What does the neck feel like? The cervix in different phases of the cycle and during pregnancy. Reasons for changing length

The lowest part of the uterus that extends into the vagina is called the cervix. During examination, the gynecologist sees only its end, which looks like a tube in section. This part of the organ in a healthy state has a shiny surface and a soft pink color.

The inside of the cervix can only be seen with the help of an ultrasound examination and during laparoscopic surgery - it is also pink, but in appearance it looks velvety, as it is a little loose.

Changes in the cervix occur in the early stages of pregnancy and with the appearance of various pathologies. For example, if the patient has erosion, then during the examination the doctor will see damage to the cervical epithelium, in the form of redness of an irregular shape.

In the early stages, signs of pregnancy are indicated by changes in the cervical epithelium.

First signs of pregnancy

After conception, many changes occur in a woman’s body due to the increased production of a special hormone. It is called hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin. The body begins to produce it immediately after the implantation of a fertilized egg into the wall of the uterus.

Under the influence of a special hormone, the blood supply to the main female organ increases, the tissues swell. What does the cervix look like in early pregnancy?

Her first changes concern the coloring. From soft pink it turns into purple-bluish.

Its appearance changes due to increased blood supply to the gynecological organs and the appearance of new vessels - the laying of the placenta has already begun - in the future, through it, nutrition will be supplied to the fetus and waste products will be taken from it.

In early pregnancy, the cervix becomes softer and moves more easily. This condition was first described by gynecologists Gaus and Gubarev. The isthmus, which is located between the cervix and the uterus itself, softens, which makes it possible to painlessly move the usually immobile part of the organ from its place.

The onset of conception can also be diagnosed based on Genter's sign. In the early stages of pregnancy, the position of the cervix changes - as the uterus itself moves anteriorly, due to the softening of the isthmus. Because of this, the cervix, which is open and raised upward during ovulation, drops.

On palpation, the uterus itself at this stage of pregnancy becomes convex, and a thickening appears on its anterior surface along the midline, which can be described as comb-shaped. It must be said that this sign is not obligatory; sometimes the thickening cannot be felt.

Since the uterus itself is tilted forward, the cervix begins to bend back. As soon as the embryo is implanted, the soft cervical structure changes, it becomes hard - or more correctly described - dense.

In addition to the fact that the position of the organ shifts, it also changes its shape. If this is the first pregnancy, then the cervix is flat, wide and cylindrical in shape. In women who have already given birth, the organ takes on the shape of a cone - that is, it protrudes.

This occurs if the previous pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

Gynecological examination when registering for pregnancy

When women register, they are always asked whether pregnancy is desired or not, and their medical history is described:

what kind of illness did you have before pregnancy, and the doctor is interested not only in gynecological diseases;
find out the presence of previous pregnancies and abortions;
the date of the first menstruation and the cyclicity of subsequent ones.

They ask you to remember "family history"– the presence of hereditary diseases, they are asked whether external changes have appeared: pigmentation on the skin, swelling of the nipples and mammary glands. When examining the mammary glands, press on the nipples to determine whether colostrum is secreted.

During the examination on the chair they describe:

hard or soft cervix in early pregnancy;
what are its dimensions and shape;
how it is located.

Be sure to take a swab from the throat - the condition of the expectant mother is also assessed based on the quality and consistency of the cervical mucus.

When visiting the antenatal clinic in the future, gynecological examinations on the chair will be carried out only in emergency cases - if the patient complains of an unknown condition or malaise. All changes in internal organs are monitored using ultrasound - this is safer than examination on a chair.

During the examination, the doctor makes sure that the condition and size of the cervix changes in accordance with the stages of pregnancy. There should be no changes in this organ until the 20th week. The length of the cervix corresponds to its size before pregnancy - from 4 to 4.5 cm, both pharynx - the internal one, which extends into the uterine cavity, and the external one, protruding into the vagina, must be completely closed.

Acceptable shortening of the cervix occurs in the second trimester - from 20 to 28 weeks. The change in size is insignificant - only 0.5 cm, no more, the pharynx remains closed.

