Repeated measurements can be costly and time consuming for the patient. But if the cervix shortens, measuring can cause unnecessary anxiety, and the patient may inappropriately be encouraged to go on bed rest. Potential risks: Continuing to measure can be reassuring for some patients – if their measurement doesn't change. Questions to ask your doctor: What will you recommend if my cervix is shortening? Unfortunately, there is no further treatment beyond cerclage for a short cervix, and bed rest is not shown to provide benefit. When you might not need the exam: Research shows that measurement of the full cervical length or the area below the cerclage does not correlate to specific trends in outcomes. By measuring cervical length via ultrasound after cerclage placement, some providers feel they can see whether the cerclage is helping. The goal of the suture is to keep the cervix closed in an attempt to prevent pregnancy loss. Cervical length measurement after cerclage placementĪbout the exam: Cerclage is a suture that can be placed in the cervix if a patient has cervical incompetency, in which the cervix starts to dilate without contractions. Labeling you as having a "short cervix" without other risk factors can lead to undue stress, bed rest recommendations, or cerclage placement, which carries a risk of infection and disturbance of the cervical tissue. Potential risks: It's possible that what we consider a short cervix is perfectly safe and healthy for your anatomy. Questions to ask your doctor: Do I have other risk factors for premature birth? If my cervix measures short, how will my prenatal care change? But knowing the cervical length alone can't reliably predict outcomes for patients with no other health risks. Getting a baseline cervical length at the 20-week anatomy ultrasound is reasonable. Done earlier or later, it doesn't provide useful information. When you might not need the exam: This study is only reliable in low-risk, asymptomatic women when cervical length is measured between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, the screening is most beneficial for patients with a history of preterm birth or cervical incompetency. Outside 16-24 weeks with no preterm birth symptomsĪbout the exam: Cervical length measurement may help identify patients whose babies are at risk for preterm birth. Providers may recommend a range of tests that their practice views as routine, but that may not be necessary, resulting in extra visits and extra costs for the patient. It is safe and can help determine whether your baby is growing as expected, or whether something might not be developing properly.īut more isn't always better when it comes to ultrasound.Īs useful as it can be, non-indicated use of ultrasound technology can lead patients and providers down rabbit holes that may cause more harm than good. Ultrasound is a valuable tool that is used throughout pregnancy to assess risk and diagnose potential complications. ![]() You have the right to understand what is being recommended and why. We've put together talking points for you to use with your provider about what the tests entail, when the exam might not be necessary, and questions to ask your doctor. In a 2021 publication, Choosing Wisely identifies 20 commonly recommended actions that may not necessarily benefit all pregnant patients, six of which involve ultrasound testing. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) created Choosing Wisely’s recommendations related to obstetric care. Potentially going to lead to adverse implications. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |