Near the end of the third trimester, a woman's cervix will soften in order to begin the process of effacing (thinning and stretching) and dilating (opening up). An open cervix allows the baby to pass ...

Cervical dilation means the cervix opens up to allow the baby to move from the uterus into the birth canal. Signs that your cervix is dilating include losing your mucus plug, a bloody show, and ...

Near the end of pregnancy, the cervix softens to help prepare for labor. If your cervix isn't softening naturally, there are safe ways to encourage it at home. Always consult with your healthcare ...

Here's the thing: You're likely not acquainted with your cervix at all-other than, you know, when your ob-gyn swabs it during a Pap test (cringe). That means you probably don't know what it feels like ...

A mucus plug protects the cervix from bacteria during pregnancy. Losing a mucus plug can indicate the start of labor. Contact your doctor if you lose your mucus plug before 37 weeks. A mucus plug is a ...

Your cervix is the small opening at the bottom part of your uterus, or womb, that connects your vagina and your womb. A cone biopsy is a minor surgery to remove a cone-shaped piece of your cervix. A ...

If your doctor finds abnormal cells in your cervix, the lower part of your uterus that connects to your vagina, they may decide to remove them with a procedure called cervical cryotherapy. "This ...

A doctor calculates your Bishop score, and it can tell you if induction will be successful and predict when you will enter labor. The Bishop score is a system used by medical professionals to decide ...

IUDs (intrauterine devices) are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. But the idea of a foreign device in your body can be scary. Lots of women have questions about the insertion process ...

It’s not uncommon to experience cramping or mild bleeding after a Pap smear. But heavy bleeding or severe cramping shouldn’t occur. A Pap smear is a screening procedure that can detect cervical cancer ...