By week 36, the cervix shortens by another half a centimeter, and then continues to intensively shorten in size, soften and ripen. If shortening does not occur, an unplanned emergency caesarean section may be necessary, as rupture of an overly long cervix may cause excessive bleeding. Normally, the length of the cervix before birth is about 1 cm, and the internal os should already be slightly open, and the fetal head should be fragmentarily inserted into the small pelvis.

It should not be surprising that cervical monitoring begins at 24 weeks, and not from the very beginning of registration. The fetus begins to gain weight intensively at this period, the uterus enlarges, and accordingly, the change affects all its parts, including the peripheral one. If ultrasound monitoring reveals unfavorable changes, the woman is sent to a hospital, where she is under observation - sometimes until childbirth.

Pathologies during pregnancy

Doctors pay special attention to pregnant women who are at risk.

Patients are taken into special registration:

have already had abortions;
those who have had a difficult birth during which forceps were used to provide emergency care;
if hormonal deficiency was diagnosed during pregnancy, there was not enough progesterone hormone and the woman was prescribed its artificial analogue;
with a large fetus or multiple pregnancy;
with low placenta previa;
if cervical erosion was diagnosed in the early stages of pregnancy.

If cervical insufficiency is suspected, the woman is sent to the hospital. ICI refers to conditions where the risk of miscarriage increases.

One of the main symptoms of ICI is a condition when the cervix opens in the early stages of pregnancy - in the first trimester - at 8-11 weeks. This is a fairly rare case of this pathology - it usually develops in patients at the beginning of the second trimester - from 16 weeks.

Self-diagnosis of pregnancy in the early stages causes certain difficulties. How to determine pregnancy by the cervix, if some girls do not know where it is and what it should look like in its normal state. Reviews and topics on forums speak about this. Even if, if conception is suspected, the woman herself does not intend to detect changes in the main reproductive organ, it is important to know about all her changes, which doctors use as a guide. The most accurate diagnosis will be from a gynecologist.

What is the complexity of the method?

The female body is designed in an amazing way - immediately after fertilization of the egg, the active growth of the fertilized egg begins and moves into the uterus. Active hormonal and physiological changes immediately begin - the woman prepares for the successful bearing and birth of a child. But how can you independently determine pregnancy by looking at the cervix, even before going to the antenatal clinic?

When examined by a gynecologist, you can even determine the gestational age by touch - the specialist uses palpation to determine the size of the organ with the embryo growing inside. You can give a more precise date if you keep a cycle chart where the days of ovulation are marked. At home, self-diagnosis will only be approximate. It is necessary to have at least a general idea of the size and shape of the cervix, its density and color before conception and after the fact, as in the figure.

Not all women, even those who have given birth, have a complete understanding of the internal genital organs and how they work. What is the role of each reproductive segment in PA, during fertilization and gestation? If you do not have this basic knowledge, it is difficult to understand how to determine pregnancy by the cervix.

Looking into yourself “there”, even with a mirror, is problematic, especially for overweight ladies. The only way to compare the cervix before and after pregnancy is to feel yourself in the vagina during hygiene procedures to compare the changes.

Attention: This type of diagnosis is very accurate, but it is also considered in terms of sensations and symptoms. Due to the difficulty of conducting a self-examination, it is rarely used even by those who know how to determine pregnancy themselves by looking at the uterus.

Where is the cervix located?

The uterus is an internal organ and is therefore not visible. The lower part of the cervix extends into the vagina; this is the visible part, which is used to make a visual diagnosis of the organ. It is tightly rooted in the vagina, so all sensations are transmitted from the walls of one organ to another (during PA and touching).

You can detect pregnancy by palpation by the uterus, and visually by the cervix. The internal cavity of the uterus constantly produces mucus, including spotting during menstruation. A plug is formed in its neck, clogging the internal organ to protect against infections and moisture from the external environment.

Attention: Do not think that the cervix is a secondary organ; the level of protection of the fetus and its retention during pregnancy depends on its condition. If it has lost firmness and elasticity, the doctor, upon examination, can determine an upcoming miscarriage and take measures to preserve the pregnancy.

The specialist also knows how to determine pregnancy with uterine fibroids (internal neoplasm from pathological tissue proliferation). During a visual examination, the doctor can evaluate only the cervical part, but this is enough to assess the health of the entire reproductive organ.

The cervix has the simplest structure - a rounded muscular body, slightly protruding in the upper part of the vagina. It differs in tissue structure and color from the vaginal walls. This pinkish lump is covered with mucus and has a small hole in the center - the cervical canal. It is closed in the normal state, but expands slightly during menstruation.

The passage to the uterus is filled with a mucus plug. The size of the cervix is small - approximately 2.5 cm in circumference to 4 cm in length. It's amazing how this miniature light pink "tunnel" opens and widens during childbirth to allow the baby's head to emerge into the passage!

During ovulation, the mucus plug liquefies so that the most active sperm can overcome this barrier. The cervix rises slightly and becomes softer, making the vagina more free for penetration of the male organ.

How to detect pregnancy by touch

Every gynecologist knows how to determine pregnancy by the uterus, even in the early stages - the lower part of this organ is informative. It shifts, the color, size and density of tissues change, they say that the cervix can be soft and “oaky”. These changes are considered the most significant signs of pregnancy, along with the absence of menstruation on time. In addition, traces remain on the cervix:

transferred operations;
abortions and miscarriages;
safe birth;
internal uterine pathologies.

You can understand a lot by the state of the vaginal part, for example, if the neck is flat - the woman has not given birth, but cone-shaped - there has been childbirth. But it is not only possible to determine pregnancy by touch by touching the cervix. Really understand the phase of the cycle (preovulation, ovulation, premenstrual).

A specialist can easily diagnose the accomplished fact of fertilization, even the approximate gestational age. In nulliparous women, this pharynx is small and rounded; after childbirth, it closes like a slit. After a caesarean section, the cervix is more similar to the cervix of a nulliparous woman, although the cervix becomes slightly larger in size.

You need to know about this before determining pregnancy by touch in the uterus:

In women, before pregnancy, the cervix is hard, approximately like the wings of the nose; after conception, it is softer, approximately like lips.
Before pregnancy, the cervix has a velvety pink color, after which it turns blue (from active blood circulation and the proliferation of the vascular network in order to actively supply the fetus with nutrients).
Under the influence of progesterone (hormone), the cervix lowers - a consequence of completed fertilization.

Let's return to the question “how to determine pregnancy by touch?” Considering the above - only in terms of relative softness and lowering of the neck. Visual changes are difficult to notice without a special inspection tool.

What changes occur in the cervix after conception?

Only a specialist can determine minor deviations in the condition of the reproductive organs. There are individual characteristics of the body and pathology, but usually you have to focus on average indicators before determining pregnancy by the cervix. It is very difficult to assess tissue density on your own without medical education and palpation experience.

Attention: If something “appeared” during self-examination, do not rush to inflate your fantasies and make a diagnosis for yourself! Up to 6 weeks, it is difficult to understand by self-feeling whether you are pregnant or not.

Even if there is a pathology, this should be dealt with by a specialist who can really determine the condition of the reproductive organs. For example, a too hard cervix may indicate hypertonicity (muscle tension) and may “signal” an impending spontaneous miscarriage. This rarely happens in early pregnancy, so don't panic after feeling it. The best way to avoid pregnancy loss is to go to the nearest medical center.

