Question: What Causes an Incompetent Cervix?
Answer: While the exact cause of cervical incompetence is unclear, it is known to be associated with certain risk factors including:
- cervical trauma from previous child birth during which the cerix was torn
- Cone biopsy
- repeated or late-term abortion
Women who have an abnormally formed cervix, often caused by prenatal DES exposure, are also at risk for incompetent cervix during pregnancy.

