Short cervix in pregnancy and childbirth

A short cervix causes a lot of problems during pregnancy, as it does not fix the uterus well. Accordingly, this threatens a miscarriage or premature birth - the most dangerous and undesirable consequences. That is why it is so important to diagnose the pathology in time and take appropriate measures aimed at controlling the situation.

A short cervix during pregnancy can be less than 2 cm, which is confirmed by medical studies (in particular, transvaginal ultrasound). The earlier this pathology is detected, the greater the chances of preserving the pregnancy and preventing the development of dangerous complications. If a woman has had pregnancies in her medical history that ended in miscarriages, she must inform her gynecologist about this. In this case, monitoring of the cervix will be carried out more often, starting from the 12-16th week.

A pathological condition called " isthmic-cervical insufficiency " is defined as a cervical length of less than 2 cm and a diameter of the internal os of more than 1 cm. After such a diagnosis is made, the expectant mother is prescribed corrective therapy.

Depending on the condition of the cervix, both surgical and conservative treatment can be used. Special medications will help with hormonal imbalance that caused the problem. Suturing the uterus is provided for complications when conservative treatment has not yielded the desired results. A gynecological ring can also be used, which will prevent the cervix from opening earlier than expected.

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Pregnancy with a short cervix

A short cervix and pregnancy are a dangerous tandem. Usually, the cervix shortens when the female body is preparing for childbirth (in the last months of pregnancy). At the same time, the internal os dilates, and then labor begins. However, there are cases when this process begins earlier than expected. The reason for this is the pressure of the fetus on the softened shortened cervix and its premature opening. We are talking about isthmic-cervical insufficiency - a dangerous condition that can cause such consequences as miscarriage or premature birth, which is extremely undesirable for a woman who has decided to become a mother.

Pregnancy with a short cervix is characterized by complications, so it should be monitored more carefully, using special monitoring studies. If transvaginal ultrasound performed in the first and second trimesters showed a shortening of the cervix to 2-3 cm, there is reason to talk about the presence of ICI.

If the pathology is caused by hormonal changes in the female body due to excess androgens, then in most cases the condition can be stabilized with the help of hormonal therapy. In addition, the pregnant woman must adhere to certain rules: stay in bed, reduce physical activity, use a prenatal bandage if necessary, and follow all the recommendations of the gynecologist. In particularly severe cases, the pregnant woman is prescribed inpatient treatment, which involves the installation of a gynecological ring (obstetric pessary) to maintain the uterus in a physiologically normal state.

Surgical correction (the so-called "cervical cerclage") is prescribed in critical situations when the length of the cervix is less than 2 cm. In this case, the pregnancy period should not exceed 27 weeks. The stitches are removed immediately at the very beginning of labor (after the waters break or during contractions).

The main thing is to detect the pathology in a timely manner and immediately take the necessary measures aimed at preserving the pregnancy. The expectant mother should take care of her health (rest more often, reduce stress, lead a calm lifestyle, regularly consult with her doctor).

Short cervix and sex

A short cervix is an unfavorable factor that affects the course of pregnancy and often provokes such dangerous complications as the threat of miscarriage and premature birth. A woman with such a diagnosis needs to take care of herself for the sake of the baby. This applies to restrictions in both physical activity and sex.

A short cervix and sex are incompatible concepts if there is a threat of miscarriage. Especially in the first trimester, if the expectant mother has developed isthmic-cervical insufficiency and dangerous signs appear: profuse vaginal discharge and bleeding. In order to avoid complications, partners are not recommended to use oral sex and other forms of sexual satisfaction. This is due to the fact that with a threat of miscarriage, even minimal contractions of the uterus can cause dangerous consequences, i.e. miscarriage or premature birth. Future parents should understand that in such a situation, complete abstinence from sexual activity is very important, since the health of the woman and their unborn child is at stake.

The alarming symptoms of an unfavorable pregnancy that should alert a woman include nagging abdominal pain, bloody discharge, a feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the lower abdomen (may indicate hypertonicity of the uterus). When faced with such signs indicating a threat of miscarriage, the expectant mother must maintain sexual rest and immediately contact her doctor.

Short cervix during childbirth

A short cervix (if it is observed in a pregnant woman in the prenatal period) is a completely natural phenomenon. More precisely, we are talking about its shortening, which indicates the preparation of the uterus directly for the process of childbirth. However, when it comes to pathology (the length of the organ is less than 2 cm), there is a risk of rapid labor, which can lead to a rupture of the vagina and the cervical canal itself.

A short cervix during childbirth is a real danger to a woman’s health, so in order to avoid problems associated with rapid labor, a pregnant woman should undergo regular medical examinations and strictly follow all recommendations and prescriptions of the doctor.

Obstetricians and gynecologists pay special attention to the issue of the length of the cervix, since this indicator is of great importance both at the stage of conception planning and throughout the entire period of bearing a child. Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with such a pathology are registered due to the threat of miscarriage. It is also necessary to remember such a dangerous condition as isthmic-cervical insufficiency, which can lead to premature opening of the cervix, and therefore to unplanned childbirth or spontaneous abortion.