SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCIES WITH THE USE OF LAMINARIA TENTS BEFORE EMBRYO-TRANSFER FOR REFRACTORY CERVICAL STENOSIS

Objective: To determine whether laminaria tents are a safe and effecti ve method of cervical dilatation in patients with a history of cervica l stenosis and difficult ET. Design: Case reports describing two patie nts. Setting: Tertiary care, assisted reproduction practice. Patient(s ): Two patients with cervical stenosis and a history of multiple faile d cycles of IVF. Intervention(s): Laminaria tents were placed intracer vically before ET. Main Outcome Measure(s): Presence of a gestational sac and fetal heartbeat on ultrasound. Result(s): Successful clinical pregnancies occurred in both patients after laminaria placement and ET . Conclusion(s): Laminaria tent cervical dilatation appears to be a sa fe and effective option to assist ET in patients with a history of cer vical stenosis. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine .