Cervical length internal scan

[Zibidee]

Just wondering about people's experience of having the internal scan to check the length of the cervix, as an indicator of preterm birth when the cervix is too short.
I was offered one while in for my 20week scan and as I wasn't expecting this, didn't know anything about it so immediately my brain when to the last very painful speculum exam I had, my brain just went NO!

But now I wonder if that was a silly fear reaction and it would be sensible to ask for it at another time. I've always wanted to limit internal proceedures to the essential minimum, I don't know if this counts. Also now I've read up on it I discovered it is an internal ultrasound not a speculum, which is more comfortable, but also that they only pick up 23% of preterm births this way.

So anyone had this and benefitted from treatment to address preterm birth? Anyone had a preterm with cervix the normal length? Anyone refused this and regretted it? Just any thoughts I guess.

I had an internal cervical length scan every 3 weeks from 18 weeks till 31 weeks. No pain at all. It is normally offered if you have had any type of LLETZ treatments etc..... if you have had some cervical operations personally I would have the ultrasound, they can put a stitch in that can stave off preterm labour.

Is there any reason why you are considered to be t higher risk?

I m not in the UK and it’s fairly routine here in private practice and it seems to cause a huge amount of anxiety with low risk pregnancies that go to full term without any complications including many women who are signed off work early and advised to rest.

I would look at Sara Wickham to see if she has any thoughts and research on this.

I had it done regularly from 21 weeks and no issues with the scan itself, they did find that my cervix was shortening and I was given progesterone pessaries to try and stabilise it, without it I wouldn't have carried to full term. Is there a reason they offered you one? Or is it standard in your trust?

I hope you don't mind me jumping on here.

I'm currently 16 + 4 with MCDA twins. I am due to have my cervix measured at my 18 and 20 week appts. Sounds silly but how do they do it? Is it just the same as having an internal scan? Like an early pregnancy scan?

Thank you

@CM40 yes it's the same as an early pregnancy scan, in internal want type thing

Sorry that was meant to say the internal wand type thing

I have had lots of these scans with both pregnancies, my cervix was very short and I had treatment both times, a silicone ring 1st time (this was part of a university trial) and then progesterone in my 2nd. The scans are just like the early pregnancy scans, I never found them painful. I was given early steroid treatment at 25 weeks with my 2nd as the hospital felt the risk of preterm birth was high. Both my pregnancies went to 'full term', 38 & 37 weeks, don't know if that would have happened without the treatments of course.

@annlee3817

Sorry that was meant to say the internal wand type thing

Thank you for confirming! I wasn't entirely sure and I thought will it be awful like a smear or ok like an early scan! They didn't really say much other than I was having them and why

Following as I'm approaching 20 weeks and don't much about it, so interested to hear others' experience.
Atm it seems like there are only advantages to it? As it can stop preterm labour

I had it a couple of times during my twin pregnancy to see if my cervix was short/ shortening and therefore if prem birth was likely. It was reassuring to have the info.

I had a miscarriage at 20 weeks pregnant so in my current pregnancy had my cervix measured every 2 weeks from 8 to 24 weeks. Resulted in a cervical stitch being put in at 25 weeks as my cervix had shortened, plus progesterone pessaries. So glad I had it done. Plus I love seeing bubba as often as possible so say yes to every scan!

I personally find internal scans less painful that some external ones - a bad sonogropher can make a scan really uncomfortable!

@lillg I agree, I find sonographers press very hard, especially on my pubic bone, but they don't seem to care when I flinch or tell them it's too hard.
The transvaginal scans are not painful at all for me, if I had known it was that I probably would have agreed, but my first thought went to speculum which I had about a month ago and was very painful. I just wasn't prepared, expecting to go for a good scan, see the baby, find out the gender and then go to work.

I'm high risk due to high BMI -36, but no other factors. My blood pressure was very good, amazing seeing as she was asking to do an internal right while taking blood pressure. I went into panic mode, can't believe my blood pressure didnt shoot up!

Please have the scan. It’s a transvaginal ultrasound performed (probably) by a consultant in the foetal medicine department (so perhaps not a sonographer) and should not hurt. You can always mention being tense/scared beforehand and they will go extra carefully.

I’ve had two and my cervix was fine, but I was reassured by the idea that they could put a stitch in or give me meds if it is not. Best for you and your baby for you to have the extra surveillance required.

There was no speculum, in my case. Also as a bonus I got to see my baby again and hear their heartbeat, which was lovely, and the consultant was great and I was able to chat to her about some other concerns at the same time.

I paid for a private cervical length scan at around 19 weeks since I wanted the peace of mind that my cervix was ok. Apparently numerous other European countries do these scans as standard but not over here. Given I'd had a D&C at the start of the year I wanted to ensure my cervix was ok. Scan was fine - just an internal one, no pain, cervix was fine and very happy that I had it done.

Hi @DappledOliveGroves can I ask who you had your private cervix scan done with? I'm considering it for peace of mind but no idea where to go for it privately. Was it at a hospital or with one of the private scan companies?

@94kj - I had it done privately at a clinic called Imaginatal in Brislington, Bristol. This was back in 2021. Hopefully they still offer it 🤞

@DappledOliveGroves amazing thank you, I live round the corner from there and they do still do it!