Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
Cervical incompetence
Painless cervical dilation during the second trimester leading to pregnancy loss or preterm birth.
Full Definition
A condition affecting 0.05-1% of pregnancies, characterized by structural weakness of the cervix resulting in painless, progressive cervical shortening and dilation during the second trimester without contractions. This typically leads to midtrimester pregnancy loss or early preterm birth. Risk factors include previous cervical trauma, DES exposure, and congenital cervical anomalies. Treatment involves cervical cerclage placement.
Usage
Usage note: Current preferred terminology is cervical insufficiency rather than incompetence.
In Context
- "History of second-trimester loss suggested cervical incompetence requiring cerclage placement." — Maternal-fetal medicine consultation
- "Transvaginal ultrasound monitoring for cervical incompetence showed progressive cervical shortening." — Serial cervical length assessment
Also known as
cervical insufficiency
incompetent cervix
Contrasted with
cervical competence
Don't confuse with
preterm labor
cervical stenosis