A stitch or suture placed circumferentially around the cervix to strengthen and support it for the treatment of cervical incompetence.

Weakness of the cervix of the uterus revealed during pregnancy, usually because of previous operations on it, but sometimes without prior injury, leading to miscarriage, typically in the second three months of the pregnancy. Diagnosed by examining the cervix during the pregnancy, repeatedly if necessary. Often causes no symptoms until the waters break (the pregnancy membranes from the gestational sac bulge through the opening cervix), when it's usually too late to treat. Treated before rupture of the membranes with a cervical ligature.