What does cerclage mean?
Cerclage is most commonly used in obstetrics for a surgical procedure that reinforces the cervix during pregnancy. A band or suture is placed around the cervix to help prevent it from opening too early, particularly when a patient has a history of cervical insufficiency or previous preterm delivery. The word is formal and specialized, and the expression “cervical cerclage” is especially common in medical writing. More broadly, cerclage can refer to the act of fastening something with a ring or encircling band, although this meaning is much less frequent in modern English. The term is useful because it identifies a specific intervention rather than the broader condition it is intended to manage. Its French origin also reflects the central image of the procedure: the cervix is surrounded by a ring intended to provide support.
nounA surgical procedure in which the cervix is reinforced with a band or suture to help prevent it from opening prematurely during pregnancy. The term can also refer more generally to an encircling fastening or ring, though the medical sense is dominant in modern English.
- A surgical reinforcement of the cervix, usually performed during pregnancy by placing a band or suture around it to help prevent premature cervical opening.
- The action or result of securing something with an encircling band or ring.
"Her doctor recommended cervical cerclage because her previous pregnancy had ended with an early delivery."
"A patient with cervical insufficiency may be offered cerclage to reduce the risk of preterm birth."
"The surgeon explained that cerclage could help support the cervix during the remainder of the pregnancy."
The plural is used when referring to multiple instances or types of the procedure, though it is less common than the singular mass usage.
"The surgeon explained the risks associated with different cerclages."
Cerclage literally means “encircling”—and in obstetrics, that circle can help hold a pregnancy together.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How cerclage is actually used
A formal, chiefly medical term. In obstetrics, it usually refers to cervical cerclage; the broader sense of securing something with an encircling band is uncommon in contemporary English. The plural is used when referring to multiple instances or types of the procedure.