Loop electrosurgical excision procedure of the cervix and time of delivery in subsequent pregnancy

Objective: To study the effect of the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) on gestational age at delivery in the subsequent pregnancy. Method: Identification of women with LEEP. Chart analysis and inquiry into gestational age at the subsequent delivery. Exclusion of first trimester abortions, multiple gestations, cold knife conizations and women over 40 years during LEEP. For comparison, 40 weeks was used as the mean date of delivery in a normal population. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used and P < 0.05 was considered significant. Result: Fifty-six women delivered after LEEP. Seven delivered preterm of whom three were induced and one had a history of preterm delivery. Deliveries prior to 32 weeks of gestation did not occur. Mean gestational age at delivery was 39 2/7 weeks (95%CI: 38 5/7-39 6/7) which is significantly earlier (P = 0.03) than the hypothetical 40 weeks. Conclusion: After LEEP, deliveries prior to 32 weeks did not occur. Gestational age at delivery was only 5 days earlier than expected. LEEP cannot be considered a risk for early preterm delivery. (C) 2001 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. All rights reserved.