The role of digital examination in the setting of a sonographically short cervix.

Background: Universal transvaginal cervical length screening has been associated with a reduction in the frequency of preterm birth. However, there is no clinically set standard to guide the performance of a digital cervical examination in the setting of a sonographically short cervix.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of cervical dilation at various midtrimester transvaginal cervical length thresholds.