How can I prevent my cervix from shortening during pregnancy?

Taking progesterone, a key hormone for maintaining pregnancy, has been proven to reduce the risk of premature birth in women who have a short cervix. 1 Progesterone can be given as a weekly shot or as a daily vaginal medication.

Does having a short cervix make you high risk?

If you have a short cervix, you are at increased risk of having a premature birth. If you have a short cervix and you’re pregnant with just one baby, your health care provider may recommend these treatments to help you stay pregnant longer: Cerclage. Progesterone.

How do you overcome a short cervix?

If you’ve had issues with a short cervix in the past, if your cervix measures less than 25 mm, or if you have cervical incompetence, your doctor may recommend getting a cerclage early in the second trimester to prevent miscarriage and keep baby nice and secure. Rest assured, a standard cervical cerclage isn’t forever.

How does having a short cervix affect your pregnancy?

When the cervix is unusually short, it is prone to dilation, and it provides less protection for the fetus and pregnant woman. Having a short cervix increases the risk of pregnancy loss, preterm labor, and early delivery. Doctors define preterm labor as cervical changes that happen before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

What does having a short cervix during pregnancy mean?

A short cervix means the length of your cervix (also called cervical length) is shorter than normal. You may find out that you have a short cervix during an ultrasound that you get as part of your regular prenatal care. Prenatal care is medical care you get during pregnancy. Checking for a short cervix is not a routine prenatal test.

What causes cervix to thin during pregnancy?

During the last month of a normal pregnancy, a fetus will usually begin to drop lower in the womb. Around this time, hormones will cause the walls of the cervix to soften. This fetal repositioning also usually triggers the onset of cervical effacement, which might also be referred to as ripening or thinning out.

What are the symptoms of a short cervix?

Although often asymptomatic, some women experience some mild short cervix symptoms. The symptoms usually appear between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and include: Backache. Pelvic pressure. Abdominal cramps. Change in volume, color, and consistency of vaginal discharge. Light vaginal spotting or bleeding.