Cervical Incompetence Management

A women’s cervix is the lowest part of the uterus which extends into the vagina.  Cervical incompetence is a phenomenon when a woman’s cervix opens too early and could be a cause of preterm labor or second trimester miscarriage.  Approximately 1% of pregnancies are complicated by an incompetent cervix.  A woman may have an incompetent cervix due to a congenital (present at birth) abnormality with her cervix, tissue integrity problem due to a connective tissue disorder, trauma or damage from a cone biopsy, LEEP procedure or other cervical surgery, or other unidentified cause.

Treatment for an incompetence cervix could include a transvaginal or transabdominal cerclage.  This involves placing a band between the uterine opening and cervix to hold the cervix closed.  Unfortunately cervical incompetence can be very difficult to diagnose. In some cases cervical incompetence is assumed to be the problem for a couple that has recurrent preterm labor or second trimester miscarriages when in fact it is just one of many possible explanations for these unfortunate pregnancy complications.

Before decided if cervical incompetence is present or a cerclage is necessary, it will be important to consult your physician which may recommend an evaluation by one of our specialists to discuss the procedure in detail.  It will be very important to discuss your medical and pregnancy history as well as the risks and benefits of the procedure.