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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
09:26
Transabdominal Ultrasound for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Reeves' Muntjac Deer
Published on: January 7, 2014
Cervical changes throughout pregnancy as assessed by transvaginal sonography
A Zorzoli1, A Soliani, M Perra
1First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milano, Italy.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Cervical length remains stable, but its shape changes from cylindrical to conic during pregnancy, especially in first-time mothers. Mechanical factors, not hormones, appear to drive these cervical dimension changes.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Cervical dimensions are crucial for monitoring pregnancy progression and identifying risks.
- Understanding cervical changes throughout gestation is essential for obstetric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess changes in cervical dimensions using transvaginal ultrasound.
- To investigate the relationship between cervical shape, parity, and pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 154 pregnant women.
- Transvaginal ultrasound measurements of cervical length and anteroposterior diameter at 12, 16, 20, 25, and 31 weeks of gestation.
- Comparison of cervical dimensions based on parity and obstetric history.
Main Results:
- Cervical length showed no significant change (mean 4.3 cm), but the anteroposterior diameter shortened over gestation.
- Multiparous women exhibited longer and thicker cervices compared to primigravidas or those with prior cesareans/abortions.
- No correlation was found between gestational age at delivery and cervical dimensions.
Conclusions:
- The cervix transforms from a cylindrical to a conical shape, more pronounced in primigravidas.
- Cervical characteristics in women with prior cesarean deliveries resemble those of primigravidas.
- Mechanical factors likely play a more significant role than hormonal factors in altering cervical dimensions during pregnancy.
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