Cervical stenosis in pregnancy: a complication of cryotherapy in diethylstilbestrol-exposed women.

Cryotherapy causes a high incidence of cervical stenosis in diethylstilbestrol-exposed women because of an abnormal healing response. Consequently, the cervix may not dilate during labor, necessitating cesarean section. To prevent this, therapy should be localized to the abnormal tissue on the cervix instead of the entire transformation zone whenever possible.