As a conduit between the uterus and the vagina, the cervical canal is essential to pregnancy. Its length can vary during the course of pregnancy, and keeping an eye on these variations helps to protect the mother’s and the unborn child’s health and safety.
In the early stages of pregnancy, the cervical canal usually stays long and closed, which helps to protect the developing baby. The cervical canal’s length may, however, occasionally change from what is anticipated. These variations may indicate possible hazards or issues that require close observation.
It is imperative that expectant mothers comprehend the cervical canal length normal range and the potential causes of any deviations. Making the appropriate decisions to support a healthy pregnancy journey can be aided by understanding the causes and consequences of these deviations.
- What is the cervical channel?
- What it should be like normally?
- Pathological enlargement
- Complications
- Video on the topic
- 918 Dilation of the cervical canal
- About different lengths of the cervix on ultrasound
- Short cervix. 24 mm at 32+2 weeks of pregnancy. Tocolytics. Go to bed rest?
- Short cervix – should you be afraid and does a pessary help? @DrOlenaB
What is the cervical channel?
Cervical Canal – part of the cervix that combines the vagina and uterine cavity. In clinical obstetrics, this hole is also called a yawn or cervical canal. During menstruation, uterine bloody discharge comes out through it. Through it, spermatozoa enter the uterine cavity, due to which fertilization of the female reproductive cell occurs. The cervical canal has two os on both sides – internal and external. They are openings with a diameter of 2-3 mm. The external os is clearly visible during a standard examination in mirrors: in a woman who has not given birth, it has the shape of a point, and in a woman who has given birth, the os is slit-shaped. The size of the os is approximately 33-34 mm (maximum 40 mm) in women who have not given birth, and 70-80 mm in those who have already had childbirth or an abortion.
The cervix of women in the "position" becomes slightly bluish. Pink is the normal state of the cervix.
Following fertilization, the cervical canal produces a mucous plug, which acts as a barrier to keep the fetus safe from various pathogens entering the expectant mother’s genital tract during the gestational period. Cells in the cervix produce mucus. When labor gets closer to starting, the mucus plug comes out. Each mother in labor experiences this differently; some experience it a few hours before labor, while others experience it a week beforehand.
What it should be like normally?
The cervix closes into a tight ring and the cervical canal closes during a typical pregnancy. The fetus is safely secured in the uterine cavity until delivery because of this position. As labor approaches, the cervix’s structure progressively softens, smoothes out, and loses its tense appearance. This is how the birth canal "prepares" for the fetus’s expulsion process.
The cervical canal starts to gradually open at this point. In the initial phase of labor, the cervical canal opening should typically measure approximately 10 centimeters. Obstetricians can predict when the fetus will be directly expelled by using this value. Additionally, the birth canal is fully prepared for the baby to pass through without obstruction when the pharynx’s width reaches 10 cm.
Pregnancy outcomes can be greatly influenced by the length of the cervical canal, which is an important measure of cervical health. It is essential to comprehend the cervical length normal range and identify any deviations in order to identify risks such as cervical incompetence or preterm labor. Variations from the anticipated length may result from past cervical surgeries, infections, or hormonal imbalances. Keeping an eye on these changes promotes better management of the mother’s and fetus’s health throughout the pregnancy as well as prompt intervention.
Pathological enlargement
It may be found that the os opens much earlier than the anticipated end of pregnancy during an ultrasound examination of the cervical canal. Frequently, a gynecological examination will reveal such a violation to the physician. Furthermore, the patient’s oropharynx may form a slit and "let through" one or two fingers.
An open os suggests that early labor could start at any time. Most often, this dangerous symptom appears in the second half of pregnancy.
Premature cervix opening can be caused by endocrine disorders; an excess of male sex hormones is produced, which causes the cervix to open prematurely. Additionally, a similar pathology—excessive uterine pressure on the cervical canal—can be seen in multiple pregnancies.
Anomalies related to the cervix’s structure or its trauma during anamnesis can also cause premature dilation of the pharynx. If medical attention is not given to this pregnancy complication right away, an abortion could occur spontaneously. Such a patient needs to be admitted to the hospital immediately.
Her chances of carrying a pregnancy to term will not decrease if she gets professional help in a timely manner.
The following table displays the normals for the cervical canal’s length during pregnancy based on the week of gestation.
Complications
Preserving the cervical canal and shielding the fetus from harm are the main functions of the canal during pregnancy. Pregnancy failure is possible if the cervix has any anatomical defects or functional disorders. One of these diseases is isthmic-cervical insufficiency, where the cervix is unable to perform its function to the fullest extent of its ability, and as a result, pressure from the fetus can cause the pregnancy to end spontaneously. In this instance, the obstetrician-gynecologist gives the expectant mother medication that helps fortify the cervical canal walls.
Additionally, with this diagnosis, the cervix can be fitted with an obstetric pessary, a device that can stop the os from opening before the due date. Compared to surgical cervix suturing, which was previously the standard procedure for this diagnosis, this method of maintaining pregnancy is quite effective and offers many advantages.
