Carbon dioxide laser treatment of cervical stenosis.

Fifteen women diagnosed with cervical stenosis were treated by vaporization of scar tissue using the carbon dioxide laser. Ninety-three percent of the cases demonstrated binding constriction of the cervical os to a 2-mm diameter or less and 40% of the cases had either a pinpoint opening or total endocervical obliteration. The technique for laser treatment and the success of the method depend on precise variations of mode, power, beam diameter, and "buttoning" the endocervical mucosal remnant. Twelve of the 15 patients were relieved of stenosis and 9 achieved pregnancy within 2 years of the operative procedure. Critical analysis of possible causative factors in this study revealed that virtually every case of stenosis had been iatrogenic.