Background: The uterine cervix undergoes physiological, biochemical and anatomical changes during the transition between the antenatal and intrapartum period. The WHO has recommended that Preterm delivery is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.
Aim of the study: to assess the ability of the cervical length during this period of gestation to predict the occurrence of preterm delivery and hence the need for intervention.
Patiens and Methods: In this study, 200 pregnant women at 22–24 ws gestation were selected. 150 were at highnrisk for preterm delivery formed the study group and 50 low risk women constituted the control group with no history of preterm labor or repeated abortions. Cervical length in these 200 women was measured using transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound.
Results: This study showed that history of previous preterm delivery or repeated abortions increased the incidence of preterm delivery 3 times. Cervical length was found to be shorter in high-risk women either measured transvaginally or transabdominally, but it was more easily and more accurately measured using TVS. This study also demonstrated that women with shorter cervices delivered preterm more frequently. This was even more evident in women at high-risk. Thus cervical shortening was considered a risk factor for preterm labor.
Conclusion: The findings of the study therefore suggest that screening of the patients at midpregnancy for cervical length can be a useful method for the prediction of preterm delivery. Thus, it may guide in the risk assessment for pregnant women.