Skip to main content
  1. Right Decisions
  2. GGC - Clinical Guidelines
  3. Maternity
  4. Back
  5. Antenatal, general
  6. Cervical length screening for women at risk of preterm labour (657)
Please update your RDS mobile app to version 4.7.1

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. When you install the update, you will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively install the update to install RDS app version 4.7.1 to see this improvement. Installing this update is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new contingency arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits. 

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number.  To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

Cervical length screening for women at risk of preterm labour (657)

Please report any inaccuracies or issues with this guideline using our online form

Cervical length screening may be utilised to identify women at increased risk of preterm labour who may be candidates for preventative interventions. Data supporting the benefit of interventions is limited.

Cervical length can be measured between 16 and 24 weeks. For practical purposes, the majority of women who merit cervical length screening, this will be carried out at the 20 week fetal anomaly scan.  There may be women who require earlier cervical length screening or serial cervical length screening however in such cases this decision should be made by a Consultant Obstetrician.

This guideline does not address the role of cervical length measurements for women in threatened preterm labour.

The following women should be offered cervical length screening: 

  • Previous preterm birth <34+0 weeks
  • 2nd trimester loss where the cause is unclear
  • >1 LLETZ 
  • Cone biopsy/ Trachelectomy

 

The following women should NOT be offered cervical length screening routinely:

  • Multiple pregnancy
    At present there is no adequate clinical benefit to justify routine cervical length screening in this group of women.  Cervical length may be assessed in women recruited to the STOPPIT-2 study. However, in women being referred to Fetal Medicine for management of TTTS a cervical length measurement should be performed.
  • Following cervical stitch placement
    No proven clinical benefit of routine post-stitch cervical length measurement or surveillance

Management of results                        

≥25mm: No further action necessary

< 25mm: Refer to Obstetric Consultant. To be seen within 2 working days

<5mm or open: Refer to on call Obstetric Consultant for consideration of a rescue suture.

 

Treatment options

Counsel the woman that she is at an increased risk of preterm labour.  Discuss the benefits and risks of prophylactic progesterone, cervical stitch and conservative management with the woman taking her preferences into account as well as the clinical situation, past history and original reason for screening.

( Dosage : Prophylactic vaginal progesterone Cyclogest® 200mg vaginal suppository once daily)

Cervical stitch patient information leaflet (RCOG)

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 04/12/2018

Next review date: 01/12/2023

Author(s): Dawn Kernaghan.

Approved By: Obstetrics Clinical Guideline Group

Document Id: 657