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Cervicitis: symptoms, causes and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on
Cervicitis

Cervicitis is a fairly common condition among the female gender. More than half of women present it at some point in their adulthood. It is about inflammation of the cervix, which can be caused by various factors, such as sexually transmitted diseases (the most common cause), trauma, or some allergic reactions.

Although it is not a significant problem if it is detected and treated quickly, the truth is that it is a condition that should not be ignored since it can become chronic and lead to severe complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. To avoid this situation, some preventative measures should be known. Keep reading this FastlyHealarticle in which you can learn about cervicitis: symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Cervicitis symptoms

Women with cervicitis have no symptoms in many cases, so timely gynecological examinations are so important. However, when this inflammatory process of the cervix does manifest itself, the symptoms of cervicitis can include:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge of unusual color, such as grayish, green, or yellow, may also have a foul odor.
  • Vaginal bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods or after sexual intercourse.
  • Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
  • Abdominal pain or pressure in the pelvic region.
  • Problems urinating

When inflammation of the ligaments that support the pelvic organs also occurs, other symptoms may occur, such as back pain, weighty and painful periods, and very intense pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).

Complications of cervicitis

If chronic cervicitis occurs, there is a risk that this inflammation leads to cervical stenosis, which is the narrowing of the lower part of the uterus. This could lead to infertility and increase the risk of cervical cancer.

Causes of cervicitis

The causes of cervicitis are not always apparent in all cases, but in general, the inflammation of the cervix can be caused by the following:

  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Cervicitis can be a symptom of a disease or infection contracted during sexual activity. Common STDs that cause this condition include chlamydiagonorrheagenital herpeshuman papillomavirus (HPV), and trichomoniasis.
  • Vaginal trauma: the placement of particular objects inside the vagina can cause lesions that lead to cervicitis. This includes things such as cervical caps, diaphragms, pessaries, etc.
  • Allergy to spermicides or latex in condoms.
  • Exposure to chemicals.

Risk factor’s

In addition to the causes of cervicitis above, some factors can increase your chances of getting it, including the following:

  • Perform high-risk sexual practices without using protection.
  • I have a history of other sexually transmitted diseases.
  • I am having more than one sexual partner at the same time or being with a partner who is having other sexual relationships.
  • Douching can alter vaginal pH and cause infection.
  • Age: As you get older and estrogen levels decrease in the body, the chances of suffering from cervicitis increase.

Cervicitis diagnosis

Given the symptoms of cervicitis, the doctor or specialist will review the patient’s medical history and perform a pelvic exam to check the vagina and cervix, looking for abnormal secretions, redness, and inflammation of the inner walls of the vagina. In addition to these, the following medical tests can be performed to confirm the diagnosis and find the exact cause:

  • Pap smear or Pap test.
  • Tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or another sexually transmitted disease.
  • Urine analysis.
  • Colposcopy to inspect the cervix using an optical instrument.
  • Blood test.
  • Biopsy of the cervix.

Cervicitis treatment

The treatment of cervicitis will depend in each case on the cause that has led to the inflammation of the cervix. In the case of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (such as chlamydia or gonorrhea), it will be necessary to start a specific antibiotic treatment; and in the case of infections caused by a virus, such as genital herpes, appropriate antiviral drugs should be administered.

However, when these treatments do not give the expected results or the inflammation has been present for a long time, you can resort to:

  • Cryosurgery: freezing and destroying the tissue that is not normal in the cervix is ​​performed.
  • Electrocautery: damaged tissues are heated by electricity to extrude them.
  • Laser: damaged tissue is destroyed by a beam of intense light.

In addition, during treatment, it is recommended to avoid sexual intercourse to avoid reinfections and worsening cervicitis. It is also advisable to take extreme measures of intimate hygiene.

Pregnant women with cervicitis should see a specialist as soon as possible to initiate timely treatment, as it could put the fetus’s health at risk and cause premature delivery.

Measures to prevent cervicitis

Among the recommendations to prevent cervicitis are those that we list in the following lines:

  • Avoid using personal hygiene products that are aggressive and cause irritation. Do not douche.
  • Ensure that any object or item inserted into the vagina is appropriately positioned and does not cause injury.
  • Use a condom in all sexual relations.
  • Avoid high-risk sexual practices.
  • Make sure that the sexual partner does not suffer from sexually transmitted diseases.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cervicitis: symptoms, causes, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of the Female reproductive system.

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