A 28-year-old woman, pregnant with her second child, presented to her obstetrician-gynecologist with a history of recurrent second-trimester pregnancy losses. Her first pregnancy had ended in a preterm delivery at 24 weeks gestation. A physical examination revealed a short cervix. A cervical length ultrasound was performed, confirming cervical shortening. A diagnosis of cervical insufficiency, or cervical incompetence, was made. The patient was placed on bed rest and prescribed vaginal progesterone suppositories. In addition, a cerclage procedure was performed to help maintain the pregnancy. What is the primary purpose of cervical cerclage in the management of cervical incompetence?
