Loop electrosurgical excision procedure and risk of preterm birth

Objective: To examine whether preterm birth is related to the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) itself or intrinsic to the women undergoing the procedure. Methods: Rates of preterm birth, defined as births before 37 weeks of gestation, as well as causes were analyzed in women undergoing LEEP before or after an index pregnancy. These rates were compared with the general obstetric population. Results: A total of 241,701 women were delivered of singletons at Parkland Hospital between January 1992 and May 2008; of these women, 511 previously had undergone LEEP and another 842 underwent LEEP after the index pregnancy. When compared with the general obstetric population, no increased risk of preterm birth was observed for either group. This was true regardless of the reason for preterm birth. Likewise, there was no increased risk of delivery before 34 weeks or between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation. Conclusion: No association was observed between LEEP and preterm birth in women undergoing the procedure before or after an index pregnancy.