Does a short cervix definitely cause a woman to give birth prematurely?

Babies born prematurely face many risks of serious illness and even death. One of the factors associated with preterm birth is a short cervix.
Question: Does a short cervix definitely cause a woman to give birth prematurely? Below is the answer of obstetrician and gynecologist Nguyen Thi Man, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital

The cervix is ​​the entrance to the uterus, located above the vagina. The cervix lengthens and thickens during pregnancy depending on the change in the weight of the fetus. Normally, the fetus will lie in the uterus, at the full-term stage according to the physiology of labor, there will be uterine contractions that stimulate the cervix to shorten (the phenomenon of erasing) and widen (the phenomenon of dilatation). ) from 1cm to 10cm so that the baby can come out of the uterus and be born.

The best way to diagnose a short cervix is ​​with an ultrasound. Doctors cannot make a diagnosis through manual abdominal or gynecological examination, only ultrasound is reliable.
The current common technique for measuring cervical length in pregnancy is transvaginal ultrasound, which is easier to observe and has higher reliability than transabdominal ultrasound. Transvaginal transvaginal ultrasound is also comfortable and safe, with no increased risk of infection even if the person has premature rupture of membranes.
Pregnant women will be assessed cervical length based on transvaginal ultrasound. If the measurement is between 30mm - 50mm is normal, if the result is less than 25mm, it is called short cervix. A short cervix may not be strong enough to hold a pregnancy, especially in cases of twins, to lead to premature labor and premature birth. This risk increases as the cervix shortens.

Preterm birth is a condition in which labor is born between 22-37 weeks of gestation. Premature infants have a higher risk of death and morbidity and neurological sequelae than term infants.
Currently, early detection and treatment of threatened preterm birth is an important issue for obstetrics, neonatology and society as a whole.

This is a common question, especially in women diagnosed with a short cervix. Women with this condition can still get pregnant but are more likely to give birth prematurely than women whose cervix remains long and thick throughout the pregnancy.
One study has shown that: “Women with a cervical length less than 25mm at around 24 weeks have a 6 times increased risk of preterm birth before 35 weeks of age compared to women with a longer cervix. 40mm. Only 2% of women during pregnancy have a cervix less than 15mm, yet 60% of them will give birth before 28 weeks of age and 90% will be born before 32 weeks of age.

Measuring the length of the cervix to screen for a short cervix will be performed routinely during the second trimester ultrasound screening for fetal malformations. However, in some cases, a pregnant woman needs to be investigated early if:
Have ever given birth. preterm birth or a family with a close relative (grandmother, mother or sister) who was born prematurely. Pregnant many times. History of cervicectomy or cervical shortening. Old. Lack of prenatal care, poor nutrition. Use alcohol and smoke. When detected early, there are many methods that can help prevent preterm birth in women with a short cervix.

When diagnosed with short cervix, pregnant women should:
Do not do heavy work, avoid exertion. Full complement of nutrients for the body. Limit walking and exercise a lot, avoid movements that change position suddenly.

Because a short cervix can increase a mother's risk of premature labor, doctors will usually treat it with the following measures:

The effect of the drug is to limit the occurrence of uterine contractions, leading to reduced pressure on the cervix, or in other words, slowing down the labor process. Progesterone has been shown to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with a short cervix.
Progesterone pills come in many forms: injectable, oral or vaginal or rectal. You will be prescribed by your doctor and used every day at home.

This is a procedure that uses sutures to help narrow the cervix during pregnancy in women with a short cervix. However, cervical stitches are not suitable for everyone. You need to be examined by a doctor and consider a comprehensive treatment.
If your doctor thinks a waist stitch is right for you, you'll likely have the procedure done at the hospital.
After the procedure is over, you should go back to your doctor's appointment as scheduled and return to the hospital when there are abnormal symptoms.
When the pregnancy is full term, about 37 - 38 weeks, the suture removal procedure will be performed so that the mother can have a vaginal birth as normal physiologically.

If you've been diagnosed with a short cervix, don't worry.
Medicine is getting more and more advanced in diagnosing and treating this phenomenon before labor starts, helping to prevent premature birth. It's important to get early prenatal care and get regular checkups for early detection and prevention.
Pregnant women with a short cervix should take the initiative to have antenatal check-ups more often in the last 3 months of pregnancy. When the body appears any abnormal symptoms, it is necessary to immediately notify the doctor for timely treatment and treatment.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical unit that is highly appreciated by customers for its professional quality as well as professional care services. The team of doctors is highly qualified and experienced. State-of-the-art medical equipment. In particular, Vinmec is the only hospital in the North that can save 24 weeks premature babies. Premature babies will be cared for and raised with international standards. Premature births are organized in a methodical manner under the coordination of many specialties: obstetrics, anesthesiology, and especially neonatology and paediatrics. This helps to reduce the risks and increase the effectiveness of treatment for health problems that premature babies may have.
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