Incidence of preterm birth in women with short cervix: A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i1.49926Keywords:
Premature Labor, Cervix, Preterm Birth.Abstract
Introduction: Preterm birth is any birth occurring before 37 weeks of gestation. A short cervix is defined as a cervical length <25 mm before 24 weeks of gestation. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze, through a literature review, the incidence of preterm birth in patients diagnosed with a short cervix, given its high prevalence in maternity hospitals worldwide, associated with increased mortality and a worse perinatal prognosis. Method: This was a literature review, searching PubMed and Scielo platforms, published in the last 10 years. The selected articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria and answered the guiding question. Results and Discussion: Cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasound is the recommended parameter for identifying pregnant women with a short cervix. Patients with a cervical length <15 mm between 14 and 24 weeks of gestational age have a 50% increased risk of developing preterm birth. Studies differ on the rates of preterm birth in patients with cervical shortening (4.9% to 42%), the explanation being that most of the available data are based on pregnant women at high risk for prematurity. All studies reported here agree that the shorter the cervical length between 14 and 24 incomplete weeks of gestation, the greater the risk of premature birth. Conclusion: Cervical shortening is directly related to unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. Protocols guiding screening, monitoring, and therapeutic measures are encouraged to reduce this global problem.
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