Spreading the cervix
The cervix uteri is a few centimeters long during most of the pregnancy. 25 mm are considered to be harmless and healthy. However, shortly before birth, the cervix begins to shorten in preparation for childbirth.
This is often referred to as the “wearing out” of the cervix. During this process, the inner (located in the uterus) and outer (located in the vagina) cervix increasingly approach each other until the cervix, which originally protrudes into the vagina, is hardly palpable and finally completely elapses. At the same time, the entire uterus lowers slightly.
This process can be seen as a sign of an approaching birth. At the same time, the mere fact that the cervix has elapsed means that no exact date of birth can be predicted. The birth remains a very individual process.
The time between the elapse of the cervix and the actual opening of the cervix can range from a few days to a few weeks. Overall, however, it can be said that the cervix of a first-time mother is much closer to the birth than that of a multi-birth mother. The cervix may actually be slightly open a few weeks before birth.
Summary
The cervix is the connecting passage between the vagina and the uterus and extends between the outer cervix as the point of entry and the inner cervix. Histologically, the cervix is made up of cylindrical epithelium, the cervix consists of squamous epithelium. Both cell types are not sharply separated and migrate towards the uterus over time, i.e. squamous epithelium displaces cylindrical epithelium.
The cervix is traversed by both the sperm during fertilization and the rejected epithelium of the uterus during monthly menstruation. The length of the neck is about 5 cm on average and is an important indicator of an existing pregnancy. The more advanced a pregnancy is, the more the neck shortens.
Until shortly before birth it should not fall below 2.5 cm. Diseases that can affect the cervix are cervical carcinoma and tissue remodeling (dysplasia), which can be a precursor of carcinoma. Furthermore, increased bleeding in the cervical area and inflammation can occur and cause discomfort.