During the examination, the specialist will pay attention to other signs of pregnancy:

Blueness of the cervix and vaginal walls.
Slight swelling of the external genitalia.
Changes in the size, shape and consistency of the uterine walls (rounded and enlarged, becoming soft, called the “Horwitz-Hegar symptom”) over a period of 4–6 weeks.
After conception, the uterus becomes easily excitable, prone to sudden contractions, becomes dense and sags when examined with both hands - from the vagina and from the abdominal side, this is “Snegirev’s symptom”, a little later it takes its primary position.
Some mobility of the cervix or “Gubarev-Gaus symptom”, some women have a “Genter symptom”, this is a forward deviation of the uterus with a comb-like thickening in the center.
Uterine asymmetry or “Piskáček’s sign” is observed in a bicornuate uterus, with one horn slightly larger than the other - a normal phenomenon as long as the embryo develops on one side of the organ. It will become rounder over time, around the 8th week of pregnancy.

These are the features - how can they be determined by touch during pregnancy, if not a specialist? Any pathology is examined using ultrasound. There may be an increase in watery and bloody discharge, rapid heartbeat (from an increasing load on the bloodstream), and frequent urination (due to displacement of the uterus). There are congenital pathologies and hormonal disorders. Only a doctor can assess the real condition of a pregnant woman. Especially if there is a suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy, when the embryo is stuck in the fallopian tubes. We hope you are doing well!

In most women, a short cervix during pregnancy is detected already in the first few weeks after conception. In the first trimester, it changes its shade from pinkish to bluish.

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This happens because the vessels of the organ begin to “grow” and the uterine blood flow increases. The outer epithelial layer protects the fetus from the negative effects of the environment and allows it to develop calmly.

Communication with the outside world is carried out using the cervical canal, located in the center of the organ. Inside it there is mucus, which prevents the negative effects of various infections. Why do they drink?

In the first trimester, the endocervical canal begins to grow, the task of which is to produce this mucus. A large amount of this substance is needed so that during pregnancy pathogenic flora can penetrate the uterus.

The length of the cervix in girls varies from week to week. The growth of the muscle layer of the organ provokes changing hormonal levels. At the same time, sometimes during pregnancy the growth of the cervix does not correspond to the established norms by week.

The length of your uterus is of great importance during pregnancy. This indicator is regularly monitored during routine ultrasound examinations. It is thanks to this diagnosis that it is possible to obtain a photo of a woman’s cervix during pregnancy.

There are medical standards by which doctors compare indicators:

at 16-20 weeks the norm is 4-4.5 cm;
by approximately 25-28 weeks the mark approaches 3.5-4 cm;
at 32-35 weeks the indicator should correspond to 3.35 cm.

The length of the uterus is of great importance

Reasons for changing length

A short cervix during pregnancy appears due to certain reasons, of which there are many. These include.

Past damage.
Large fruit size.
Polyhydramnios.

Damage occurs due to medical abortion, birth ruptures, and the use of obstetric forceps during previous births.

Sometimes pathology occurs due to hormonal disorders, then a short cervix can be diagnosed already in the early stages of a singleton or multiple pregnancy.

If the expectant mother has already had miscarriages or injuries after abortions or childbirth, she is under special control of the gynecologist, since she is at risk. The girl will have to undergo diagnostics more often than expected.

At the same time, quite often during pregnancy women have not only a short, but also an elongated cervix - hypertrophy. In this case, the organ increases in size due to hypertrophy or hyperplasia of muscle tissue. The reasons for the change in length are.

Prolapse of the female genital organs.
Inflammatory pathologies of the cervical canal.
Myoma of the reproductive organ.
A large number of nabothian cysts.
Genetic defects.

Is the pathology dangerous?

A woman diagnosed with a long or short cervix during pregnancy should:

be constantly under the vigilant supervision of a gynecologist;
maintain a daily routine;
try to be less nervous.

If a woman is diagnosed with a shortened uterus due to hormonal imbalances, she is usually prescribed hormonal therapy.

Understand how it works

Sometimes a specialist insists on using a special gynecological ring - a pessary, and women with this diagnosis during pregnancy sometimes have to put a ring on the cervix. Scientifically, this gynecological ring is called a pessary. This measure helps to avoid premature birth. The ring may cause some discomfort at first, but it goes away pretty quickly.

