Cervical cerclage is a medical procedure in which your doctor places a single stitch around your cervix, the opening to your uterus. The stitch sews your cervix closed. Doctors perform cerclage to prevent late (second trimester) miscarriages and preterm (early) delivery.
Your doctor performs cervical cerclage in a hospital operating room. In the operating room, your doctor inserts a tool called a speculum into your vagina to access your cervix. Then the doctor places the stitch around the upper part of the cervix and tightens the stitch. The stitch holds the cervix closed.
How is cervical cerclage performed? The doctor will administer you either spinal anesthesia, regional (that covers the whole region of and near the cervix) anesthesia, or general anesthesia before the procedure. This helps you remain pain-free throughout the surgery.
After going home, the woman gradually resumes normal activity. She can carry on all housework. She can also go to work after two to four weeks, if she is a working woman. Certainly there is no need for complete bed rest.
