. The LEEP will not harm the baby.