Cerclage Placement Specialist

Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center Our Services Cerclage Placement
Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center - - OB/GYN

Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center

OB/GYNs located in Beverly Hills, CA

Prematurely delivering a baby is cause for many risks. To avoid such a situation, the gynecologists at Rodeo Drive Women’s Health Center -- Dr. Rebecca Brown, Dr. Jennifer Chen, Dr. Lily Lee, Dr. Rahil Patel, Dr. Henrietta Stancz-Szeder, Dr. Karen Toubi, Dr. Kathleen Valenton, Dr. Wendy Kim Waldman, and Dr. Peter Weiss  -- offer cervical cerclage placement procedures to support a weak cervix from opening early. Contact their practice located in Beverly Hills, California to hear their expert opinions on this procedure.

Cerclage Placement Q & A

What is cerclage placement?

Cervical cerclage functions to prevent preterm delivery. It involves the placement of stitches on the cervix to keep it from opening prematurely. Since the cervix is the outlet of the uterus, it’s a preventive measure for an “incompetent cervix.”

Should I undergo cervical cerclage?

Rodeo Drive Women’s Health Center’s OB/GYN specialists perform a cervical cerclage on women who have:

  • An incompetent cervix or cervical insufficiency and previous second-trimester pregnancy losses or deliveries
  • Has had a history of preterm birth and has a finding of short cervical length in the current pregnancy
  • Has a dilated cervix on examination at 16 to 23 weeks of gestation

If I qualify, when should I get a cervical cerclage?

Cervical cerclage is done preventively around 12 to 14 weeks before the cervix thins out. It’s also performed as an emergency measure after the cervix has thinned or dilated, although rarely used after 24 weeks.

What does a cervical cerclage procedure entail?

Your doctor puts you under either general or regional anesthesia before the operation. A speculum is inserted into your vagina to keep the vaginal walls spread apart. Then the operation is performed by placing special stitches around the outside of the cervix.

If it’s too late for these earlier procedures due to a late diagnosis, your amniotic sac may begin to protrude through your cervix. Your doctor will then insert a catheter through the cervix to inflate a bulb at the end. Another option involves filling the bladder with liquid to push the amniotic sac back into the pelvis so that the cervix can be stitched closed.

What risks are involved in cervical cerclage?

Cervical cerclage procedures pose small chances for risks in the right candidates. They’re proven to help some high-risk pregnancies endure longer. However, as with any surgery, risks are inevitable. These surgical risks include:

  • Infection
  • Damage to the cervix during surgery
  • Excessive blood loss
  • Preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), meaning your water breaks long before due
  • Preterm labor
  • Permanent narrowing or closure of the cervix (cervical stenosis)
  • Tearing of the cervix or uterus if stitches are still in place during labor

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

At Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a list of some of the plans we accept. Please contact our office for insurance eligibility.

Aetna
Anthem Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Cigna
Coventry
Medicare
Meritain Health
MultiPlan
Oxford Health Plans
SAG-AFTRA