What is the difference between preterm labor and incompetent cervix

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Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Cervical Insufficiency. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is cervical insufficiency? What causes cervical insufficiency? It's not clear what causes cervical insufficiency. But it has been linked to: Damage to the cervix. A medical procedure or childbirth can sometimes damage the cervix. A problem that a woman is born with.

This may be a problem with how the cervix or uterus is shaped. Cervical cerclage, a minor surgical procedure, is an effective and safe treatment option that can help prolong the pregnancy, ideally to full term. Another type of treatment involves supplementation with the hormone progesterone. Dilation is typically a direct response to contractions in the uterus.

However, for some women, the opening and shortening begins gradually in the days and weeks before delivery. Cervical insufficiency is the medical term for when these changes occur much earlier, around the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy, and in the absence of contractions. It can lead to very early delivery before 24 to 28 weeks or pregnancy loss. It is believed that cervical insufficiency is caused by a structural weakness of the cervix.

Some women experience cervical insufficiency in one pregnancy but then go on to carry others full term. For others, though, the problem is recurrent. Once a woman has had a premature delivery, she has about a percent risk of preterm birth in a future pregnancy.

Risk factors for the condition include the following:. While many women have no advance warning for cervical insufficiency, some experience symptoms such as vaginal pressure, spotting or bleeding, nonspecific abdominal or lower back pain, or vaginal discharge. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Berghella V, et al. Cervical insufficiency. Accessed Feb. Gabbe SG, et al. In: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. Philadelphia, Pa. Papadakis MA, et al.