Cervical Insufficiency
(Cervical Incompetence)
What is the cervix?
What is cervical insufficiency?
What causes a weak cervix?
No one knows what causes a weak cervix, but these things can make a weak cervix more likely:
If you had a baby born early because your cervix was weak, there's a good chance that you'll be able to carry another baby the full 9 months. However, the more times you deliver a baby too early because of a weak cervix, the more likely it'll happen again.
What are the symptoms of a weak cervix?
How can my doctor tell if I have a weak cervix?
Your doctor may think you have a weak cervix if:
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You've been pregnant before and miscarried in your 2nd trimester
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During a regular ultrasound (moving pictures of the insides of your uterus), the doctor sees that your cervix is short
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A regular pregnancy exam shows your cervix has started to open early
How do doctors treat a weak cervix?
If doctors think you have a weak cervix, they may sew your cervix closed (called cervical cerclage) to help keep your baby from being born too early. Usually they’ll remove the stitches before you deliver your baby. If your doctor is planning to deliver your baby by cesarean section (C-section), the stitches may be left in place.
Also, doctors might have you put the female hormone progesterone into your vagina each night This may help keep you from going into labor too early.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
progesterone |
CRINONE |