If during pregnancy the doctor diagnoses a shortened cervix due to hormonal disorders, but medications do not help, sometimes surgical intervention is necessary. The operation “cervical cerclage” allows you to prevent rupture of the membranes, early dilatation and premature birth due to the application of sutures.

A long cervix during pregnancy does not affect the process of bearing a baby, so procedures to shorten it are not carried out. However, if the baby's due date is approaching and the length remains the same, there is a risk of complicated labor. During contractions, the organ will either simply not open or will open too slowly. In this case, doctors will have to perform an emergency caesarean section. In order to avoid this, women are prescribed special treatment.

Scheduled visit to the gynecologist

Other organ pathologies

Before labor begins, the female body begins to prepare for this difficult process. It is the soft cervix during pregnancy that indicates readiness for childbirth. The organ becomes soft due to an increase in prostaglandins - biologically active substances. It is thanks to their influence on the body's systems that it effectively prepares for childbirth.

The doctor examines the uterus by touch to make sure it is “mature.” This term means the soft state of the organ, the patency of the cervical canal. In addition to softening, the organ begins to center in the pelvis. Its length decreases to 10-14 mm, and the internal pharynx becomes wider by 6-10 mm, which allows one finger or fingertip to pass through. The internal part of the organ is smoothed out and becomes a kind of continuation of the lower segment.

If during pregnancy a woman’s cervix is not yet soft, although the expected date of birth is close, special medications are used. Their task is to prepare for natural delivery. Synthetic prostaglandins are used in the form of suppositories or vaginal gels - Prepidil, Cytotec.

A harmless and cheap medicine are kelp sticks, which are inserted into the vagina. The maturation of the organ occurs faster due to the stimulation of the production of natural prostaglandins and mechanical action.

If women experience a hard and short cervix during pregnancy, this can greatly complicate the process of natural delivery. A caesarean section is often necessary. However, it is worth knowing that softening and shortening of the cervix during early pregnancy is also very dangerous. It threatens either premature birth or miscarriage.

Stimulation of natural prostaglandins

Exercises for prevention

There are special physical exercises to strengthen the organ and prevent cervical pathologies in women during pregnancy and after it. Be sure to consult a gynecologist before performing exercises. Keep in mind that this matter requires regularity. One time will not have any effect.

Approach the back of a stable chair sideways, rest your hands on it and begin to move your leg to the side. You need to take it as high as is comfortable for you. You should do about ten repetitions on each leg.
Spread your nights wide and start squatting slowly. You need to hold this position for 5 seconds. You can put a little spring on your feet. You should rise slowly. Repeat about five times.

Attention!

The information published on the website is for informational purposes only and is intended for informational purposes only. Site visitors should not use them as medical advice! The site editors do not recommend self-medication. Determining the diagnosis and choosing a treatment method remains the exclusive prerogative of your attending physician! Remember that only complete diagnosis and therapy under the supervision of a doctor will help you completely get rid of the disease!

A pregnant woman will have regular visits to the antenatal clinic. One of the most important is the first visit to the gynecologist; during the examination, the doctor identifies pregnancy and the approximate date of conception. During diagnosis, the gynecologist pays attention to the condition of the uterus and its cervix.

It is reliably known that as a result of conception, the cervix changes in some way. Based on these signs, an experienced doctor can easily determine the presence of pregnancy.

Changes in the uterus in the first weeks of pregnancy

The uterus actively increases in volume, starting from the first weeks of gestation. This process occurs due to the growth of the endometrium, which creates optimal conditions for the implantation of the embryo a few days after the moment of fertilization of the egg. The uterine muscular layer also changes: the fibers grow in length and become more voluminous, and the content of the protein actomyosin increases in them for active work during childbirth. reduces the contractility of these muscles and prevents miscarriage.

In the early stages, the body of the uterus is located in the pelvis. By the eighth week of pregnancy, its size doubles. At the beginning of pregnancy, the body of the uterus may be asymmetrical. To have an idea of its size, in the second month of pregnancy the body of the uterus can be compared to a goose egg, and at 12 weeks - to the size of a man's fist.

