Print Overview Female reproductive system Enlarge image Close Female reproductive system Female reproductive system The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina (vaginal canal) make up the female reproductive system. An incompetent cervix happens when weak cervical tissue causes or plays a part in a premature birth or the loss of a healthy pregnancy. An incompetent cervix also is called cervical insufficiency. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens to the vagina. Before pregnancy, it's usually closed and firm. As pregnancy goes on and you get ready to give birth, the cervix slowly changes. It softens, gets shorter and opens. If you have an incompetent cervix, it might begin to open too soon causing you to give birth too early. An incompetent cervix can be a hard problem to diagnose and treat. If your cervix begins to open early, or if you've had cervical insufficiency in the past, you might benefit from treatment. This might include having a procedure done to close the cervix with strong sutures, called a cervical cerclage. You also may take medicine to help the incompetent cervix and have ultrasound exams to check how things are going.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy PregnancyAssortment Women's Health Products from Mayo Clinic StoreShow more products from Mayo Clinic SymptomsWith an incompetent cervix, there may be no signs or symptoms during early pregnancy. Some women have mild discomfort or spotting before the diagnosis. Often, this occurs before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Be on the lookout for: A feeling of pelvic pressure. A new backache. Mild stomach cramps. A change in vaginal discharge. Light vaginal bleeding. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. 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Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Risk factorsMany women don't have a known risk factor. Risk factors for an incompetent cervix include: Cervical trauma. A previous procedure or surgery on the cervix could lead to an incompetent cervix. This includes surgery to treat a cervical problem found during a Pap test. A procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C) also could be associated with an incompetent cervix. Rarely, a cervical tear during a previous labor and delivery could be a risk factor for an incompetent cervix. A condition you're born with. This is called a congenital condition. Certain uterine conditions might cause an incompetent cervix. Genetic problems affecting a type of protein that makes up your body's connective tissues, called collagen, might cause an incompetent cervix. ComplicationsAn incompetent cervix may be risky for your pregnancy. Possible complications include: Premature birth. Pregnancy loss. PreventionYou can't prevent an incompetent cervix. But there's a lot you can do to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy. For example: Seek regular prenatal care. Regular checkups during pregnancy can help your care team monitor your health and your baby's health. Tell your doctor about any signs or problems that worry you, even if they seem silly or not important. Eat a healthy diet. During pregnancy, you'll need more folic acid, calcium, iron and other essential nutrients. Taking a daily prenatal vitamin can help if you're not eating enough healthy foods. Prenatal vitamins can be started a few months before conception and continued throughout your pregnancy. Gain weight wisely. Gaining the right amount of weight can support your baby's health. A weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, or about 11 to 16 kilograms, is often the target if you are at a healthy weight before pregnancy. Avoid risky substances. If you smoke, quit. Alcohol and illegal drugs are off-limits too. Get your doctor's OK before taking any medicines or supplements, even those available without a prescription. If you've had an incompetent cervix during one pregnancy, you're at risk of premature birth or pregnancy loss in later pregnancies. If you're considering getting pregnant again, talk with your doctor to understand the risks and what you can do to promote a healthy pregnancy. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment April 25, 2023 Print Show references Berghella V, et al. Cervical insufficiency. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 6, 2023. Landon MB, et al., eds. Cervical insufficiency. In: Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 6, 2023. Papadakis MA, et al., eds. Obstetrics and obstetric disorders. In: Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2023. 62nd ed. McGraw Hill; 2023. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Jan. 6, 2023. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. 234: Prediction and prevention of spontaneous preterm birth. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2021; doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004479. Brown R, et al. Cervical insufficiency and cervical cerclage. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.jogc.2018.08.009. Uzum A, et al. Protein interaction networks define the genetic architecture of preterm birth. Scientific Reports. 2022; doi:10.1038/s41598-021-03427-0. What can I do to promote a healthy pregnancy? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/preconceptioncare/conditioninfo/healthy-pregnancy. Accessed Jan. 6, 2023. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Statement: Response to EPPPIC and consideration of the use of progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. https://www.smfm.org/publications/383-smfm-statement-response-to-epppic-and-consideration-of-the-use-of-progestogens-for-the-prevention-of-preterm-birth. Accessed Feb. 23, 2023. Ibrahim SA, et al. Role of progesterone in women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth: The final word? Lancet. 2021; doi:10.1016/S01406736(21)00308-1. Related Cervical cerclage Associated Procedures Amniocentesis MRI Pelvic exam Ultrasound Show more associated procedures Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy Assortment Women's Health Products from Mayo Clinic Store Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic Incompetent cervixSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatment Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Women’s health topics - straight to your inbox Get the latest information from our Mayo Clinic experts on women’s health topics, serious and complex conditions, wellness and more. Click to view a preview and subscribe below. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry