When does as cervix stitch come out and how is it done?
This involves placing a stitch high up around the cervix to try & keep it closed. The stitch can be placed either from down below (vaginally) or via an abdominal incision. The latter is usually used when vaginally placed stitches fail. They are called McDonald or Shirodkar stitches. The Shirodkar variant involves a bit more extensive surgery to ensure the stitch is high up on the cervix. The stitch is usually removed around 37 weeks and labour ensues fairly rapidly if the diagnosis was correct. Abdominal cerclage requires an elective caesarean section and the stitch is usually left in-situ for future pregnancies.
