Affiliated Physicians: Maternal Fetal Medicine
What is cervical insufficiency?
An "insufficient" cervix is a weakened cervix that predisposes a woman to mid-term miscarriage or early (premature) delivery. This has also been called cervical incompetence. The Cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb) located between the bladder and the rectum. The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body.
Fetal loss in the second trimester may occur when the cervix is weak and opens too early, called incompetent cervix. In some cases of incompetent cervix, a physician can help prevent pregnancy loss by suturing the cervix closed until delivery, called a cerclage.
Pregnancy loss is often very difficult for women and families to cope with. Women who experience pregnancy loss require clinical care by a doctor to ensure other complications or infections are properly diagnosed and treated.
