a minor surgical procedure in which the opening to the uterus (the cervix) is stitched closed in order to prevent a miscarriage or premature birth

a procedure in which a stitch or two is put around the cervix to prevent its opening until removed when the pregnancy is at term

A procedure putting stitches in the cervix to prevent it from opening and causing a miscarriage. Cerclage is not normally performed in the office. close window

A stitch inserted in the cervix to prevent premature birth due to incompetent cervix.

A procedure in which the cervix is stitched closed to prevent premature delivery. The cerclage is removed 4 weeks before a woman's due date to allow for delivery.

Cervical cerclage (tracheloplasty) is used for the treatment of cervical incompetence, a condition where the cervix has become slightly open and there is a risk of miscarriage because it may not remain closed throughout pregnancy. Usually this treatment would be done for a woman who had suffered one or more miscarriages in the past, in the second trimester of pregnancy.