What it means
Before labor the cervix is thick and long. As labor nears and progresses, it softens, thins out and is drawn up into the lower uterus. At 0 percent it is not thinned at all; at 100 percent it is paper-thin. It is checked along with dilation (opening) and fetal station on a vaginal exam. In a first birth, effacement often comes before dilation; in later births the two tend to happen together.
In a chart
"SVE: 4 cm dilated, 80% effaced, −1 station."
At a glance
| Also written | effaced |
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Related terms
uterine contraction
A tightening and then relaxing of the muscle of the uterus (womb), as happens during labor.
contraction
The tightening and shortening of a muscle.