After three obstetric months, the body of the uterus can be felt through the abdominal wall. Depending on the height of her bottom, the approximate gestational age is determined using a centimeter tape.

In the first weeks after fertilization, nagging pain in the abdomen may occur, which radiates to the lower back. Such signs sometimes resemble sensations before the onset of menstruation, but in the case of pregnancy they indicate. At the beginning of the second trimester, a woman may feel a ball in the lower abdomen. Hypertonicity does not always require treatment; drug therapy is used in cases of severe cramping pain accompanied by brown or bloody discharge.

Changes are observed in the cervix:


Color change	The cervix of a non-pregnant woman is usually pink, but after conception it acquires a bluish tint due to increased blood circulation and the active growth of the vascular network in this area.
Surface softening	Before pregnancy, the cervix is quite elastic. After conception, she becomes soft like lips.
Changing position	During ovulation, the cervix rises slightly and its canal opens. Immediately after conception, under the influence of progesterone, it drops.

Is it possible to feel pregnancy in the early stages?

The answer to this question cannot be unambiguous. Only a specialist can determine pregnancy by palpation in the early stages. Independent attempts to palpate the uterus will not give results until 4-5 months of pregnancy. Excessive activity in this matter can provoke uterine tone. If, however, a feeling of pain occurs when palpating the abdomen, then it is better to stop this procedure immediately. For diagnosis, it is better to trust a gynecologist.

There are many signs that may indicate pregnancy. Self-palpation is not a reliable method of detecting pregnancy. It is much easier in this matter to follow the proven path and take a pregnancy test. There are those that detect it already on the first day of the delay.

In addition, one of the most accurate ways to find out about your interesting situation is to conduct ultrasound diagnostics.

Palpation during pregnancy

One of the important points in detecting pregnancy is a vaginal examination and palpation of the uterus. Its size along the longitudinal axis in a non-pregnant woman is approximately 79 cm, in a pregnant woman it begins to gradually increase.

Until the end of the third month of pregnancy, the body of the uterus is located in the pelvic area; it can only be felt during a vaginal examination. Until the sixth week of pregnancy, there is no point in examining a doctor without special indications; at this period, changes in the shape and size of the uterus are still insignificant. During the examination, the doctor pays attention to probable signs that accurately indicate conception.

The main probable signs are the following:

Cyanosis of the genital organs. Immediately after fertilization and implantation of the zygote, blood supply to the pelvic organs increases, this process is reflected in the appearance of the genital organs. Signs such as swelling and cyanosis of the vaginal walls and the vaginal part of the uterine wall occur.
Changes in the shape, density and size of the uterus. It softens, becomes round, and increases in size as the gestation period progresses. Before 5-6 weeks, it is difficult to determine pregnancy by examination.
The Horwitz-Geghar symptom is a softening of tissue in the isthmus of the uterus, which occurs at 4-6 weeks.
Gubarev-Gaus symptom. Softening of the isthmus causes slight mobility of the cervix.
Genter's symptom. The uterus deviates forward and on its anterior wall there is some thickening in the form of a ridge along the midline. This feature does not appear in all women.
Snegirev's symptom. After conception, the uterus becomes easily excitable. It sharply contracts, thickens and decreases during a two-handed examination, and after examination returns to its normal state.
Piskacek's sign. There is asymmetry of the uterus, with one of its horns larger than the second. This phenomenon is caused by the implantation of an embryo in one of the horns of the uterus. Gradually it acquires a rounded shape and this sign disappears by 7-8 weeks of pregnancy.

It is difficult to diagnose ectopic pregnancy in the early stages. Its first symptoms may be acute stabbing pain in the pelvic area and lower abdomen, as well as fainting, decreased blood pressure and dizziness.

It is sometimes possible to detect an ectopic pregnancy by palpation only if the woman is of thin build; while lying down, a small tubercle in the ovarian area is felt. Such a sign may indicate the development of the embryo not in the uterine cavity, but in the fallopian tubes.