What is cervical incompetence?

Cervical incompetence, also known as cervical insufficiency, is an alteration of the cervix of a pregnant woman. The cervix is not able to remain closed until the time of delivery, so it begins to widen prematurely. This can lead to miscarriages in the second trimester of pregnancy and premature deliveries during the second and third trimesters.

Some risk factors for cervical incompetence include the following:

• Cervical incompetence in a previous pregnancy.
• History of premature births.
• Cervical biopsy.
• Uterine abnormalities.

Normally, the treatment for cervical incompetence is based on a surgery called cervical cerclage. This intervention consists of closing the cervical canal through the vagina.