Patient-advocacy is key to accessing treatments to reduce likelihood of preterm delivery

graph depicting cervical screening data

Cervical length screening: barriers to, and patient perception of, cervical length measurement

Published: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Authors: Bradley, Danielle MS, MPH; Cobb, Christina; Landau, Erin; Wolfberg, Adam MD, MPH

One of the most demonstrably effective ways to determine risk for preterm delivery is to screen for a ‘short’ or insufficient cervix. However, this screening is not universally applied to all pregnant women, even though universal screening is known to be cost effective.

Ovia set out to understand the barriers patients face to receiving this crucial screening. Results indicate that a large majority of healthcare providers are simply not offering a cervical length measurement to their patients and that patients feel uncomfortable requesting the screening.

Ovia’s comprehensive education, self-advocacy, and patient-provider communication programming has shown a two fold increase in the number of patients receiving this crucial screening.


About Ovia Health

Ovia Health has helped over 14 million women and families. We offer a comprehensive maternity and family benefits solution from preconception and pregnancy through return-to-work and parenthood. 

Ovia Health:

  • Engages women early, and sustains long term daily participation
  • Actively encourages partners to participate in the process
  • Includes predictive coaching and mobile alerts for identified health issues
  • Supports return-to-work with a proven approach
  • Boosts utilization across an employer’s benefit ecosystem
  • Drives behavior change and reduces maternity costs