Universal Transvaginal Cervical Length Screening Might Not Be Worth It in the Real World

Although the association between short cervix and preterm birth is undisputed, it's unclear whether ultrasound facilities should implement universal transvaginal cervical screening to detect cervical shortening in women at low risk for preterm birth. Investigators in one unit conducted a real-world effectiveness study to assess outcomes of transvaginal ultrasound cervical length screening in low-risk women undergoing routine ultrasound between 18 and 24 weeks' gestation.

Of 2558 eligible women, 10% were not offered screening (in some cases because of language barriers). Among screened women, 1.1% had cervical length <20 mm; vaginal progesterone was initiated in three quarters of these women. Deviations from the standard management protocol (…