Evaluation of cervical length in early and 2nd trimester of pregnancy by TVS and gestational age at delivery 

• Author Details:   
• Ushadevi Gopalan
• Sowmiya Ravi
• Florence Nightingle Sagar ^*

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Background: Preterm labour, leading to births before 37 weeks, poses significant health risks for newborns. Cervical length measurement via TVS is a crucial method to identify the PTL risk. This study investigates how early pregnancy cervical length measurements can predict preterm labour, aiming to enhance care for pregnant women and improve neonatal outcomes.

Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort design was employed, involving 70 asymptomatic pregnant women aged 18-35 with singleton pregnancies, cervical lengths >25 mm, and no history of cervical issues. Length of cervix was measured using TVS at 10-14 weeks and 20-24 weeks of gestation and pregnancy outcome was noted. Regression models were used to analyse the relationship between preterm labour and cervical length changes.

Results: The study found that preterm labour occurred in 30% of patients, predominantly in those with cervical lengths under 26 mm during the second measurement. Significant differences in cervical length were observed between pregnancies under and over 37 weeks. Cervical length measurement demonstrated a specificity of 90.91% and a sensitivity of 76.19% in predicting preterm labour.

Conclusion: The study highlights a strong correlation between significant cervical length changes early in pregnancy and the risk of preterm labour. The findings underscore the importance of cervical length as a predictive tool, with its high sensitivity and specificity supporting its use in managing preterm labour risks and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.