Safeguarding Pregnancy: Addressing Cervical Incompetence through Policy and Prevention

Cervical incompetence remains a critical yet under-addressed condition in maternal healthcare, predominantly impacting pregnancies from 15 weeks of gestation onwards. This medical condition is characterized by the inability of the cervical os to sustain a pregnancy in the second trimester, leading to premature rupture of membranes and potentially spontaneous fetal loss. Current challenges include the absence of routine cervical screenings, with prenatal care often centered solely on fetal scans. This limited focus results in the progression of cervical incompetence going undetected until symptoms such as bulging membranes, weak cervix, or irritable uterus caused by infections become apparent. Addressing this gap is essential to prevent fetal morbidity and loss.

This Research Topic aims to systematically evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with cervical incompetence. The collection will explore the mechanisms through which this condition leads to increased fetal morbidity, particularly considering the impact of a delayed diagnosis. Furthermore, this collection aims to address gaps in prenatal care regarding cervical screening protocols, driving critical discussions on treatment and prevention. Our goal is for these new insights to allow the establishment of comprehensive guidelines for routine screenings and more effective prenatal interventions from 13 to 27 weeks and beyond.

To gather further insights into refining maternal healthcare protocols, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Epidemiological assessments of cervical incompetence
- Innovations in prenatal screening techniques
- Health policy frameworks for pregnancy care
- Impact of early detection on pregnancy outcomes
- Best practices in prenatal care for cervical health

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Cervical incompetence, Prenatal screening, Preterm birth, Pregnancy loss, Maternal healthcare

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.