[Cervical pessary and spontaneous preterm birth].

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of the cervical pessary for the prevention of preterm delivery and to propose recommendations.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: We searched the MedLine and the Cochrane Library and checked the international guidelines: ACOG and SOGC.

RESULTS

The data concerning the efficacy of the cervical pessary for the prevention of preterm birth in a population of asymptomatic women with a singleton pregnancy with a short cervix≤25mm between 20 and 24 weeks 6 days of gestation and in a population of asymptomatic women with a twin pregnancy at high risk of preterm delivery defined by a short cervix are contradictory. More studies are necessary to recommend its use in these indications (Professional consensus). A cervical pessary placed before 22 weeks of gestation does not reduce the risk of preterm birth in the general population of asymptomatic women with a twin pregnancy (EL1). It is therefore not recommended to use the cervical pessary in order to prevent preterm delivery in the general population of asymptomatic women with a twin pregnancy (grade A).

CONCLUSION

More studies are necessary to recommend the use of the cervical pesssary in singleton and in twin pregnancies with a short cervix.