CERVICAL PRESERVATION PROCEDURES IN THE SETTING OF EXTRACORPOREAL FERTILIZATION (IVF): EVIDENCE-BASED SURGICAL AND OBSTETRIC APPROACHES
Abstract
In reproductive medicine, cervical integrity is a key determinant of successful pregnancy establishment and continuation. Although the expression “cervical preservation procedure” is not a standardized term in major clinical guidelines, it is often used informally to describe interventions aimed at maintaining reproductive potential in women with cervical pathology. In the context of extracorporeal fertilization (in vitro fertilization, IVF), the concept mainly applies to two clinical scenarios: fertility-sparing management of early-stage cervical cancer and prevention of pregnancy loss due to cervical insufficiency. This review-style article summarizes the most relevant procedures—cervical conization, simple trachelectomy, radical trachelectomy, and cervical cerclage—and discusses their implications for IVF feasibility, embryo transfer, oncologic safety, and obstetric outcomes.