1 in 100 - Too Rare To Care

I’ve been thinking a lot about the article I read on the American Pregnancy Association website about Incompetent Cervix. I can’t get over the wording, “However, an incompetent cervix happens in only about 1 out of 100 pregnancies.” and “The good news is that this condition is not common at all.“

It’s that kind of mindset that leaves women (and their families) completely blindsided when they become the statistic.

Other rare statistics that we know how to prevent or lessen the chance of…

1. Dying from foodborne illness - 1 in 500

2. Dying from obesity - 1 in 100

3. Getting murdered - 1 in 200

4. Dying in a motor vehicle accident - 1 in 103

5. Chance of developing type 1 diabetes by age 70 - 1 in 100

6. Dying from unintentional poisoning - 1 in 96

Now it might seem silly to bring up these stats and I promise you it’s not about creating fear in anyone. It’s to show that so many of these things we have research about. We have resources to help us prevent getting sick from unclean foods. We have a plethora of knowledge about how obesity affects ones health and how to combat it. Throughout the years cars have been made safer thanks to awareness and resources.

Even taking a look at other rare pregnancy disorders, we can see more research is being done and resources are provided readily to the women suffering from the condition.

1. Placenta Previa - 1 in 200 (whattoexpect.com describes this as a relatively rare complication) Clear symptoms, easy diagnosis.

2. Gestational Diabetes - 2% - 10% of pregnancies (via the CDC) No symptoms, early testing, ability at early intervention for a safe viable pregnancy thanks to resources to manage the condition

3. Hyperemesis Gravidarum - estimated to occur in .5 to two percent of pregnant women (via NORD) Clear symptoms, easy diagnosis, enough resources to manage the condition

All of these conditions are important but the one big difference is that women with the rare pregnancy complications listed above have the resources they need to fight through their conditions. It’s not perfect. That is why it’s called the practice of medicine. In no way do we think our cause is more important than another. We started this campaign as a way to build the awareness needed to start gathering resources so we can build a support system for women around the world.

Early cervical screenings are just one option of a clear resource that could be offered to women. A network of support groups and/or women who have been diagnosed and have beat incompetent cervix should be available for women recently diagnosed. Physicians should have available all information on the options available for women who have been previously diagnosed AND women who are a likely candidate (those who have had cervical damage, previous miscarriages, etc.)

By building awareness and creating our website, we want to create a database of clinics based on state that are knowledgeable in these kinds of high-risk pregnancies. There would be lists of surgeons with high cerclage success rates and lists of all risks involved in the procedure. We have already started gathering stories from women around the world who have suffered from an incompetent cervix to show others that they are not alone. Through our stories, our voices, our determination, we can shine a light on pregnancy complications and help to set everyone involved up for success.