Do you know about cervical screening for expectant mothers? So what exactly is this test? What are the most important things he checks? See the response below.
Examination of the cervix for pregnant women is one of the non-main examinations during pregnancy. Here is more information on the subject:
Examination of the cervix for pregnant women
A Pap smear and other tests are used by doctors to provide an initial assessment of the pregnant woman's cervix at the beginning of pregnancy. After that, unless certain issues occur that call for this to be assessed, no cervical examinations are done again until the 35th or 37th week of pregnancy. Positioning of the cervix to detect a type of bacteria called Group B streptococcus.
It is also claimed that evaluating a pregnant woman's cervix near the end of her pregnancy may provide information about the impending date of birthing, though not with confidence as to a precise day, and medical professionals' approaches to this examination vary widely.
Objectives of cervical examination for pregnant women
A cervical examination should be done during pregnancy for a number of reasons, including the ones listed below:
- The cervix's position: whether it is still in the pregnant position, which is facing the lower back, or whether it has advanced further and is now facing the pubic bone.
- Cervical consistency: These changes start with the initiation of the parturition stage, where the cervix goes from being rigid at the beginning of pregnancy to softer throughout parturition.
- Cervical expansion: During pregnancy, the cervix is typically tight and narrow to shield the unborn child from any outside stimuli. With the onset of labor contractions, the cervix begins to open and expand, and it is possible that the expansions begin even before labor contractions begin.
- Cervical tenderness: As the pregnancy nears its end, uterine contractions cause the cervix to narrow in preparation for delivery.
- The position of the foetus in the pelvis: Some foetuses start moving down towards the pelvis in the final stages of pregnancy as a result of uterine contractions, so in this case, measuring the cervix does not indicate anything prior to childbirth, unless the due date is more than a week away and the doctor wants to ensure the mother's and the child's health.
- Bacterial presence: This examination includes checking for the presence of bacteria in the cervix's opening or the vaginal canal, which raises the risk of infection.
Examination of the cervix for pregnant women: does it detect pregnancy?
While it is true that the cervix changes during pregnancy, it is challenging for a woman to perceive these changes, so there is no reliable technique to tell if you are pregnant or not.
Additionally, depending on the difference between sitting and standing positions, it can be challenging for a pregnant woman to distinguish the cervix from other organs.
A woman can determine if she is pregnant if she notices physical changes in her body by taking a pregnancy test.
How is the cervix examined for pregnant women?
The procedure for the examination, which is conducted at the doctor's office and under his supervision, is as follows:
- Getting rid of the clothes in the lower part, that is, all that is below the loin area.
- Lie down on the examination bed, with the knees wide apart and the feet fixed in their designated place.
- The doctor manually, after wearing a medical glove and applying lubricant, inserts two fingers into the vagina to reach the cervix, but it is not actually visible to the eye.
- The scan period lasts from 30 seconds to just a few minutes.
Risks related to cervical screening for pregnant women
The dangers of cervical screening for expectant mothers are still not fully understood, however it is thought that they may lead to greater infection exposure. They had some side effects, especially those who were exposed to it repeatedly, as they experienced premature rupture of the membrane at a rate of more than 3 times than those who did not.