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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Laparoscopic Non-Mesh Cerclage Pectopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Published on: September 13, 2022
Effectiveness of cerclage according to severity of cervical length shortening: a meta-analysis
V Berghella1, S M Keeler, M S To
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. vincenzo.berghella@jefferson.edu
Objectives:
To estimate the effectiveness of cerclage according to degree of cervical length (CL) shortening.
Methods:
A meta-analysis was carried out of trials of women with singleton gestations and second-trimester transvaginal sonographic CL < 25 mm randomized to cerclage or no cerclage. The degree of CL shortening was correlated to the efficacy of cerclage in preventing preterm birth.
Results:
There was a significant reduction in preterm birth < 35 weeks in the cerclage compared with no cerclage groups in 208 singleton gestations with both a previous preterm birth and CL < 25 mm (relative risk, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.40-0.92). In these women, preterm birth < 37 weeks was significantly reduced with cerclage for CL < or = 5.9 mm, < or = 15.9 mm, 16-24.9 mm and < 25 mm. None of the analyses for 344 women without a previous preterm birth was significant.
Conclusions:
Cerclage, when performed in women with a singleton gestation, previous preterm birth and cervical length < 25 mm, seems to have a similar effect regardless of the degree of cervical shortening, including CL 16-24 mm, as well as CL < or = 5.9 mm.