- hormonal imbalance;
- weakening of the immune system;
- obesity;
- diabetes;
- thyroid gland dysfunction;
- inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system;
- cervical trauma;
- incomplete removal of placenta particles after previous births.
When a woman experiences pain in her cervix and a polyp bleeds, it can be a serious indication that an oncological process is developing.
An inflammatory process may arise against this backdrop, adding to the risk of a cervical canal polyp developing during pregnancy. The woman might be prescribed antimicrobial medications to stop such a sequence of events from happening.
After childbirth, the patient will receive the recommended treatment if diagnostic examination results verify that the neoplasm is benign. After a child is born, it occasionally happens that the polyp goes away on its own without medical assistance.
Pregnancy can occasionally act as a kind of "trigger" for the cervical canal polyp to grow. Next, we have a decidual polyp, which develops as a result of a pregnant woman’s body going through hormonal changes. A decidual polyp can naturally go away after childbirth and does not present a risk to the expecting mother or her unborn child.
There is a genuine risk of spontaneous pregnancy termination if the polyp grows too rapidly. The attending physician will probably recommend surgical neoplasm removal to the patient in such a scenario. Following the procedure, the expectant mother is prescribed hormone therapy in addition to antibiotic therapy.
Endocervicitis is another common pathology that can cause complications during pregnancy. This phrase describes an inflammatory process that is restricted to the cervical canal mucous membrane. It may progress in an acute or chronic manner.
The development of pathogenic microflora in the woman’s genital tract is the cause of this disease. Most frequently, gonococci, staphylococci, Candida fungi, E. coli, and certain viruses are the pathology’s causative agents.
The cervical canal remains completely sterile and in good condition during a typical pregnancy. However, pathogenic pathogens can enter the wound and start an inflammatory process with even the smallest damage.
If you don’t begin treating this illness right away, the inflammation may spread to nearby tissues and have detrimental effects.
What are the causes of cervical injuries? Its mechanical damage can be caused by a number of fairly common ways, which include:
- diagnostic curettage of the cavity and cervix;
- violation of antiseptic rules during various gynecological manipulations;
- self-insertion of intrauterine devices into the uterine cavity;
- artificial abortion;
- hypersensitivity of the cells of the mucous layer of the cervical canal to the active components of oral contraceptives.
Without any prior damage to its structure, the inflammatory process starts to develop in the cervix’s mucous layer. For instance, endocervicitis can be brought on by highly pathogenic bacteria like staphylococcus or chlamydia.
Diagnosing endocervicitis is simple because the symptoms are highly suggestive of the illness. When this disease is present, a woman observes the development of copious mucous vaginal discharge, sometimes mixed with pus in more extreme situations.
The expectant mother experiences intense itching and "biscuit" feelings when urinating. A lower abdominal pulling pain could accompany the aforementioned symptoms.
A specialist will order the following laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis: a vaginal smear and a cervical canal smear and bacterial culture. The pathogen type and degree of inflammation will be revealed by the test results.
The following pregnancy complications may result from untreated endocervicitis:
- uterine tone;
- fetal hypoxia;
- placental dystrophy;
- the onset of labor activity ahead of schedule.
Depending on the gestational age, a woman with endocervicitis will have a different treatment plan. On the other hand, a list of complex therapy techniques that are frequently employed for this diagnosis exists.
- Destruction of pathogenic microflora. Depending on the type of pathogen (bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc.). p. ), appropriate medications are selected. Before starting to directly take medications, the patient should take an antibiotic sensitivity test. Often, a combination of different antimicrobial drugs is used to treat endocervicitis.
- Determining the order of administration of certain medications. To treat gynecological pathologies, drugs for local action are often used – such as vaginal suppositories and tablets, baths, douches, etc. The doctor must explain in great detail to the patient the order and method of taking the drug.
- Restoring healthy vaginal microflora.
- Physiotherapy procedures can be used as additional therapeutic methods.
| Length of Cervical Canal | Causes of Deviations |
| Normal Length: 3-4 cm | Infections or inflammation |
| Short Cervical Canal: Less than 2.5 cm | Previous cervical surgery or trauma |
| Long Cervical Canal: More than 4.5 cm | Multiple pregnancies |
| Changes during pregnancy | Hormonal imbalances |
It is important for the expecting mother and her healthcare provider to be aware of the length of the cervical canal during pregnancy. A healthy pregnancy is aided by a normal cervical length, but variations from the typical range may indicate possible issues that need more careful observation.
The length of the cervical canal may vary for a number of reasons, such as infections, prior surgeries, or genetic factors. Managing these conditions and lowering risks can be greatly aided by early detection and appropriate care.
Pregnant women can contribute to safeguarding both their own and their unborn child’s health by being informed and frequently seeking advice from a healthcare professional. In order to navigate any changes with confidence and peace of mind, open communication and prompt medical advice are essential.
