For Patients/Families

Incompetent cervix
Painless cervical dilatation in the 2nd trimester often followed by premature delivery of the fetus. This can sometimes be diagnosed early on with the use of an ultrasound. The only real treatment is a surgical procedure called cerclage, which reinforces the cervix with sutures. An alternative to surgery is bedrest, but this is not always effective. Possible complications to cerclage are bleeding, contractions, and ruptured membranes, but if done by the 18th week these risks are decreased. The success rate is about 85-90%. If an incompetent cervix is not properly treated it will cause problems with each subsequent pregnancy.